An air conditioning condenser is responsible for cooling and condensing refrigerant vapor into liquid. The condenser itself contains many parts; when the unit breaks down, it usually means that one or more parts of the condenser will have to be replaced. If your air conditioner's condenser or even the entire unit is more than 10 to 15 years old, we normally recommend replacing the entire unit rather than repairing it. Older parts are often harder to locate, and homeowners often end up saving money in the long run by replacing an older, inefficient model with a newer, more energy efficient central air conditioning unit.
Whether you use a split-type air conditioner, or even a window unit or a compact air conditioner, the condenser is an integral part of the system. The main function of condensers is to provide a heat transfer mechanism. The condenser will allow the system to quickly remove heat, so it is essential that the unit be in excellent operating condition so that indoor climates can be maintained efficiently. As an HVAC technician, much of your role will consist of repairing, cleaning, and maintaining systems.
Periodic maintenance not only ensures that the system operates at maximum efficiency, but it can also prevent faults from occurring, which will provide significant value for your future customers. In addition to changing the air conditioner filter (or making sure the current filter is clean), removing any brushes from the air conditioning unit, and keeping the area around the unit clean, repairing the air conditioner condenser is not a task you can do yourself. Regardless of the type of air conditioning system you have, there are certain common points between them that make it easy to troubleshoot problems. As the refrigerant transitions from a liquid to a gaseous state, it draws heat from the surrounding air, leaving the air cooler than before.
Dust can be a big problem, whether you're considering domestic or commercial air conditioning units. A condenser that is not efficient will also mean that an air conditioning unit will not be able to properly cool indoor spaces, which is why many users find that a poorly maintained system will become less effective over time. In other cases, it may be necessary to replace an entire condensing unit, along with other components of the interior of an air conditioning unit. However, if you have an older air conditioning system or if it's no longer under warranty, replacing the entire system is usually the most financially viable option.
If your central air conditioning system stops working during a brutal summer heat wave, you may have to wait days, if not weeks, to set up an appointment with a repair technician to fix it, and it's likely to cost you a few hundred dollars. Like a refrigerator, an air conditioning system will draw heat from an indoor space and transfer it to the outside. So it's a safe bet to buy and install those parts right away, especially if the air conditioner service unit is more than five years old. Air conditioning contactors can wear out and are at the top of the list of common faults in air conditioning service.
Over time, debris and other particles can clog the air conditioner and cause obstructions that cause the air conditioner to fail. Between repair costs and efficiency improvements in newer systems, you may find it better to replace the unit after a few years, even when the condenser can be repaired quickly. When an air conditioner condenser fails so badly that it is impossible to repair it or is too expensive from an economic point of view, an HVAC technician will often recommend that you replace both the outside and the inside of the air conditioning system.
