What is an aircon condenser?
A condenser or aircon condenser is the outdoor portion of an aircon unit or heat pump that either releases or collects heat. The purpose of the condenser is to receive the high-pressure gas from the compressor and convert this gas to a liquid. It does it by heat transfer or the principle that heat will always move from a warmer to a cooler substance.
Why is an aircon condenser important?
An aircon condenser unit helps you to manage the humidity and temperature in your home. It enables you to keep things cool especially on hot summer days in Singapore. Among all aircon unit services, homeowners most often need maintenance and repair of an aircon condenser unit to keep their homes cool.
An aircon condenser unit essentially dissipates the heat carried to the outdoor unit. This allows the cooling process to continue. The condenser is one of three primary elements in your aircon unit. The other two, the evaporator and compressor, are also important.
How long does an aircon condenser last?
An aircon condenser unit that’s installed by experienced professionals and receives regular maintenance checkups should last as long as the aircon unit itself. Depending on the model, this can be anywhere between 10 to 20 years.
That being said, accidents, irregular maintenance, and normal wear and tear can still cause one or more components inside your aircon condenser to fail or become less efficient over time. Some malfunctions can be easily repaired, while others require complete replacements.
What will happen if something goes wrong with your aircon condenser?
A faulty aircon condenser can cause a number of problems. Such as:
1) Your aircon unit may not be able to produce as much cool air as it used to.
2) Continuous usage of your aircon unit with a failing condenser may result in higher energy bills for you despite less efficiency and comfort.
3) It may also be a sign of a compressor issue or a refrigerant leak.
4) There are weird noises coming out of your aircon unit.
5) Electrical malfunctions can lead to serious damage to your aircon unit.
Pro 338 Reminder: If you feel that something goes wrong with your aircon unit, immediately call your nearest professional aircon installation company for assistance. This will help you avoid more costly repairs and will even allow you to make more time being productive rather than thinking about what to do with your ‘not-so-cooling’ aircon unit.
Reasons why you have a faulty aircon condenser:
1) Abnormal discharge pressures
If the aircon unit develops abnormal discharge pressures or fails to maintain the required pressure, it may lead to aircon unit failure. Also, if the compressor’s pressure does not maintain the level stated in the manual, it may lead to a condenser failure.
2) Refrigerant leaking within the aircon condenser
The condenser is linked to the indoor unit through a line that allows the refrigerant to circulate. If the coolant begins to leak through cracks or holes, the compressor will have difficulty pumping the refrigerant through the lines effectively.
A professional air conditioning service in Singapore should be contacted immediately for service. Adding too much or the wrong type of refrigerant may destroy the compressor, and refrigerant sales to non-licensed individuals are restricted. Therefore, it should always be handled by licensed professionals.
3) Electrical system failure
Malfunctioning electrical components within an aircon compressor can cause it to stop working. The condenser powers the motor, fan, and compressor using electricity. If the aircon unit makes a hissing or clicking noise after it turns on, the electrical relay switch may have worn out. Having the switch replaced will get your air conditioner back in action.
4) Dirty coils and clogged suction lines
When dust, debris, and other pollutants accumulate on the condenser coil, the condenser cannot adequately discharge heat. This forces the compressor to run continuously to cool the home.
When the aircon unit’s refrigerant suction lines get clogged, it is essential to have a professional aircon servicing company correct the aircon issue. If the problem is not handled, the compressor’s increasing pressure and temperature levels will cause overheating, and the aircon compressor may fail.
When to repair your aircon condenser?
1) Dirty condenser
If your condenser is covered with dirt or plants, give it a thorough cleaning, removing anything that’s blocking or interfering with the aircon unit.
2) Bad condenser relay switch
Typically, an easy fix is swapping out this broken part of the aircon unit with a new one.
3) Bad run capacitor
Another easy repair maybe swapping out this faulty component.
4) Faulty Motor
If the motor is faulty, it will need to be replaced but check your manual for the correct replacement product; otherwise, you risk your aircon unit experiencing more damage.
5) Dirty Coil
Cleaning debris or dirt from the coil is another simple fix that can improve your unit’s capability.
