Even as summer winds down, many parts of the country continue to experience intense heat. As a result, homeowners in southern states like Tennessee still haven't shut down their air conditioners for the year. This longer warm season increases the risk of an air conditioner developing problems that hamper its long-term performance.
One common air conditioner problem goes by the name of refrigerant flooding. Flooding occurs when liquid refrigerant gets into the compressor during the run cycle.
If you would like to learn more about how this problem can affect your system, and why you should have a professional regularly inspect for signs of trouble, keep reading. This article takes a closer look at three serious consequences of refrigerant flooding.
1. Damaged Compressor
Under normal circumstances, liquid refrigerant never enters the compressor. On the contrary, the compressor only deals with gaseous refrigerant flowing back from the indoor evaporator coil. The compressor pushes this gaseous refrigerant into a tighter configuration. This compression increases the refrigerant's pressure and promotes speedy flow to the condenser.
Unlike gases, liquids cannot be compressed. When flooding occurs, liquid refrigerant ends up inside of the compressor's cylinder. As the piston tries to pack it down, the liquid resists the compression. As a result, the piston experiences a level of resistance far beyond its intended tolerance, often causing it to become bent or warped.
The longer flooding goes on, the more likely it will cause expensive forms of damage to your compressor. Such damage negatively impacts compressor performance, requiring your system to work harder and longer to complete even basic cooling tasks. Having your system inspected for signs of refrigerant flooding reduces the need for expensive repairs, while also ensuring optimal efficiency.
2. Compressor Burnout
The interior of the compressor goes by the name of the crankcase. The crankcase contains an open pool of oil used to lubricate the compressor. When liquid refrigerant enters the compressor, it mixes with the oil at the bottom of the crankcase.
The high temperature of the oil often makes the refrigerant boil and turn to a gas, which will cause the crankcase pressure to increase. This pressure increase causes oil particles to become trapped in the evaporating refrigerant. As the gaseous refrigerant flows into the compressor cylinder, it takes this oil along with it.
Over time, this process causes oil levels in the crankcase to drop farther and farther. Eventually the compressor loses so much oil that it can no longer keep itself properly lubricated. As a result, compressor temperatures start to rise. Once temperatures reach a critical level, the compressor's motor may burn out entirely, leading to the need for costly replacements.
3. Clogged Expansion Valve
The oil leaving the compressor along with the gaseous refrigerant causes other problems as well. As the refrigerant flows through the rest of the system, the oil gets left behind as deposits on the walls of various components. These deposits reduce system efficiency. For instance, oil deposits make it harder for the condenser to do its job of reducing refrigerant temperature.
Yet oil deposits cause the greatest amount of trouble for the component known as the expansion valve. The expansion valve restricts the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator coil. This restriction causes a beneficial pressure difference that helps the refrigerant to absorb more heat.
However, when compressor oil clogs the tip of the expansion valve, refrigerant flow becomes restricted to a problematic level. This unwanted restriction reduces the efficiency of the evaporator coil — and of the entire system. To restore normal performance, a technician must disassemble and clean the expansion valve.
If you have noticed that your air conditioner has ceased to perform the way it should, refrigerant flooding may lie behind the problem. To schedule a professional evaluation, please contact Knoxville's HVAC pros A-1 Finchum Heating & Cooling.
