How Your Air Conditioner Works
Heating and air conditioning are important contributors to a comfortable and enjoyable home atmosphere. Understanding just how your air conditioner works equips you as a homeowner for proper HVAC care.
Parts of Your Home AC System
Most homeowners believe that the air conditioner is the machine sitting outside in the backyard. That machine is called the condenser unit and only comprises half of the air conditioning system.
The condenser unit is a collection of coils filled with refrigerant, which is crucial for the cooling process. The compressor compresses the refrigerant and prepares it by dropping its core temperature.
Refrigerant is more popularly known by the brand refrigerant and is a gas contained in a sealed pipe system. Unless there is a leak in the pipe system, there is no need to refill the refrigerant supply, though the pressure may need adjustment with maintenance.
The second half of the air conditioner is another set of coils. The evaporator coils sits on top of the furnace and is about the size of two or three microwaves. Connecting the condenser unit to the evaporator coils are two pipes through which refrigerant travels back and forth.
The Cooling Process
Once the air conditioning process begins, air from inside of the home is drawn in through the return grill. First, it passes through the filter where any airborne particles such as dander or pet hair are strained out. Then, the air continues its path to be conditioned.
At the same time, the condenser unit kicks into gear, compressing the refrigerant and dropping its core temperature. The refrigerant travels through the pipe and enters the evaporator coils. The evaporator coils grow extremely cold from the compressed refrigerant. The filtered air passes over the coils and a heat transfer takes place. Approximately 15 to 20 degrees of heat is removed from the air each time it passes over the evaporator coils. The conditioned air is then pushed through the duct system and registers back into the home.
Once enough air passes through the evaporator coils, the refrigerant re-expands as it has absorbed the heat from the ambient air. It travels through the second set of pipes back to the condenser where it is again compressed to be reused. This process repeats itself until indoor air temperature has reached what has been set on the thermostat.
Top Air Conditioning Care by Service Champions
Ensuring high quality heating and air conditioning has always been the main concern for Service Champions technicians and specialists. Our teams work to deliver superior customer service and expert technical care with every visit. With Service Champions, you can have air conditioning tailored to your home lifestyle and comfort needs.
Service Champions Heating & Air Conditioning is the only Diamond Certified HVAC provider for Orange and Los Angeles counties. We lead in heating and air conditioning repairs, installations, maintenance, tune-ups and sales.
To learn more about our approach to air care and other HVAC services, please contact one of our friendly representatives in the call center or book an appointment online.
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