Add Insulation To Your Refrigerant Lines

HVAC systems are so complicated that it is never possible to provide a simple fix-all for your entire system. For example, your system might have great airflow, but it might not be producing enough hot or cold air. Often, the problem is simply reversed. Your furnace, for example, may produce super hot air, but if this air is not circulated throughout the house, it will be pretty much worthless.

When it comes to airflow and heat transfer, in regards to both heating and air conditioning, the refrigerant system is central. This article explains one way that you can improve the flow of refrigerant throughout your home.

Finding the Exposed Refrigerant Lines

Most of your refrigerant lines are going to be inside the walls and completely inaccessible, unless you were to actually remove your drywall and do some serious demolition to your home. But there are always going to be visible and exposed refrigerant lines that you can work on quite easily. The first place to find your refrigerant lines is the condenser.

These lines that connect to your condenser, which is inside your air conditioner, have to travel from the cabinet to your walls. So there is a short section outside, where they can lose or gain a lot of heat. Any section of the line that you can see will be worth insulating.

Wrapping Your Lines in Insulation Tubes

Pre-cut insulation tubes are sold at home improvement stores. They are very easy to apply. Not only does insulation facilitate the flow of the refrigerant through the lines, but it also protects them from exterior damage. These refrigerant lines outside your house are always at risk of becoming punctured, cracked, bent or simply broken because of impact from the outside.

There will also be refrigerant lines inside your house connected to the furnace or boiler unit. You can also wrap these lines in refrigerant insulation tubes. Thankfully, the tubes aren't very expensive, so you should be able to afford enough insulation for these small sections.

This very minimal investment can actually save you a few bucks a month on your utility bills and greatly help with production of hot and cold air all year long. If you have long sections of exposed refrigerant lines in your open basement ceiling, crawl space, utility room, garage, or attic, then you should also insulate these.

For more information and help with your HVAC maintenance, contact a professional service, such as Polar Aire Heating & Cooling Inc.