Your indoor comfort during the summer depends largely on certain important AC parts. Since we’re accustomed to receiving cool comfort at the push of a button, it’s easy to take for granted the engineering and technology incorporated into today’s air conditioner.
An air conditioner doesn’t actually make coolness, per se. It moves heat. Coolness is simply the state that’s left behind when heat energy is extracted from indoor air and released outdoors. Here are the important AC parts involved:
- Evaporator coil. Continuously circulating pressurized, gaseous refrigerant, the evaporator coil located in the indoor air handler extracts heat from indoor air flowing through coil passages. The temperature of the evaporator coil stays at about 40 degrees at all times while the system is running.
- Compressor. Located in the outdoor component of the central AC, this powerful motor is one of the most important AC parts, and it requires 220-volt electricity. Refrigerant vapor flowing from the indoor evaporator coil is compressed to a temperature of 120 degrees to 140 degrees as it leaves the compressor.
- Condenser coil. Also part of the outdoor AC component, the condenser receives hot, pressurized refrigerant. As it enters the condenser coil, the pressure of refrigerant gas rapidly declines and heat energy is released into outdoor air by the coil fins. At this point, the refrigerant converts into a liquid state and circles back to the indoor evaporator coil.
- Blowers. Two electric blowers push air through the two coils. Air cooled by the evaporator coil is pulled through household ductwork by the indoor blower to individual rooms throughout the house. Meanwhile, the condenser fan outdoors blows air through the condenser coil to disperse heat from the coil into outdoor air.
- Ductwork. These air conduits extend throughout the house, configured as two separate systems: supply and return. Supply ducts distribute conditioned air to every room, while return ducts return air to the central air handler for cooling or heating. A typical 2,000-square-foot home will incorporate about 225 linear feet of ductwork.
For more about the important AC parts and how they keep you comfortable, talk to the cooling pros at Ace Hardware Home Services.
