What happens in the system of an air cooled condensing unit located in an unheated basement during the winter?

In an air-cooled condensing unit, the operation relies on the ambient temperature to help dissipate heat from the refrigerant as it flows through the condenser coils. When this unit is located in an unheated basement during the winter, the surrounding air temperature is typically much lower than the temperature of the refrigerant in the system.

As the refrigerant enters the condenser, it needs to condense from a vapor to a liquid. If the ambient temperature is too low, the refrigerant may not lose enough heat to condense properly. Instead, it stays in a vapor state, which can lead to a situation where the refrigerant doesn’t condense effectively and may return to the compressor as vapor. This can create a scenario where the refrigerant condenses in the compressor, which is abnormal and can lead to various issues, including damage to the compressor due to liquid slugging.

Therefore, understanding the implications of low ambient temperatures on the operation of the air-cooled condensing unit is crucial, as it directly affects the phase change of the refrigerant within the system.