How Your Air Conditioner Works
Air conditioners are designed to filter and cool air, lower humidity levels, and deodorise it. They also control the temperature of air and can reheat it if necessary.
These systems consist of an outdoor unit with compressor, condenser, and expansion coils and an indoor unit that houses the cooling coil. They are a great Air conditioner choice for single rooms or open-plan spaces.
How They Work
The air conditioner in your home or business works through a simple process that moves the warm air out of your property and replaces it with cool air. Whether your property has a traditional split system with an outdoor unit and indoor air handler, or a packaged air conditioner that’s all in one, it all operates on the same principles.
The process starts when your thermostat, a device that senses the temperature in your property, sends a signal to the air conditioner to begin the cooling cycle. Then, the compressor starts circulating the refrigerant through the evaporator coils. As the fans push the air through these coils, the refrigerant heats up and turns from a liquid to a vapor. This vapor absorbs the warm air, and when it’s cooler than your desired setting, it passes through the expansion valve to return to the compressor to start the process over again.
This cycle continues until your property is comfortable. The reason that modern AC systems can remove so much more heat than older models could is because they use a heat pump to move energy from one place to another. Essentially, they pull the heat out of your property and dump it (plus all its waste energy) outside. The difference is that modern air conditioners are much more efficient at doing this because they don’t consume any additional energy while they’re doing it.
Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil is the part of your air conditioning system that cools your home. It contains a series of copper tubes that house a super cold chemical refrigerant. When the blower fan passes warm indoor air over this coil, it causes the refrigerant to evaporate and change from a liquid into a gaseous state. This process absorbs heat from the indoor air, cooling it in the process.
The evaporator coil also needs to be kept clean, which can only be accomplished by booking regular air conditioning services with a qualified technician. This will help prevent dust and dirt buildup that can impact the coil’s ability to absorb and cool your home. Dirty evaporator coils can also lead to higher energy bills as the system works harder to cool your home.
A dirty evaporator coil can promote the growth of mold and bacteria, which can affect your health. A professional assessment of your evaporator coil by an HVAC expert can help you decide whether it should be cleaned or replaced.
The cost to replace your evaporator coil will depend on your AC unit type, the installation requirements of your home, and regional pricing variations. It is always best to contact an experienced HVAC technician and let them take care of the replacement process for you. By doing it yourself, you could void your home warranty policy and risk damaging the new coil or causing damage to other parts of your system.
Condenser Coil
The condenser coil is found in the outdoor unit of your air conditioning system and is responsible for releasing heat back into the environment. When warm air passes over the coil, the refrigerant in a gaseous state releases the heat it has absorbed into the environment. This cooled air is then circulated throughout the space in your home. The condenser coil is a vital part of your air conditioner’s ability to efficiently cool the home or office. It is also an important part of your air conditioner’s energy efficiency rating. Regular inspections, cleanings, and maintenance are critical to ensuring the condenser coil is able to properly release heat from the space.
The process of transferring heat energy between your evaporator and condenser coils is a delicate balance that can be easily disrupted by dirt and debris. A dirty evaporator or condenser coil can reduce the surface area available for heat transfer, which can lead to a decrease in your air conditioner’s cooling capability.
Dirty condenser coils can also increase your energy costs due to the excess strain they place on the compressor. The condenser coil can also become damaged over time if it is not regularly inspected and cleaned.
Thermostat
Your home thermostat keeps track of the air temperature and tells your air conditioner whether or not it should turn on. It should be located in a location away from drafts, doorways, skylights, and windows to avoid receiving inaccurate readings. It should also be placed between 52 and 60 inches above the floor so that it receives an average reading of the room temperature.
A thermostat senses the temperature of a room by taking in the air Air conditioner distributor that passes over it and measuring it against the setting you have chosen. It does this by reading the temperature of the return vents. If it is above the desired set point (such as 78 degrees Fahrenheit) the system will turn on. If it is below, the system will shut off.
Thermostats can be digital, electromechanical, or some combination of the two. Digital models offer the most features in terms of multiple settings and overrides. They are more accurate than mechanical models.
Many digital models allow you to create a daily cooling schedule. They can be set to begin cooling before you wake up or go to sleep and to return to a normal temperature at the time you want to arrive home. They can even save energy by altering your cooling schedule during peak energy consumption hours. You can also use a smartphone app to control your thermostat remotely.
