What symptoms would air or non-condensable gases in a capillary tube system likely cause?

When air or non-condensable gases enter a capillary tube system, they disrupt the normal function of the refrigeration cycle. The primary effect of these gases is that they can cause high suction pressure and high discharge pressure.

In a well-functioning system, the capillary tube regulates the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator, and the presence of air or non-condensables can cause the refrigerant's pressure and temperature to rise. Non-condensables do not change phase and remain as gas throughout the system. Their accumulation leads to higher pressures because they effectively reduce the volume available for the refrigerant, leading to increased pressure in both the suction and discharge sides.

Furthermore, the high pressure can result in inefficiencies as the compressor works harder to compress the gas, leading to potential operational issues and even compressor damage over time. Hence, the observed symptoms of high pressures in both suction and discharge are a clear indicator of the presence of air or non-condensable gases in the system.