When to replace your aircon condenser?
1) Damaged coil
Repairing a damaged coil can take a significant amount of time and labor, which makes it quite expensive unless your coil is still under warranty. If not, it’s usually recommended that you replace the entire aircon unit.
2) Blockage
Any blockage within your aircon unit means there’s a major aircon issue and that your condenser needs to be replaced. Though depending on the damage caused by this blockage, you may have to replace more than the condenser itself.
3) Leaks
Since it’s not possible to replace condenser seals or tubes, you’ll need to replace the entire condenser, should it be leaking excessively.
4 Main Parts Of An Aircon Unit Condenser That Can Affect Its Air Efficiency
1) Condenser Coil
The condenser coil is what dispels heat into the air after the aircon unit collects this excess heat from inside your house. A number of issues can arise with the condenser coil that may hinder efficient operation, such as:
Bent or flattened fins
Coolant leak from the coil pipes
Fins clogged with dust or lint from nearby dryer exhaust
Nearby bushes or weeds preventing rapid flow of air over fins
Fortunately, most of these aircon issues can be resolved with quick cleaning or combing of the fins or some weed whacking, just be careful not to get too close to the fins with the weed whacker. A leak may mean that you need a new condenser coil or even a new aircon unit, though.
2) Fan Blades
Some potential aircon issues with fan blades include loose fan blades, cracked or broken-off blades, or bent-up blades that can’t drive air as they should. Because the fan is responsible for providing continuous airflow to the aircon unit, these aircon issues can lead to overheating and an overworked system as well as reduced efficiency.
So in a best-case scenario with a fan issue, you’re just going to have slightly higher aircon bills until the fan gets fixed. But with severe fan issues or a fan problem that doesn’t get fixed or that’s worsened by another issue, you could end up having to complete major aircon repair work as well.
3) Run Capacitor
An aircon unit typically has two types of capacitors: the start capacitor and the run capacitor, sometimes these are combined in what’s known as a dual capacitor. If the start capacitor fails, the associated motor, whether that’s the fan motor or the compressor motor, simply won’t be able to start. It’s the run capacitor that you have to worry about if you have efficiency problems.
The run capacitor is designed to help the motor stay efficient while running and not have to work as hard. So if the run capacitor goes out, the motor may still start but may then run very hot and overheat. Or the motor will work harder than usual, decreasing its life expectancy and use more electricity than it was designed to. Installing the wrong size of the capacitor can have similar effects.
4) Evaporator Coil
If you want to decrease the efficiency of your aircon unit, just let the evaporator coil get dirty and freeze up. If you notice higher energy bills or an aircon unit that constantly runs, this could easily be the reason why.
The evaporator coil should be cleaned on a regular basis, but this isn’t a DIY job, since you’ll need to have a professional aircon servicing company to do a maintenance visit. This is partly because getting to the evaporator coil is much more difficult than getting to the condenser coil. But keeping your air filters clean and changing them often can also help by reducing the amount of dirt that gets to the coil.
About WWW.338AIRCON.SG
It’s always a good time to talk about the common issues that aircon units have. This way, you’ll be able to spot if there are problems with your unit or not and prepare for its replacement accordingly. If you require our aircon servicing services, Whatsapp us at +65 9222 4141 for a fast and transparent quote.
338 Aircon Servicing Singapore provides an extensive range of Aircon Services including Aircon Servicing, Aircon Repairs, Aircon Installation of the best aircon brands, Chemical Overhaul, Gas Top-up, Aircon Leaking Water, and Aircon Not Cold Fix, and more. We have a team of professional technicians who are equipped with vast knowledge and experience in the Aircon industry.
We have over 15 years of experience in dealing with aircon works and have completed thousands of aircon works for both residential (Landed, Condo, and HDB) and commercial. We are a highly recommended Aircon Company in Singapore, with many delighted customers and reviews over the years on Google and Facebook.
WhatsApp us at +65 9222 4141 for a transparent quotation and honest pricing for all your aircon needs or Call us at +65 9222 4141. We offer a fast and efficient service to serve any of your aircon needs!
Comentários