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what is a suction line on an air conditioner

by Bridie Ratke Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

What Is a Suction Hose in an A/C System?

  • Temperature. The suction hose is the cold line. Since it carries refrigerant to the compressor from the evaporator, it is lower in temperature than any line in the A/C system ...
  • Pressure. The suction hose is the low pressure line. ...
  • Size. The suction hose is the large line. ...

Refrigerant lines are two copper lines that connect the outdoor air conditioner or heat pump to the indoor evaporator coil. The larger line typically carries a cool gas and is insulated. This is commonly referred to as the suction line, but it is also called the return line or vapor line.

Full Answer

How to easily unclog an air conditioner drain line?

What to Expect from the HVAC Technician

  1. Power Off the Air Conditioning Unit. When your HVAC services professional arrives to check your clogged AC drain line, they will likely turn the system’s power off, ...
  2. Check the Drain Pan. One of the first things the technician will do is locate the drain pain and check for standing water.
  3. Unclog the Drain Line. ...
  4. Clean the Drain Line. ...
  5. Finish Up. ...

What temperature should the suction line be?

  • Check the discharge (vapor) line; it should be 100°- 110° over the outdoor ambient temperature.
  • Suction line temp should be 5°-15° cooler than the outdoor temperature.
  • The liquid line should be 3°-15° warmer than the indoor temperature.
  • Delta T indoors will vary greatly depending on the outdoor temperature.

Can I hose out my air conditioner?

When your air conditioner gets dirty, especially if it’s an outside unit, you may be wondering if it’s safe to hose it down. After all, it is an electrical appliance. Could hosing it down short it out? Rest assured that you can hose your air conditioner down as one of many methods to clean it off.

Should I buy an air conditioner?

When the weather heats up, thoughts turn to chilling out. For those without a central air conditioning option, room air conditioners can be an inexpensive and energy-efficient alternative for cooling one or two rooms.

Which line is the suction line on air conditioner?

If you have an air conditioner, you have a suction line–that's the “cold” copper line that runs between the compressor and the evaporator, and it carries the cool refrigerant back to the compressor to be turned back into liquid. When your HVAC system is new, this line is insulated air-tight with 3/4″ insulation.

Where is the suction line located?

The suction line connects the evaporator to the compressor, the discharge line connects the compressor to the condenser, and the liquid line connects the condenser to the expansion device. The expansion device is typically located at the end of the liquid line, at the inlet to the evaporator.

How do you identify a suction line?

5:3911:57Intro refrigerant lines: suction and liquid - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipShort it's so this they have names for the long lines one is called the suction line one. It'sMoreShort it's so this they have names for the long lines one is called the suction line one. It's called the liquid. Line.

What is the suction side of an AC compressor?

SUCTION SIDE - Low side pressure (from expansion valve orifice to intake reed valve in compressor) . SUCTION THROTTLING - Control used to regulate flow of refrigerant from the evaporator to condenser.

What color is the suction line?

The gauges and the flexible hoses that connect to the manifold to connect it to the system are color coded; blue is the low side of the system, red is the high side. The left-hand gauge is called a compound or suction pressure gauge. The right-hand gauge is called the high pres- sure or discharge pressure gauge.

How does suction line work?

At the bottom of the U-tube, an orifice picks up a small amount of oil and liquid refrigerant and meters it back with the gaseous refrigerant. The small amount of liquid refrigerant will boil off in the suction line. The oil will be carried with the gaseous refrigerant back to the compressors.

What are the 2 AC lines?

There are two copper lines that run between the condenser and the evaporator coil. The larger line is known as the suction line, return line, or vapor line. It carries cool gas, so it must be insulated with tubing. The second copper line is small and bare, and it is commonly known as the liquid line.

Do you add refrigerant to suction line or liquid line?

Adding Liquid Refrigerant into the suction line with the compressor operating you MUST flash or throttle the refrigerant. This must be done; otherwise liquid refrigerant may enter the compressor (slugging).

Is the suction line supposed to be cold?

The Copper Pipe (Suction Line) should be sweating and cold to the touch during a hot day. If it is not cold, your compressor could be off (bad capacitor/ hard start kit) or low on Refrigerant.

Why is my suction line warm?

AND THEN, because there is no freon getting into the suction line, the compressor is essentially making a vacuum on the suction line, which will make a hot. That's why when the system is low on freon and you keep the system running, eventually the liquid line will be frozen and the suction line will be warm.

Is the suction line blue or red?

Suction line is always bigger than the liquid line. Suction or low side is the Blue side, always; it's the lower pressure side of the system.

How do you fix low suction pressure?

Low suction pressure in a compressorSet the indoor temperature high if it is low.Clean or replace the filter, if it is chocked.Set the thermostatic valve at optimum superheat degree to avoid the low suction pressure.Clean the air duct.More items...

Is the suction line bigger than the discharge line?

The discharge nozzle size of a pump is sized to relate to the line velocity of the flow for which the pump is designed. The suction nozzle size is usually sized one size larger than the discharge nozzle.

Is the suction line blue or red?

Suction line is always bigger than the liquid line. Suction or low side is the Blue side, always; it's the lower pressure side of the system.

Where is the liquid line located?

The discharge line is between the compressor and the condenser. The liquid line is between the condenser and the metering device.

Do you add refrigerant to suction line or liquid line?

Adding Liquid Refrigerant into the suction line with the compressor operating you MUST flash or throttle the refrigerant. This must be done; otherwise liquid refrigerant may enter the compressor (slugging).

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