A condenser is a vital part when it comes to the operation of a refrigerator.
What exactly are condensers?
Contents
A condenser is a primary element of the HVAC system that ensures it is effective, reliable, long-lasting, and cost-friendly.
The location of the condenser is at the air conditioner outdoor unit. Its primary purpose is the conversation of gas to liquid.
The refrigerant carries hot air around your home and passes through the condenser coils—the heat transfers to the air outside, therefore getting rid of the heat in your home.
The Elaborate Function of the Condenser
Heat absorption by the refrigerant takes place when air gets into the coil inside the home. The air then moves through the tubing into the condenser coils on the exterior.
With the help of a fan, there is the elimination of hot air out through the condenser. Through this process, the air conditioner helps in the cooling of your home.
Dirty Condenser
As noted, the condenser plays a major role in the cooling process of the air conditioner.
The major challenge is that the condenser is on the exterior, making it culpable of dirt accumulation with time.
Failure to clean off the dirt will have you face dire consequences when your unit fails.
For the efficiency of air transfer required by the unit, it is important to ensure that the condensers are very clean.
A clean condenser enables the fan to do a proper job and expel all the heat from your home in minutes.
Effects of a Dirty Condenser
Not Be As Effective As It Was Previously:
Accumulation of dirt causes the formation of a layer that acts as a hindrance between the refrigerant heat and air blown over the coils.
With this, it will be difficult for the heat to transfer from the coils to the outside air. This will result in less heat expulsion from your home.
The High Cost of Energy Bills:
In a bid to compensate for the inability to expel hot air adequately from your home, a dirty condenser will double its effort and work for a longer period.
This means that the energy consumption by this system increases, hence your increasing your bills. Moreover, the possibility of the system to break down is on a high.
Less Durable:
When stating the unit’s operation’s lifetime, manufacturers believe that the owner will clean the condenser on a regular.
Failure to clean the system will last for a shorter time than anticipated as the system eventually fails.
How Can You Keep Your Condenser Coils Clean?
The bottom line is that your condenser should always be clean to avoid future problems with your HVAC unit.
Clean the condenser coils at least once a year.
The condenser can be hard to access, so you can either choose to seek a professional’s services in this field or do it yourself with proper guidelines and instructions.
What Happens If The Refrigerator Coils Are Dirty?
Refrigerator coils are black coils situated at the back of the refrigerator. In some new models, the coils can be at the top part.
Refrigerator coils play an essential role in the cooling process of the refrigerator. The coils cool the refrigerants highly heated with high pressure, hence why the coils are usually warm.
Signs That Your Refrigerator Coils Might Be The Problem:
Visual Inspection
This is the simplest way to figure out if your coils are dirty by simply checking. If the coils have accumulated debris and cobwebs, it is time to clean the coils.
It Has Been A While!
Also, if it has been over a year since you last cleaned the area, chances are there is an accumulation of dirt, and it’s high time to clean up the area once more.
Compressor Running Longer Than Usual
Accumulation of dirt causes heat retention by the compressor. This causes it to increase its effort to get rid of the excess heat.
Due to this, the compressor runs for a longer time than it would on a normal basis before it shuts down. This is a red flag that you should be wary of before it is too late.
The compressor being the primary engine of the cooling process it is a piece of costly equipment to replace.
High Bill
The compressor uses high energy to lose heat at this point, meaning the electricity bills will go up.
If there is no new additional electrical equipment, but the bills are higher than normal, check out your refrigerator coils; the compressor might be the problem.
Effects of a Dirty Refrigerator Coils
Dirty refrigerator coils will breed trouble for you when it comes to your refrigerator functionality.
Unless you have plans to purchase a new refrigerator, always ensure the coils are not clogged with dirt.
The Appliance Reduced Cooling Efficiency
When there is dirt accumulation on the coils, the appliance will not effectively cool due to the compressor’s failure.
The compressor heats the refrigerant hence the need to cool it down.
Dirty coils form insulation that prevents heat transfer. This hinders the cooling of the refrigerant.
High Energy Usage
The compressor remains on and does not stop its usual operations.
At times, due to the system inefficiency, the compressor may switch off, but it easily turns back on.
The compressor’s running as it works harder to lose heat utilizes high energy, which results in high bills.
System Failure
After all the hard work, trying to lose heat, the system may finally fail.
If there is no other noticeable fault that you may point out as why your unit is not operating, it is time you check your refrigerator coils.
The reason is that the compressor overheats due to excess heat. Once the compressor stops operating, so does the whole fridge. To solve this, clean up the coils.
Cleaning the Condenser Coils
Cleaning is not a hard task; you can do it on your own or call a service company. To clean the refrigerator coils, use a vacuum to suck up the grime.
For inaccessible dirt, you can use a coil brush to get to it. Then you can wipe with a clean rag.
You can clean with a soaped rag and water for stubborn dirt after you unplug the fridge from the electric source. Before you plug it back in, ensure the coils are dry.
Conclusion
To avoid such problems, it is advisable to clean the coils regularly, at least after a year. If you have hairy pets, you will need to clean it after half a year.
To avoid any hassles, clean up the coils!