Air ConditionerAir conditioner units are considered closed cycle system because of the condensation of coolant that transforms to liquid, forcing coolant to expand and then vaporize, after which it uses heat from its transfer coils to pump into the cooling tower. Subsequently, it re-condenses and passes through the same closed cycle system again.
The Vaporization
When vaporization of the coolant takes place, it does one of two things:
- Absorbs the necessary heat for vaporization
- Changes its pressure to the energy that is needed
As the air begins to cool, humidity lessens, but whatever humidity comes from the air will condense on the coils, considerably cooling the air in multiple ways:
- The coils get cold and so the air becomes cool
- The condensed water and the air combine to provide generated heat, which condenses the water
For that reason, the water gains additional thermal mass more than the air that remains. The additional thermal mass energy is eliminated from the coils in the water.
Leaking AC
Whenever you notice water leaking from your AC unit, you shouldn’t assume that the unit is operating at its full capacity. There is several times that water leaking from the HVAC system will reveal that some of the elements in the air conditioner unit may be broken or has a malfunction. To avoid a high air conditioning repair bill, you must either have an AC maintenance service in place or watch to see when problems arise, which is never easy.
Leaking Condensation
It is possible that on a very hot day, the air conditioning unit in your home will continue to run throughout the day to keep the home and its occupants comfortable. If you see water leaking out of the AC unit after running your AC for long periods of time, the leakage is normal. It means that the air conditioner unit is experiencing condensation as a result of the evaporator coils being excessively used, dehumidifying the air inside the home as it is supposed to do. As the humidity is reduced, dryer and cooler temperature is pumped out, circulating the interior of the home. On days where the temperature is really high, it will also increase condensation, resulting in an overflow inside the drain pan. When this happens too often, you may want to call a HVAC contractor for help.
Conclusion
If your AC filter is clogged with dust, small particles or debris, it may also restrict the air flow inside the home. Overtime, this can build up and make it even worse. Filters have to be changed on a regular basis. It may be best to have air conditioning maintenance service prior to the summer months so that your AC unit will be working efficiently. Whatever is resulting in leakage from your AC unit, a skilled HVAC technician can assist you.
Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/62593635@N08/5691811358/
