Your air conditioner contributes significantly to your summer energy bills. If you’re replacing your air conditioner this season, look for the right advanced A/C features, including a thermal expansion valve, to boost savings without sacrificing comfort.
Benefits of a thermal expansion valve
- Energy savings: Studies show that air conditioners with this advanced feature conserve energy, even when the system is charged incorrectly. While it’s important to attain the correct refrigerant charge at installation – and fix leaks that cause the system to become undercharged – up to 75 percent of A/Cs operate at the incorrect charge. The ability to counter the inefficiency this causes with a thermal expansion valve is a great benefit.
- Cooling when you need it: A thermal expansion valve measures refrigerant flow and automatically adjusts to changes in cooling conditions. It’s similar to the way your pupils dilate and contract to let the right amount of light in. This function allows the air conditioner to alter its cooling capacity slightly to better match the needs of the moment, improving efficiency and keeping you comfortable in every situation.
- Protection for the compressor: If your A/C doesn’t have a thermal expansion valve, it has a fixed orifice or capillary tube. These components are liable to starve the evaporator coil of refrigerant under high cooling loads. What’s worse is that on a cooler summer day in Minnesota, a fixed orifice or capillary tube can flood the coil, sometimes allowing liquid refrigerant to reach the compressor and possibly damage it. The thermal expansion valve does not allow this, thus protecting you from an expensive compressor repair.
Other advanced A/C features
A thermal expansion valve is not the only feature to look for in a new air conditioner. Keep an eye out for the following advanced features as well:
- Variable-speed air handler
- Fan-only switch
- Filter-check light
- Automatic-delay fan switch
- Quiet operation
With these advanced A/C features at your command, expect excellent cooling all summer long. To learn more about staying cool despite the heat outside, please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning for your Twin Cities metro area home today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about thermal expansion valves and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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