Category: Refrigerant

OK, Your Air Conditioner Does the Job – Now, Do You Know How It Works?

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

You may be perfectly content with your existing air conditioner, but learning how it works can benefit you. Understanding the refrigeration-cooling process will not only help you select the right unit when it comes time to upgrade, but it will also help you learn to value regular maintenance. Ultimately, in either case, you’ll be able to maximize your investment in your air conditioner just by taking the time to learn how it works.

The refrigerant looping through your air conditioner’s components is able to change forms throughout the cooling process, from a gas to a liquid and then back to a gas. But this chemical refrigerant is special because as it travels through the various cooling stages, it can absorb or expel heat, which is key to cooling a space.

Here’s how it works:

  • Beginning at the outdoor unit, the refrigerant starts at the compressor in a gas form, where it is cool and under low pressure. As the name suggests, the compressor begins to “compress” the gas, pushing all of its molecules together, increasing the energy and raising the temperature of the gas.
  • Then, the compressor sends the refrigerant, which is now very hot and at a much higher pressure, into the condenser. Here, the refrigerant is cooled by the condenser fan and changes back to a liquid form.
  • Once the liquid refrigerant arrives at the evaporator, the refrigerant’s pressure is released, and it is at this point that it changes back to a gas. During the change in form, the refrigerant is able to absorb heat from the surrounding air, thereby cooling the air.
  • The process begins again.

At any point during this process, if dirt exists on the condenser and or evaporator coils, for instance, the system’s efficiency will be compromised, making regular maintenance paramount. Additionally, it’s easy to see why advanced features, like enhanced coil design or a valve that meters refrigerant, are worth considering when upgrading.If you have questions about your air conditioner, or would like to talk to a home-comfort expert in greater Charlotte about upgrading, contact Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical today!

Like the Temperature, the Cost of Your A/C Refrigerant Is Rising

Posted on | by Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical

During your air conditioner’s annual maintenance, you may find the system needs a charge of refrigerant to boost its cooling capacity. If so, you’ll also notice that prices of the A/C refrigerant R22 have increased dramatically (tripled since 2011). These increases are being felt all throughout the HVAC industry and are expected to continue for at least the next eight years.

R22 refrigerant prices are rising in response to recent government regulations in the Clean Air Act. These regulations require the gradual phasing out of R22 as an air conditioning system refrigerant. By the year 2020, R22 will no longer be made for use in servicing existing air conditioning units. After 2020, only reclaimed or recycled R22 refrigerant will be available to service existing systems.

In new air conditioners, R22 refrigerant has been replaced by more environmentally-friendly refrigerants, such as R410A. This is because R22 refrigerant has been determined to be a danger to the environment due to its ozone-depleting effects. An added complication for owners of units built before 2010 is that the newer refrigerants will not work in systems that where designed for R22.

About 80 percent of the existing air conditioning systems in the United States were built before 2010 and use R22 refrigerant, which means that most air conditioner owners in the country will be affected by the new regulations. Either homeowners will need to endure the steeply rising costs of and difficulty finding R22 refrigerant or they will have to completely replace their air conditioning system with one that can use the approved refrigerants. The situation may be somewhat relieved by using it as a reason to invest in a money-saving, high-efficiency cooling system.

For 40 years, Acosta Heating, Cooling & Electrical has been a reliable source of heating and air conditioning services for Charlotte and nearby areas. Contact us today for expert assistance in making the transition from R22 refrigerant or for help finding a new air conditioner that meets required environmental standards.