Superheat vs. Total Superheat
- Craig Migliacco
- Apr 5, 2019
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 20, 2023
Superheat is the temperature increase of the vapor refrigerant from where it turns from the saturated state into a vapor at the evaporator coil until where it exits the evaporator coil. Superheat is not typically used as a charging method for air conditioning systems because there is no port to measure pressure near the evaporator coil. Superheat does not help the technician determine if the refrigerant is in vapor form before entering the compressor. However, a TXV metering device constantly measures the superheat at the evaporator coil to maintain an efficient amount of refrigerant flowing through the evaporator.
Total superheat is a measure of the vapor refrigerant’s temperature increase from where the refrigerant turns into a complete vapor inside the evaporator coil until the refrigerant temperature is measured again near the vapor port.
Total superheat is measured at the outdoor unit of an air conditioning system using the pressure at the large vapor port converted to saturated temperature and the actual temperature on the vapor line within 6 inches from the service port.
Total Superheat is the charging method of air conditioning systems with a fixed orifice. A piston and capillary tube are both considered a fixed orifice metering device. The total superheat method shows if there is vapor refrigerant heading into the compressor. This is because if there is superheat at the location then the refrigerant is still in the vapor state as it enters the compressor. The other reason that total superheat is used is because of the easy access to the ports at the outdoor unit.
See the pictures below for examples of Superheat and Total Superheat.
Check out our book “Refrigerant Charging and Service Procedures for Air Conditioning”.
The full outline is available at https://www.acservicetech.com/the-book
If you have already purchased our book, be sure to tell local HVACR Instructors about our book and what you think of it. We would love to get the book into the hands of the next generation of HVACR Technicians!
Published: 4/5/2019
Author: Craig Migliaccio
About the Author: Craig is the owner of AC Service Tech LLC and the Author of the book “Refrigerant Charging and Service Procedures for Air Conditioning”. Craig is a licensed Teacher of HVACR, Sheet Metal, and Building Maintenance in the State of New Jersey of the USA. He is also an HVACR Contracting Business owner of 15 years and holds an NJ HVACR Master License. Craig creates educational HVACR articles and videos which are posted at https://www.acservicetech.com & https://www.youtube.com/acservicetechchannel
.png)
Detailed and practical, this guide explains concrete rebar in a way that feels approachable without oversimplifying. The step by step clarity is especially useful for readers new to the subject. I recently came across a construction related explanation on https://hurenberlin.com that offered a similar level of clarity, and this article fits right in with that quality. Great شيخ روحاني resource. explanation feels practical for everyday rauhane users. I checked recommended tools on https://www.eljnoub.com
s3udy
q8yat
elso9
Using technology to increase access to youth mental health support may offer a practical way for young people to reach guidance, safe-spaces, and early help without feeling overwhelmed by traditional systems. Digital platforms, helplines, and apps could give them a chance to seek support privately, connect with trained listeners-orexplore resources that might ease their emotional load. This gentle shift toward tech-based support may encourage youth to open-up at their own pace, especially when in-person help feels too heavy to approach.
There is always a chance that these tools-quietly make support feel closer than before, creating moments where help appears just a tap away. Even a small digital interaction might bring a sense of comfort. And somewhere in that space, you…
Your explanation of superheat versus total superheat is clear and highly practical for anyone working in HVAC systems. I appreciated the way you highlighted the technical differences in a simple, understandable manner. I also noticed a similar breakdown on https://the915lawyer.com/ which provided a professional perspective that reinforced the concepts you presented here. Excellent and very useful post!
This article does an excellent job of explaining a technical subject in a way that’s accessible and informative. The step-by-step explanation really helps clarify the differences and why they matter in real-world applications. I’ve seen a similar approach used in educational content for specialized service sites like https://grandoaksorthodontics.com/, where simplifying technical details makes a big difference for readers. Very informative and well written.
Your step-by-step comparisons made a technical topic very approachable. I came across a thesagelawgroup post https://thesagelawgroup.ca/ that emphasized breaking down complex ideas into digestible parts, which felt very complementary to your style.