People can find comfort on a hot day inside homes and businesses with the help of central air conditioning systems. Among the great examples of modern engineering is the ability of air conditioners to provide the indoors with cooler temperatures. Central air conditioning systems rely on many components, including an expansion valve, in order to remove the warm air and push it outside. Without this critical component, air conditioning would be impossible. New York Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing would like to further elaborate on the air conditioner’s expansion valve to help you better know your air conditioner.
How Does an Air Conditioner Expansion Valve Work?
During an air conditioner operations refrigerant funnel throughout the system and transforming that refrigerant from a liquid to a gas and back again. With the refrigerant, the heat inside your home or business is absorbed to leave the air cool. With the heat absorption, the refrigerant then turns into a gas. The gaseous refrigerant moves to the outdoor portion of the unit where the absorbed heat is released outside. This release makes the refrigerant transform back to its liquid form and the cycle repeats. Once back inside, the gaseous refrigerant releases the heat from the air into the outdoors, the refrigerant is still too warm to absorb more heat. Then, the expansion valve steps in to do its part in the cooling system. In preparation for more heat absorption, the expansion valve removes pressure from the refrigerant, allowing the refrigerant to cool rapidly.
What are the Symptoms of a Failing Expansion Valve?
With a number of problems an air conditioner can have, an expansion valve issue can be associated with the trouble. The following are among the common examples:
1) There is no cool air blowing from the AC.
2) A constantly running AC system. If the expansion valve is malfunctioning, the refrigerant continues feeding into the compressor. The compressor continues running nonstop to deal with the gas. This means your air conditioner will run continuously without shutting down between cycles, putting more stress than necessary on the system.
3) Frozen AC coils. The refrigerant gets too cold and starts freezing everything in its path because the expansion valve is responsible for depressurizing the refrigerant to cool it. Something is going wrong with the refrigerant, and the expansion valve if you notice the valve isn’t doing its job, frozen coils, frost spewing from the vents, or ice forming on the appliance’s exterior, coupled with other symptoms.
4) Unusual AC sounds are noticed. It is not unusual for the air conditioner to protest with strange sounds when parts wear down. Due to a faulty expansion valve, you may hear clanging, squealing, or banging noises that worsen over time.
Central Air Conditioning Maintenance, Repair, Replacement & More in Bedford Hills, Manhattan, Flushing, Queens, Brooklyn & The Bronx, New York
When the air conditioner is having a problem with the expansion valve, most expansion valves can be repaired or replaced easily and inexpensively. It takes a qualified technician to identify a faulty expansion valve and replace or repair it where it is simple fix. Contact New York Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing if you suspect a poor expansion valve or the air conditioner is not operating efficiently.
