How Does Air Conditioning Work?

Most homeowners have cooling systems in their homes, but many don’t fully understand how their air conditioner works.

Being familiar with the process and parts of your AC can help you determine if your system needs maintenance, repair, or even replacement.

The Basic Principles of Air Conditioning

The fundamental concept of most cooling systems is to remove heat and humidity from indoor air to create a cooler, more comfortable atmosphere.

Central ACs do this using the refrigeration cycle, which includes evaporation, compression, condensation, and expansion. The goal isn’t just to blow cool air into your home, but to maintain consistent indoor comfort.

Key Components of an Air Conditioner

There are four main parts of an air conditioner:

• Compressor: Your compressor, a part of the outside unit, raises the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant gas and sends it to the condenser.
• Condenser coil: Located in your outside unit, the condenser releases the heat absorbed by your evaporator coil by condensing the refrigerant back to its liquid form.
• Expansion valve: This part regulates the amount and flow of your refrigerant to the evaporator coil.
• Evaporator coil: Located in the indoor unit of your AC, the condenser coil absorbs heat from your home’s air.

Other important aspects of your air conditioner include your system’s fan, air filters, and the thermostat.

Step-by-Step Cooling Process

First, your refrigerant, or coolant, enters your AC’s compressor as a gas. The compressor raises the coolant’s temperature and pressure and sends it to the condenser coil.

The condenser coil removes the heat from the refrigerant, effectively changing it to a liquid. The liquid refrigerant is then sent to the expansion valve, which reduces its pressure.

The refrigerant then enters the evaporator coil, where it absorbs heat from the air inside your home, producing cool air, which is then circulated throughout your home using a duct system.

Types of Air Conditioning Systems

There are several different types of air conditioning systems, each of which uses a similar process even with different components:

• Central air systems provide whole-home cooling. They use an indoor and outdoor unit connected by a refrigerant line and a system of ductwork to deliver cooled air throughout the home.
• Split systems are similar to central ACs, as they also have indoor and outdoor components, but they don’t use ductwork and can provide zoned cooling throughout your home.
• Window units use the same cooling process as the other systems, but on a much smaller scale, providing air conditioning to a single room or area of a home.

Each system is suited for different spaces and offers a different level of energy efficiency. The technicians at Len The Plumber Heating & Air can help you determine which cooling system is right for your needs and budget.

Common Questions About Air Conditioning

Why does the AC remove humidity as well as heat?

The refrigeration process causes the water vapor in your home’s air to condense, which is then removed on the evaporator coils.

How often should filters be changed to keep the system working?

If your system requires a standard 1-inch filter, you should replace it every 30 to 90 days to ensure your system continues to work optimally. If your system requires 4-inch filters, those should be replaced every six to 12 months.

What maintenance keeps air conditioners running efficiently?

It’s best to schedule professional AC maintenance each spring to ensure your system is working properly and efficiently. We offer a convenient Whole-Home Service Plan to keep your HVAC system running reliably year-round.

Choose Len The Plumber Heating & Air for AC Services in the Mid-Atlantic Region

The experts at Len The Plumber Heating & Air provide a wide range of heating, cooling, and air quality services in Baltimore, MD, Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey.

We offer 24/7 emergency repairs with no extra charges for evening, weekend, or overtime services, and we provide upfront pricing before work begins, so there are no surprise fees.

Schedule HVAC services with a team you can trust. Contact the experienced technicians at Len The Plumber Heating & Air.