During the summer months, your air conditioner keeps you cool with ease. But have you ever wondered what all parts make up an air conditioner and why they’re so influential to the operation of keeping you cool throughout the sweltering summers? You’re in luck because our HVAC specialists at Blue Ash Furnace & Air Conditioning help explain what critical components make up an air conditioner and why they’re so crucial to the function of your home comfort equipment.
Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil is often positioned inside an air conditioner’s air handler. The goal of an evaporator coil is to absorb heat from passing air, cool it down, and then send it back into the home. Because of its thermal conductivity, copper is utilized in the evaporator coils. Copper is more efficient and less difficult to maintain than aluminum, which is used in many other components. However, you must remember to clean and maintain your evaporator coils on a regular basis because collected dirt and dust might reduce their efficiency over time.
Compressor
The compressor in an air conditioner works by compressing refrigerant from the evaporator coil to the outdoor condenser coil, where most energy consumption takes place. Because air conditioners vary in size, compressors are pumps that come in a variety of sizes. The compressor, therefore, is the most essential and costly component of your home cooling system.
Condenser Coil
In a nutshell, your HVAC system’s evaporator coil works the opposite way that your condenser does: it blows heat away from it with a fan. The condenser coils are located inside your outdoor unit and are responsible for removing heat from the refrigerant and sending it to the outdoor environment.
Expansion Valve
The expansion valve is installed between the evaporator and condenser. After it encounters a pressure drop, this component expands refrigerant into a gas, causing it to chill rapidly. The cooled gaseous refrigerant then passes through the evaporator coils to restart the air conditioning process.
Air Filter
Your HVAC system’s air filter removes dirt, pollen, dust, and other impurities from the cool air before circulating throughout your home. Air filters are screens with mesh that remove pollutants from the air and must be changed every 1 to 3 months. Depending on whether you want to preserve your system or improve indoor air quality and energy savings, there are several choices for air filters.
Refrigerant
Because it has come up several times in this article, you’re undoubtedly wondering what refrigerant is if you’re not already familiar. The substance that keeps your home’s air cold is known as refrigerant. This stuff travels through a grid of steel or copper tubes within your home cooling system and has properties that allow it to expand and condense in order to heat or cool a room.
Thermostat
Thermostats are necessary for your house and HVAC system to maintain the ideal temperature and level of comfort. Thermostats notify your HVAC unit about your preferences for comfortable living. In addition, your thermostat is used to switch on or off your air conditioner to maintain the proper temperature by incorporating built-in temperature and humidity sensors.
Because of the current insight of air conditioners and their components, understanding how your home cooling system works should be as simple as ever! Blue Ash Furnace & Air Conditioning’s HVAC specialists, on the other hand, are here to help if you’re still having trouble with your air conditioner and want expert assistance. Call us today at (513) 216-5664 or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!