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Condensing Unit Limited Space Low Airflow: Air Conditioner Condensers

This air conditioning condensing unit has junk piled around it restricting the space needed for proper air flow around the condenser and the junk can also damage the condensing unit equipment. Restricted air flow around the condenser causes less airflow to get to the coils of the condenser. With less air flow going into the coils of the condenser the pressure of the refrigerant inside the coils will operate at a higher pressure. The low air flow around the condenser also means that less heat is being removed from the refrigerant which means the condensing unit will not operate at optimum levels of efficiency.

An HVAC technician who observes this problem will immediately know that the condenser will operate with higher head pressures or the high side pressure of the refrigeration loop. The low airflow around the condenser will result in higher energy bills for the consumers and reduced the life cycle of the condenser. Often times, the problem with low airflow around the condenser is not junk piled around the condenser but poor maintenance which results in dirty coils. Lawn mowers and weed eaters are used around the condensing unit while it is running. The condensing unit will suck up the grass and dirt created by cutting the grass around the unit. The condenser coils become clogged and the head pressures rise along with the power bill. The air conditioning system or the heat pump system has to work extra hard to cool the house or dwelling and sometimes the problem is so severe that the unit cannot cool the space which results in a phone call to your local HVAC contractor who corrects the problem by washing the condenser coils and removing the junk from around the unit.

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