June 16, 2021
Heat Pump in Austin, TX

Most people think of an air conditioner system as a device that automatically generates cool air for cooling their homes. The air conditioning system mode of operation is the same as that of a refrigerator. A properly working AC unit will help you attain the desired room temperature in your home at any given time.

Generally, air conditioners have two parts connected to help you cool your home. It has an outdoor component and an indoor unit. The outdoor component contains the air conditioner’s condenser coils while the indoor unit has the compressor coils. Here is an overview of how these two parts make your AC system work:

A Summary of the Cooling Process

The air conditioning process involves the movement of both warm and cold air from high-temperature areas or areas with low temperatures. They generally offer an ideal way of maintaining a comfortable environment within your home on a hotter day.

Once you turn your air conditioner on, it works to remove the warm air and replace it with cold air until the house attains the desired temperatures. To better understand how air conditioning works, we will look at the functions of some of its components. Some of the air conditioner components include the:

  • Thermostat
  • Compressor
  • Condenser
  • Evaporator
  • Expansion valve

Thermostat

The main function of the thermostat is to control the entire cooling system and the cooling process by either activating or deactivating the air conditioner. Once the power supply is turned on, the thermostat usually senses the home temperatures, and if below the desired level, it will send a signal to activate the system.

It is generally made of a bimetallic strip that bends to make or break contact for activating or deactivating the cooling process. Traditional thermostats have two points of contact, and the system starts following the second contact. However, the newer thermostats work more accurately and are more responsive to temperature changes.

The Evaporator

Your air conditioning unit uses a substance known as the refrigerant to cool the warm air collected from the various rooms of your house. Generally, a refrigerant is highly volatile, meaning it is sensitive to temperature changes. The refrigerant coils house this coolant substance.

Once the system blows the hot air from your house, it passes the air filters. Air filters usually help separate all dirt and other air particles from getting into your air conditioning system. The air filters are generally positioned along the air intake points.

Over the evaporator coils, the refrigerant absorbs the heat from the warm air. As the refrigerant continues to absorb heat, it turns to a gaseous state from the liquid form.

Compressor

After absorbing enough heat, the gaseous refrigerant proceeds to a unit known as the compressor. And as the name implies, its main function is to compress the refrigerant and maintain it at high pressure.

In addition to compressing the refrigerant, the compressor works to ensure your cooling system’s effective and continuous functioning. It is usually in the exterior unit found outside your building, and it connects with the indoor components via the refrigerant pipes.

Condenser

The high-pressure gaseous refrigerant leaves the compressor unit and goes to the condenser unit, where it is condensed back to its initial liquid state. At this stage, the heat absorbed from the collected warm air is dumped into the surrounding environment. The coolant flowing from the condenser unit to the evaporator is usually controlled by the throttle devices and the expansion valves. The throttle valves help control refrigerant flow between the evaporator coils and the condenser coils after releasing the heat and converting it back to liquid.

Air Distribution

Generally, ducts allow cool air distribution to the various rooms within your house. They are usually hollow tubes through which the AC system collects the hot air and the cool air.

The ends of these ducts are the vents found in various rooms within your home. Remember to make sure they are free from any obstructions for an effective cooling process. The cooling process usually goes on until the air conditioner attains the set cooling levels.

Are you considering installing an AC system in your home? If so, contact Totally Cool Heating & Air today. At Totally Cool Heating & Air, we offer reliable air conditioning services around Austin, TX. All our technicians are well-trained, licensed, and insured to provide quality installation, repair, and maintenance for all your heating, cooling, and air quality systems. We also work round the clock to ensure that your AC is working to your satisfaction. Call us today and schedule a consultation.

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