What Is Head Pressure In HVAC?

Your HVAC unit

While we do not plan on diving too deep into everything that makes up your HVAC unit in this post (don’t worry, we’ll do a post on that soon), we do want to briefly introduce some of the main components. To summarize, this includes the heat exchanger, blower motor, combustion chamber, condenser, evaporator, and the thermostat. If the only one that sounds familiar to you is the thermostat, you are in the majority of all homeowners. Most people do not learn the inner workings of their HVAC systems simply because there is no inherent need to. When issues arise with the HVAC, the professionals are called in, and the Madison, AL heating and cooling professionals are from Valley Heating and Cooling. 

What is head pressure?

Now that we have introduced you to the insides of your HVAC unit, we want to talk about head pressure. Head pressure is also sometimes referred to as discharge pressure or high side pressure. The output side of the compressor in an HVAC unit generates this pressure, and it can be affected by many variables. For instance, the condenser fan’s size and speed can play into the head pressure, as can the condenser coil’s overall condition and how clean it is. Lastly, how big the discharge line is can play a part in the head pressure. 

Common head pressure problems

As with any other appliance, there are many problems that can arise. With your HVAC unit’s head pressure, there are two that are more common than the rest: high head pressure and low head pressure. 

High Head Pressure

High head pressure is typically accompanied by a low suction pressure. This combination can be indicative of restricted refrigerant. Essentially, this means that air and vaporized water travel through your HVAC’s evaporator until they get to the top of the compressor, where it remains because it will not condense. This takes up space and therefore restricts the ability for refrigerant to flow. 

Low Head Pressure

On the opposite side of the spectrum is the issue of low head pressure. This can be caused by a few things, but the two most common causes are a refrigerant leak or over-metering of the refrigerant. In addition, if a restriction is present within the liquid line, this can lead to an accumulation of refrigerant in the receiver and condenser, which will lead to a low head pressure.

How Valley Heating & Cooling can help

It’s no secret that the temperatures are rising here in Alabama. With those scorching, sweaty summers, you want to be able to come indoors to cool off. If you have noticed problems while running your air conditioner more, and find yourself searching for “HVAC Near Me,” look no further than Valley Heating and Cooling. We have many HVAC services and we know How to Get Your HVAC System Ready for Summer. Don’t get burnt by a broken air conditioner, reach out to our team of professionals today!