Condensing temperatures often give service technicians valuable hints as to what the problem may be within a refrigeration system. What happens in the condenser is a direct reflection of what is happening in the rest of the refrigeration system.
It is important to remember that almost all of the heat absorbed in the system is rejected in the condenser; in fact, all the heat absorbed in the evaporator and the suction line is rejected in the condenser. In addition, the compressor’s motor heat and the heat generated in the compression stroke, often referred to as heat of compression, are rejected in the condenser. The service technician should never ignore troubleshooting the high side of the refrigeration system, because the high side will often provide valuable information.