At many AC and heating installation companies in Denton, TX, contractors are going to face many challenges every day working with HVAC systems. The mechanical intricacies of different HVAC systems require a thorough, experienced, and competent knowledge of the system’s mechanical processes to offer the best repair. Just ask Byron Cogburn. He owns Cogburn’s Service General, and he’s ready to tackle any HVAC in Denton, TX that isn’t living up to its mechanical potential. But, with all the intricacies of these machines, what does Cogburn consider to be one of the more difficult components to work with?
Cogburn says that the most difficult repair to do is on refrigerant leaks stemming from problems with evaporator coils. Refrigerant, as a chemical, is so condensed that it can leak from very small spaces. Refrigerants are toxic, and they are a huge part of a functioning HVAC system, so if there’s any suspicion of a refrigerant leak, it has to be dealt with right away. Sometimes, it’s not possible to repair a leak. Cogburn explains that if the refrigerant is leaking from an indoor device, then the equipment simply must be replaced. It’s hard to find and hard to mend, but an indoor refrigerant leak is also very common. The real problem, says Cogburn, is that these leaks would be much easier to avoid, but because of the malpractice many AC companies perform during installation, the problems continue to exist.
Because AC contractors typically face a low profit margin on new construction, they often cut corners and use minimum-standard components, says Cogburn. That means they’ll use the cheapest evaporator coil and install it in a hasty way. The problem with this, says Cogburn, is that a faultily installed evaporator coil leads to a refrigerant leak. “The evaporator is at the an outlet of the gas furnace. In winter, the coil could get up to 100 degrees; in summer, it cools a lot before warming again,” says the Denton, TX, HVAC leader. Because of the evaporator coil’s tremendous expansions and contractions, a tiny, nearly invisible hole could form at the base of the coil, alloying refrigerant to leak from the equipment.
Refrigerant is arguably the most important part of any HVAC system. When the house gets as hot as the thermostat’s temperature setting, the thermostat activates the outdoor compressor. Then, the compressor activates the indoor blower and the refrigerant captures the inside heat in the air and transfers it outside, cooling the house. “The AC is blowing cold air, but actually the hot air is being removed from the house,” Cogburn clarifies. When the system loses refrigerant, the running time increases and there’s less lubrication in the compressor. The system start running hot, like a car low on water and oil. The life of the equipment is therefore shortened, utility costs rise, and the HVAC system isn’t able to bring the temperature to a comfortable level in the house. All of these problems can be caused because a low-quality installation job was performed with low-grade evaporator coils, says Cogburn.
That’s why the evaporator coils pose the biggest challenge for the Denton, TX, HVAC team. The tiny refrigerant leak might not be noticeable until it’s too late. The lessons are many, but one stands out. It may be a good practice to obtain references before hiring an HVAC company and make sure the crew is using top-grade components and not cutting corners.