When summertime temperatures start creeping up, you probably become even more appreciative of your air conditioner than usual. Cool, refreshing air coming from your vents makes your house comfortable. Many homeowners don’t understand how their air conditioners actually work, though. You don’t have to be an HVAC technician to dig a little deeper into your air conditioner. We’ve got you covered with some basic information about the most important components and what they do.
Compressor
If your air conditioner had a heart, it would be the compressor. Your air conditioner uses a chemical called refrigerant to transfer heat, but without the compressor, none of that would be possible. The compressor compresses the refrigerant, allowing it to release the heat it absorbed from inside your home to the outside.
Refrigerant and the Refrigerant Line
Refrigerant constantly rotates between being a liquid and being a gas, which allows it to absorb and release heat. If a piece of debris causes a pinhole in one of those tubes, the refrigerant will start leaking out. Since it flows through a closed system, many air conditioners never need to be refilled with refrigerant.
Condenser Coil
The condenser coil is found in the outdoor unit, along with your compressor. It’s part of the team, along with the compressor and the refrigerant, that gets hot, humid air out of your house. When the refrigerant passes through the condenser coil, the fan that pulls air across the coil collects the heat and expels it.
Evaporator Coil
There’s another coil in your air conditioner, but this one is found inside your home in the air handler. While it’s not outside, it works with the outdoor components to absorb heat. The evaporator coil is naturally cold, so when warm air moves across it, it absorbs heat and removes moisture. The cool air then loops back into your ductwork and comes through the vents throughout your house.
Blower Motor and Fan
The blower motor and fan are also located in your air handler. The blower motor pushes cool air through your ductwork, helping you stay cool even when summertime temperatures soar. The blower also helps push air across the evaporator coil, which means it’s involved with cooling your air and delivering it to each room in your home.
Thermostat
Although the thermostat isn’t part of the air conditioner itself, the system is essentially worthless without a thermostat. This part of the air conditioning system tells the AC when to turn on and off.
When you look at your air conditioner, you may only see a large metal box outside and an indoor unit. Beneath the surface, you have a complex network of parts and pieces that all work together to keep you comfortable. If you live in Nipomo, CA or a surrounding area and need AC installation services, make your first call to Sargent’s Plumbing and Heating.
