When you turn on your air conditioner, you can be pretty sure that cool air is going to come out of the vents (as long as it is in working condition). This is accomplished by the inside coil and the refrigerant that makes it all possible. But there is a lot more to the mechanics and science behind it. This blog will explain how a typical air conditioner works, so you will understand why yours gets the job done. How Air Conditioning Works for Cooling
How Evaporator Coils Work
The evaporator coil is where the refrigerant absorbs heat and changes from a liquid to a gas. The air in your home passes through the coils, which are cooled by cold water circulating through them. This causes the refrigerant to absorb heat from this room-temperature air, which then changes its state of matter from liquid to gas (i.e., it evaporates). The next step of how an air conditioner works is for this vapor to be absorbed into an expansion valve so that it can be condensed back into a liquid before being sent back into your home’s system.
How Evaporation Cools the Air
As the refrigerant evaporates, it absorbs heat from the air. This process is called “heat transfer,” and it’s the same principle that occurs when you put a cold glass of water in front of your face on a hot day—the water cools your body by transferring its heat to you. The refrigerant then returns to its liquid state inside an air conditioner component called a condenser coil. The condenser coil consists of hundreds or thousands of thin metal tubes arranged in parallel rows like spokes on a wheel. The coils are connected to what’s called an expansion valve (also known as an expansion device or expander), which controls how much pressure builds up inside them as they compress air against them during compression mode.
How Condenser Coils Work
Condenser coils are located outside the home and are usually made of copper tubing. They are responsible for cooling the refrigerant after it leaves the evaporator coil (which is inside your home). The air surrounding these coils helps cool them down, and they also get cooled by their connection to a compressor. A compressor is an electrically powered device that compresses gases such as air or refrigerants. The process of compressing gas makes them hotter, so when these hot gases expand back into their original state, they release heat in the form of warm water vapor. This heat helps to keep your home cool once it reaches those condenser coils out on your roof!
The best way to keep your air conditioning unit running for a long time is to use it correctly and service it often. An HVAC contractor, such as All Climate Mechanical, can help you with making sure your air conditioner is in the best shape and cools your home this summer.
For your air conditioning maintenance and services, feel free to contact All Climate Mechanical before summer begins. We are your local HVAC contractor in Arden Hills, Minnesota. Contact us for an appointment!
No Comments
Be the first to start a conversation