One of the less obvious but critical causes of poor cooling performance from your air conditioner is a failing expansion valve. If you’re experiencing comfort issues within your home, you may want to take a closer look at this key component of your air conditioning system.
Coral Air Conditioning is the leading provider of professional AC repairs in Sanibel Island, Florida, and we’d like to discuss what you should know about the symptoms of a bad AC expansion valve and how our experts can help keep you cool.
What Is an Expansion Valve, and Why Is It Important?
The expansion valve (often called a thermal expansion valve or TXV) controls how much refrigerant enters your air conditioner’s evaporator coil, which is the key component responsible for absorbing heat from the air in your home. The valve acts as a precision gatekeeper, and too much or too little refrigerant flow will disrupt your entire cooling cycle.
When the valve fails or becomes blocked, you’re likely to experience restricted refrigerant flow, which prevents your system from working efficiently. Let’s look at the most common warning signs that this part might be malfunctioning.
1. Your AC Is Not Cooling the Way It Should
This is often the most obvious symptom of a bad AC expansion valve on Sanibel Island. Your unit runs, the fan is blowing, but your house still feels hot or at least warmer than it should. If you’ve already ruled out issues like a dirty filter or a thermostat setting error, a faulty expansion valve may be restricting refrigerant flow.
A completely clogged expansion valve or one that’s stuck closed means refrigerant cannot flow, and no indoor heat will get absorbed.
2. Uneven Temperatures or Inconsistent Cooling
Temperature fluctuations from room to room, especially during the same cooling cycle, can occur due to erratic refrigerant regulation.
Air conditioning units across Sanibel Island work overtime to fight our typically intense coastal heat and humidity. If the expansion valve is misreading internal pressures or is partially blocked, it may allow only short bursts of cooling.
3. Visible Frost or Ice on the Evaporator Coil
Take a look at your indoor air handler. Do you see ice or frost buildup on the copper lines or evaporator coil? That’s not normal and can result from a malfunctioning valve. If too little refrigerant is entering the coil, it can rapidly supercool and freeze over.
Frozen coils impair performance in the short run and also increase the risk of lasting damage. If you’ve turned your system off and given it time to thaw, only to have it freeze up again, it’s time to call in an expert for an assessment.
4. Unusual Noises From the System
Hissing, gurgling, or whistling noises near the air handler or lines are strong symptoms of a faulty AC expansion valve and inadequate refrigerant flow. These sounds can indicate a clogged expansion valve or high-pressure leaks, as refrigerant struggles to move through the system.
It’s not unusual for these noises to come and go. However, if they become consistent, it’s time for a professional inspection.
5. Short Cycling
HVAC technicians refer to an air conditioner turning off and on repeatedly without bringing temperatures to the desired level as short cycling. This inefficient behavior wears down your system, and at the same time, it makes effective cooling impossible.
In Sanibel Island, where summer heat can push your system to its limits, short cycling is a clear sign that something’s out of balance. A bad valve could be to blame, either overcooling the coil or restricting refrigerant so much that the compressor shuts down prematurely.
6. Unexplained Surges in Energy Bills
If your electric bill has increased lately and your home isn’t any cooler, your system may be working harder than it needs to. An expansion valve that can’t regulate refrigerant correctly will force your AC to run longer and more frequently, leading to wasted energy.
This inefficiency doesn’t just hit your wallet; it also shortens the lifespan of your system.
Call On Coral Air Conditioning for Professional Cooling System Help in Sanibel Island
Now that we’ve looked at the common symptoms of a bad AC expansion valve, don’t wait until your system breaks down completely. Coral Air Conditioning offers expert AC repair services tailored to the unique demands of homes in Sanibel Island.
While you’re here, we invite you to review our other posts on related topics, like knowing how often to have our team service your air conditioner.
Contact us today to get your cooling system back on track and running at peak efficiency.
