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Why Your Air Conditioner Can’t Function Without Refrigerant

Aug 31, 2015 | North Port Air Conditioning

Tags: North Port, North Port AC Installation, North Port AC Installation Companies, North Port AC Repair, North Port Air Conditioning

The vast majority of homeowners don’t know how their air conditioners work. Truth be told, they don’t really need to. However, a little knowledge about how your air conditioner works can help you in one major way: it can make you more aware of possible problems that can affect your air conditioner. For that reason, you should know a little bit about the vital parts of your air conditioning system. Let’s take a look at the refrigerant that makes your air conditioning system work.

What Is Refrigerant?

Refrigerant is not a specific material, but a catch-all term that applies to a wide range of heat transfer fluids. Despite their differences, though, these fluids all operate in the same basic way. When refrigerant is evaporated, it absorbs thermal energy from the air around it. When it is condensed back into a liquid, it releases that thermal energy back into the air. This is what allows your air conditioner to cool your home.

When the air conditioner is operating, it evaporates refrigerant in a part called the evaporator coil. Once the refrigerant has been evaporated inside the home, it carries the heat from the home’s air down the refrigerant line to the condenser unit outside. There, the refrigerant is condensed back into a liquid to release the heat outside. Without refrigerant to cool your home, your air conditioner is little more than a big fan.

Refrigerant Issues

Air conditioner refrigerant is recycled through the system during operation, but is not consumed by it. The air conditioner is never supposed to need its refrigerant refilled. This makes refrigerant leaks a massive problem, as it drains the air conditioner of the material it needs to cool your home. If you notice liquid dripping from your air conditioner, call for repairs right away.

If you need air conditioning repairs, call Cliffs Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc. We provide air conditioning repair services throughout Port Charlotte, FL.