You are probably familiar with the two most visible components of your air conditioning system: the outdoor condenser unit and the indoor evaporator unit. These two parts house most of the critical elements of your air conditioner, but it's the liquid line that connects them. This plumbing set allows the crucial refrigerant to flow between the high and low-pressure sides of the system.
For the system to operate correctly, the refrigerant must remain free of debris and moisture. The purpose of the liquid line filter drier is to catch particles and moisture that may have entered the system. When the filter drier fails, it can have severe consequences for the performance of the whole system.
Recognizing the Signs of Failure
Filter driers are simple devices, but they can become clogged over time and restrict the liquid line. In addition to physical debris clogging the filter media, the drier beads can become saturated with moisture. In either case, the filter will no longer function correctly and will eventually begin to restrict the flow of refrigerant through the system.
Without proper refrigerant pressure, your air conditioning system will not be able to cool your home adequately. The system may run for a while before freezing up and shutting down, or it may never reach your desired temperature. If the pressure falls low enough, ice can form on the evaporator coils or the refrigerant lines.
Several issues can cause low refrigerant pressure, so isolating the problem to a restricted filter drier isn't always easy. One simple test is to check the temperature of the liquid line on each side of the filter. You may also notice frost developing on the filter housing or just one side of the filter drier. The filter drier should not impact the refrigerant at all, so any signs of a temperature differential indicate a problem.
Resolving Filter Drier Problems
Replacing your filter drier on a regular schedule is the best way to avoid problems. If your filter drier does become clogged, then a technician will pump down your refrigerant and replace the unit with a new one. Many manufacturers recommend performing this maintenance preventatively every couple of years, however, so consider adding replacement to your usual service schedule.
Note that you may have a deeper issue if your filter drier is often clogging. In these cases, there may be rust or other contaminants in the system. Service technicians who suspect this type of problem will usually cut open the filter to determine the cause of the contamination. Resolving the underlying issue should prevent future clogs from ruining the efficiency of your air conditioning system.
If you notice these issues with your AC, contact an AC repair service for help.
Share11 August 2020
Every summer, I agonized over energy bills that would shoot into the stratosphere as a result of my efforts to keep cool in the heat. Every time I turned the temperature down, my bills increased. This summer, I decided to take some of the control over my energy bill back. I installed reflective film on my windows that reduced the amount of light and heat coming into the house. I started serving more cold meals or asking my husband to barbecue outside, so that my air conditioner didn't have to compete with the hot stove, and I started doing laundry at night to reduce appliance heat in the house at peak times. I also had ceiling fans installed. So far, the difference in my bill has been tremendous. This blog is a way for me to explore other ways to reduce energy drain during the summer months.