A false notion many people have is that the air conditioner in your home is responsible for adding cool air inside your home, but it is actually drawing the heat away from it. The end result is the space feels significantly cooler with an excessive amount of heat removed. Essentially, the air conditioner takes advantage of the effects of evaporation. Today, we at Steve’s Heating and Air would like to share the basics of how your air conditioner runs in your Pine Belt, Mississippi home.
Air Conditioner Parts & Functions
Air conditioners require refrigerant, which is a chemical with a unique ability to change from a gas to a liquid in a short amount of time. The refrigerant is pumped into the unit to provide a small amount of lubricating oil for the compressor as well. The main components of a standard A/C unit consist of a condenser, an expansion valve, thermostat, and compressor. To circulate the conditioned air thin metal fins to dissipate quickly along with the help of motorized fans. The heaviest part of the air conditioner is the compressor where it has to be durable to withstand a significant amount of pressure.
How Does Air Conditioning Work?
The process of cooling an area begins with the refrigerant entering the compressor, generally at the bottom of the unit is where it is located. To start the process, the refrigerant begins as a cool gas. The gas becomes a very hot gas under high pressure as the gas enters the compressor’s inner chamber while the compressor squeezes the refrigerant through. A series of condensing coils are placed on the outside unit where the hot gas goes through. This hot gas goes through a series of condensing coil similar to the car’s radiator dissipating heat from the engine coolant. The refrigerant is then transformed into a much cooler liquid form by the time the refrigerant reaches the end of these coils. A very tiny opening, known as the expansion valve then forces the liquid refrigerant with high pressure. While traveling through another set of coils, the refrigerant begins to evaporate and as it evaporates the temperature is much cooler. As the evaporation process occurs, the air contained in the room and all surrounding air removes the heat. The unit’s fan blows across metal fins placed over these coils creating the cooling sensation. Until a thermostat registers a specific temperature and shuts off the compressor, the entire process cycles again just after the liquid refrigerant becomes a cold gas again and re-enters the compressor. Because the thermostat senses the added heat, the compressor will start up to create more of the hot pressurized gas when the room warms up. The compressor will shut off again at some point when he temperature of the room equals the cooling power of the air conditioner.
Central Air Conditioning Inspection, Repair & More in Purvis, Oak Grove, Dixie, Sunrise, Barrontown, Leeville, Petal & Hattiesburg MS & Pine Belt, Mississippi
When your Mississippi home’s air conditioner requires repairs, replacements, or maintenance service, call Steve’s Heating and Air and let our trained professionals assist you to ensure you are getting superior quality at an affordable cost.
