For many residents of Katy, TX, and the surrounding areas, the air conditioner is an indispensable part of everyday life, especially during those sweltering summer months. But how much do you know about this vital piece of equipment that keeps your home comfortable? Eddie’s Heating & Air Conditioning is here to help explain how residential AC systems work. Let’s dive into the components and functionality of your home AC.
The Basics: What Does An Air Conditioner Do?
At its core, an air conditioner is a machine designed to move heat from the inside of your home to the outside, thereby cooling your living space. It does this by converting warm air into cool with the help of a refrigerant.
Key Components of an Air Conditioner
Thermostat
This is the main control panel of an air conditioner. It detects the room’s air temperature and compares it with your desired temperature. When the room is too warm, the thermostat signals the AC to start cooling.
Evaporator Coil
Located inside your home, the evaporator coil is filled with refrigerant. When warm air passes over these coils, the refrigerant absorbs the heat, leaving the air cooler as it continues its journey through the system.
Condenser Coil
This is the counterpart to your evaporator coil but is located outside. Here, the refrigerant, having converted from a vapor to a liquid form after absorbing indoor heat, releases that heat to the outdoor air.
Compressor
Also located outside your home, the compressor plays a crucial role. It circulates the refrigerant between the evaporator and condenser coils, ensuring the refrigerant’s phase changes from gas to liquid and vice versa.
Expansion Valve
This component regulates the flow of the refrigerant into the evaporator coil, ensuring the correct amount of cooling.
Air Handler & Blower
These ensure the proper circulation of air over the evaporator coil and distribute the cooled air throughout your home.
Filters
Filters trap dust, pollen, and other airborne particles, ensuring that the air circulating through your home is clean.
How Do AC Components All Work Together?
- Cooling Cycle Begins: When your home’s temperature rises above your thermostat setting, the cooling cycle starts.
- Drawing in Warm Air: The system pulls warm air from your home through return ducts and passes it over the cold evaporator coil.
- Refrigerant Absorbs Heat: As the warm air moves over the evaporator coils, the refrigerant inside these coils absorbs the heat, turning from a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure liquid.
- Expelling the Heat: The high-pressure refrigerant moves to the outdoor condenser coil where it releases the heat that is absorbed from your home.
- Refrigerant is Recycled: The compressor pumps the refrigerant back into the evaporator coil, and the cycle begins anew.
Regular Maintenance is Key
To ensure that your AC runs efficiently, regular maintenance is essential. Clean or replace filters, check for refrigerant leaks and ensure all components are in good working order. Having periodic check-ups by professionals, like the team at Eddie’s Heating & Air Conditioning, can extend your system’s lifespan and ensure optimal performance. Learn more about our air conditioning maintenance plans here.
For HVAC Services in Katy, TX, and The Surrounding Areas, Trust Eddie’s Heating & Air Conditioning
Understanding the intricacies of your residential air conditioning system empowers you to use and maintain it more effectively. At Eddie’s Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re the number one choice for AC repair and AC installation in Katy, TX, and the surrounding areas. To schedule an estimate, contact us online today or over the phone.