3 Signs Of Condenser Trouble
Your condenser unit is the most visible, expensive, and vulnerable part of your air conditioning system. Since this unit spends its life exposed to the elements, it can potentially suffer from many adverse environmental conditions. While manufacturers design these units to withstand wind, rain, snow, heat, and more, extreme conditions can still take their toll.
Unfortunately, replacing a condenser by itself is rarely a cost-effective or advisable solution, and failed condenser units often lead to full system replacements. If you want to avoid this fate for your air conditioning system, you may want to watch for these three signs of condenser trouble so you can repair the problem before it's too late.
1. Faulty Condenser Fan
Your condenser coils continuously receive hot refrigerant transporting heat energy from inside your home. The coils must release this heat before the refrigerant returns to the indoor evaporator unit, but they can't do without the help of the condenser fan. The fan should always run while the compressor is on, and a faulty fan can quickly lead to more severe problems.
Why It Matters: Excess heat is one of the most significant problems your air conditioning system can face. If the coils can't reject heat, refrigerant won't transition back to a liquid before returning to the evaporator. As a result, your evaporator may freeze, ultimately stressing and damaging the compressor. Damage to the compressor is even more likely in this case since the condenser fan also helps to cool it.
2. Dirty or Damaged Condenser Fins
The fan helps the condenser coils release heat, but the metal fins do the bulk of the work. These fins provide the maximum surface area for heat transfer, so anything that insulates or damages them can reduce their efficiency. Damaged, bent, or severely dirty fins can significantly reduce your condenser's efficiency.
Why It Matters: Dirty or damaged condenser fins affect your system like a faulty condenser fan. Without enough surface area to reject heat, the refrigerant may fail to transition back into a liquid, starving the evaporator and causing it to freeze. While you can perform a gentle cleaning yourself, you should contact a technician for a more thorough cleaning or to evaluate damaged fins.
3. Electrical Problems
The condenser unit houses the wiring for your compressor and condenser fan. This wiring can wear out over time or suffer if pests like rodents enter the housing. Damaged wiring can stop the unit from starting or cause shorts that trip a breaker. In a worst-case scenario, damaged wiring can even start a fire, although your home's breakers should generally provide good protection.
Why It Matters: Not all wiring problems will cause an immediate system failure. For example, a faulty potential relay may slowly ruin your start capacitor, causing your system to take longer and longer to start. The sooner you recognize these issues, the quicker you'll be able to make a service call and prevent a total system failure. For more information, contact an air conditioning service near you.