
What are AC Pre-Cooling Systems?
AC pre-cooling systems are relatively simple devices. They use a system of hoses to spray an air conditioner condenser with a light water mist during the operating cycle. This cools off the outside coils, and can make the air conditioner work more efficiently in hot weather.So, Why Don't Manufacturers Put Misters on the Condensers?
Water is corrosive. And your outside condenser coil is made of metal. Metal corrodes. AC pre-cooling systems spray your coil with water over and over again. Are you starting to see the potential issue here?
Not only will those mineral deposits actually reduce the efficiency of your coil, but, as you may have guessed, they are magnets for corrosion. Even when ac pre-cooling systems integrate water filters into their design, this doesn't solve the problem. The water mist will capture airborne dust and contaminants before it hits your coil.
Now, all the effort your misting system put out to increase efficiency is getting counter-balanced by the fact that scaling and corrosion are decreasing efficiency and increasing the likelihood of a refrigerant leak. And nothing ruins operating efficiency like low (or none) refrigerant.