AC Components and How They Work

Components of an Air Conditioner and How They Work

An air conditioning system is a must in the home, particularly if you live in areas like Phoenix, Arizona, where the temperatures reach well into the 100s during the summer months. Most homeowners rely on their air condition systems so much, yet they do not give the unit a second thought unless something goes wrong. It is important for homeowners to understand how a system works as this can be helpful in detecting problems. If an issue is found, a technician can provide repair service, ensuring your unit is ready to function during the hot summer season.

Understanding the Refrigeration Cycle

Your air conditioning system is able to provide cooling in the home thanks to the refrigeration cycle. Most homes have a central unit installed, so this example of how an air conditioning system operates will be based on that unit type. With a central system, electricity is the source of power and refrigerant will flow through refrigerant lines placed between the outside unit and the indoor portion of the system.

Warm air that is located inside the home will be pulled into the ductwork via a motorized fan. The refrigerant will then be pumped to the interior evaporator coil via the exterior compressor coil. This process absorbs the heat from the air.

The air is cooled and then pushed through the ductwork to enter each room of your home. This lowers the temperature and cool air will continue to circulate until the set temperature of the thermostat is reached.

Components of a Central Air Conditioning System

To be able to fully understand how the cooling process works, it is a good idea to understand the components of the system. A typical central unit will have the following components:

• Outdoor Unit: this portion of the system is located outside of the home and contains the condenser coil and compressor as well as a fan and electrical components. It is connected to the indoor unit via ductwork.
• Evaporator Coil: this component will be installed inside the home.
• Refrigerant Lines: the lines providing the refrigerant for cooling will be connected to the inside and outdoor equipment of the unit.
• Refrigerant: this is the liquid substance that moves through the refrigerant lines that helps to provide cooling in the home.
• Ductwork: series of air tunnels that connect to each room in the home. This is where the cooled air travels through to meet the temperature needs of the home.
• Thermostat: this is the control panel that is used to turn the unit off and on as well as set the temperature for your home.

Regular Maintenance

Now that you have an understanding of how a central air conditioning system works, it is important to learn more about maintenance. A central air conditioning unit requires regular maintenance in order to function properly. A unit that is maintained well will continue to function at a high rate of energy efficiency. Because of this, you will be spending less money to operate the system each summer, which means more money in your pocket.

For an air condition system, maintenance should be conducted in the spring, before summer arrives. This way, the HVAC technician can find any repair needs that might exist and fix them before you need your system. There is nothing worse than starting up your air conditioner for the first time in the summer to find that the unit is not working. By maintaining the system, repair needs, or issues are found quickly, which helps to avoid any issues when you need your AC unit.

Get to know your air conditioning system so you can have a unit that functions properly during the summer months, providing you and your family members with the comfort you need when temperatures begin to rise. If you have any questions or need service please contact our office.