Superheat is the temperature of a vapor above the boiling temperature of its liquid, at a specified pressure. Subcooling is the temperature of liquid below the boiling (condensing) temperature, at a specified pressure (measured at liquid before the expansion device).

Funny how such a simple physics based premise can be the source of so much confusion and misapplication. We have included the Superheat and Subcooling Sub-Category in the Refrigerants Sub-Archive because they truly are the technicians window into the refrigerant circuit. The key to mastering the refrigerant side diagnostics process lies within these values for the Professional Technician. We are always interested in Article acquisition for addition to the Technical Archives. If you have a Superheat/Subcooling related Article, Document or File that you would like to share with our Archives, please submit it here: Superheat/Subcooling Articles

                                                                                                       ARTICLE INDEX

Supermarket Subcooling

Using A Two-Column Pressure Temperature Chart (This Article was originally contributed to the Forums by Jim Lavelle of National Refrigerants and holds enough value to be Archived here).

Superheat Overview

Proper Use of Superheat Measurement

Superheat - What's all the Fuss?

The Influence of Subcooling on Refrigeration Control Quality (A Danfoss Piece)

Evaluation of Superheat Based Refrigerant Charge Diagnostics for Residential Systems