If your air conditioner is malfunctioning, the problem might be a part that controls the refrigerant. Your AC has an expansion valve that regulates the refrigerant so the refrigerant can cool your home efficiently. Here's how this valve works, signs it is malfunctioning, and what an air conditioning repair professional might need to do about the problem.
How An Expansion Valve Works
Refrigerant works by absorbing heat from your house as the air handler blows air across the coils that contain the refrigerant. The expansion valve adjusts the refrigerant as it enters the coils in the air handler. It does this by adjusting pressure since the amount of pressure on the refrigerant affects its temperature. The cooler the refrigerant, the more heat it can pull from your home.
What Might Happen When The Valve Malfunctions
If the expansion valve malfunctions, your home will probably be warmer than usual even though your AC turns on and off and has a strong stream of air blowing from the vents. You might hear unusual noises coming from the air handler, and the AC might run more than usual if it has difficulty reaching the temperature set on the thermostat.
Why An Expansion Valve Goes Bad
An expansion valve can go bad due to all the pressure that's exerted on it when your air conditioner is running. The pressure may eventually cause the valve to wear out. A valve can also malfunction if it gets clogged with oil or a bit of ice. The valve is intended to last a long time, but it's possible for a valve in a new HVAC to go bad too.
How An Air Conditioning Professional Can Help
The first step is to diagnose the problem. A malfunctioning expansion valve isn't always obvious without testing the pressure, temperature, or electrical connections in the air conditioner.
Once the problem is determined to be the expansion valve, the repair technician has to remove the refrigerant so the old valve can be removed. The technician might also replace the filter that helps keep the valve clean and dry.
Once the new valve is in place and the refrigerant is added, the repair technician will check the pressure in the lines to make sure there is no other leak or other damage caused by running the AC with a malfunctioning expansion valve.
When the expansion valve is bad, your AC is strained, and that can wear down other parts. Your air conditioning repair technician might have to make additional repairs to make sure your AC will operate well and not do more damage to the equipment. For more information about air conditioning repair, contact a local HVAC technician.
Share19 November 2020
Have you ever stopped to think about the general health of your air conditioner? Although it might seem like a silly thing to worry about, air conditioners need a little tender loving care just like any other home appliance. Unfortunately, it can be hard to detect issues until your system sputters to a halt one day. My blog is all about improving your HVAC experience by learning how to keep it on point. On my blog, you will learn how to check for air conditioning problems, troubleshoot your system, and even find the perfect replacement--should you need to upgrade your system.