Your heating and cooling system is made up of lots of components, all of which work together to provide you with cooled and heated air. And while knowing the ins and outs of your air conditioning system may seem as appealing as watching paint dry, knowing a little HVAC vocab could help you in the long run. For this week’s edition of Know Your AC, we’re dishing on everything you need to know about one of the most important parts of your system: the condenser unit.

What is a Condenser Unit Anyway?

The condenser unit is the portion of your HVAC system that sits outside of your home. The condenser unit is a hardworking device within your HVAC system that works to condense a refrigerant from a vapor into a liquid. As this process occurs, the compressor raises the pressure of the refrigerant and moves it towards the fan. The fan then blows the outside air through the heat exchanger, which cools the refrigerant inside.

Common Condenser Unit Issues

Like all appliances, your HVAC system may malfunction from time to time. Luckily, some air conditioning mishaps may be able to be repaired with a little DIY magic. Here are some of the most common issues your condenser unit may run into and how you can fix them:

The condenser unit is leaking refrigerant: The condenser unit is responsible for connecting the indoor evaporator through the line, which circulates the refrigerant between the two units. But if a refrigerant leak develops, this could put your entire system at risk of being damaged! If you suspect a refrigerant leak, it’s important to call a professional right away to assess and repair any damages.

There’s a loud noise coming from the condenser unit: If your condenser unit is making scary noises, don’t fret—it’s likely that excess debris has found its way inside the unit and is being thrown around. To repair this issue, simply turn off the power supply to your unit and vacuum any debris, such as grass clippings, leaves, twigs and weeds. If any fins have been warped from the debris, carefully straighten the fins or replace them if necessary. Remove the fan from the inside of the unit and gently hose down the blades. While this should remedy the problem, if the noise persists, call a professional.

Don’t let air conditioning lingo intimidate you. Knowing the parts of your HVAC system is actually pretty easy and can help you identify issues and save money in the long run! And while some AC repairs may be done without a technician, when you do need the help of a professional, be sure to call One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Clearwater. At One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® of Clearwater, we want your home to feel its best year-round, so if you need any HVAC assistance, contact us today!