Fast Affordable Air recently worked on a residential central AC system that was having trouble cooling the home properly. During the inspection, our technician found physical damage near the indoor evaporator coil and one of its copper refrigerant tubes.
The evaporator coil is the indoor part of an Air Conditioner that absorbs heat from the air. It contains copper tubing covered by thin aluminum fins. When the blower moves warm household air across these cold fins, the refrigerant inside the tubing collects the heat. The Cooling system then carries that heat outside.
Damage to the coil, tubing, or surrounding fins can cause poor cooling, refrigerant loss, longer operating times, and added stress on the compressor. This repair focused on finding the damaged area, servicing the refrigerant system, and checking the temperature difference between the return and supply air.
Fast Affordable Air provides air conditioning repair in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and nearby Clark County communities.
Checking the Temperature at the Air Vents
The first step was to check the air temperatures inside the home. A handheld infrared thermometer was used at two ceiling grilles.
One reading showed approximately 80.4 degrees Fahrenheit. This warmer reading was taken near the return-air side of the system. The return is where the HVAC system pulls warm air from the home before sending it across the indoor coil.
The second reading showed approximately 59.8 degrees Fahrenheit at a supply vent. A supply vent is where cooled air comes back into the room.
The difference between these readings was about 20.6 degrees. HVAC technicians call this the temperature split or temperature drop. It shows how much heat the Air Conditioning system removes as the air passes through the indoor equipment.
A strong temperature difference does not prove that every part is perfect, but it helps confirm that the central Air Conditioner is producing cold air after the repair and system testing.
Finding Physical Damage on the Evaporator Coil
After checking the indoor temperatures, the technician inspected the evaporator coil more closely. The pictures show a damaged area where a copper tube enters the aluminum fin section of the coil.
The aluminum fins around this spot were bent, torn, and pushed away from their normal position. These fins are very thin because they need to move heat quickly. Even though they may look simple, they play an important part in the Cooling process.
Physical damage around a refrigerant tube must be inspected carefully. A small crack or opening can allow refrigerant to escape. Refrigerant is the fluid that moves heat from inside the home to the outdoor condenser. It does not get used up during normal operation, so a low charge normally means there may be a leak somewhere in the system.
The damaged section also needs to be checked for restricted airflow. Bent fins can block some of the air moving across the coil. Poor airflow may cause uneven cooling, longer run times, ice formation, or extra strain on the Heating and Cooling equipment.
Repairing and Testing the Refrigerant Circuit
Once the damaged area was located, the technician could service the affected section and check the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit is the sealed path made up of the indoor coil, copper lines, compressor, and outdoor condenser.
Depending on the condition of the tubing, a coil repair may include sealing or brazing the damaged copper. Brazing means heating the connection and adding a special metal alloy to create a strong, sealed joint. If the damage is too large or located in an unsafe repair area, replacing the evaporator coil may be the better option.
After refrigerant work, the system should be checked for leaks before it is returned to normal operation. This helps prevent the new refrigerant charge from escaping through an opening that was not fully sealed.
The system may also need to be evacuated. Evacuation means using a vacuum pump to remove air and moisture from inside the refrigerant lines. Moisture inside an AC system can cause poor operation and may damage important parts over time.
Servicing the Outdoor Air Conditioner
The final picture shows the outdoor condenser connected to professional HVAC service tools. The condenser releases the heat that was collected from inside the house.
A manifold gauge set was connected to the outdoor equipment. These gauges allow a technician to study the pressure on different sides of the Air Conditioning system. Pressure readings can help determine whether refrigerant is moving correctly and whether the system has the proper charge.
The technician also inspected the outdoor unit, electrical disconnect, refrigerant lines, condenser fan, and service connections. A repair is not complete just because the unit turns on. The system must be allowed to run while temperatures, pressures, airflow, and equipment operation are checked.
More information about local Cooling services is available on the Las Vegas Air Conditioning service page.
How This Repair Helps the Home
- Better indoor comfort. The repaired central AC can remove heat more effectively and deliver cooler air through the vents.
- Reduced refrigerant loss. Repairing a damaged or leaking coil area helps keep refrigerant inside the sealed system.
- Less strain on the compressor. A properly charged system does not need to struggle as long to cool the home.
- More even Cooling. Correct airflow and coil operation can help reduce hot rooms and uneven temperatures.
- Lower chance of repeat damage. Leak testing and performance checks help catch problems before the technician leaves.
- Better energy use. An Air Conditioner that reaches the thermostat setting without running all day may use less electricity than a system with a refrigerant or airflow problem.
Final Cooling Results
The indoor readings showed return air near 80.4 degrees and supply air near 59.8 degrees. That produced a temperature drop of about 20.6 degrees across the HVAC system.
These readings, together with the indoor coil inspection and outdoor refrigerant testing, provided useful information about the system’s Cooling performance. Fast Affordable Air serves homes throughout the Las Vegas Valley, including Henderson, North Las Vegas, and the surrounding Clark County area. The company’s service areas can be viewed on its HVAC locations page.
