They are the evaporator, the condenser, the compressor and the expansion valve. Each of these components of the air conditioner works in sync with each other and has a specific function to perform to keep the air conditioner running smoothly. There are four main components of an air conditioning system. Each of these components of the air conditioner works in sync with each other and has a specific function to fulfill: keeping the air conditioner running like a well-oiled machine.
In a mini-split air conditioner, the evaporator coil is located in the indoor unit, while in a central system, it is located in the air controller. The refrigerant, which flows through the system, is cooled to a low temperature just before entering the evaporator coils. As hot air from your home enters the air conditioning unit, it passes through the cold evaporator coils, which extract heat and cool the air. Then, fans located behind the evaporator coil return this cold air to the interior, reducing the temperature of the house.
However, be sure to keep the coils clean, as over time, dirt and dust can accumulate on them and reduce their efficiency. The accumulation of this dust can also block the condensation drain and cause refrigerant leaks. While protected by the air filter, annual cleaning will help keep the evaporator coils in the best condition. Perhaps the most important of all the components of air conditioning, the compressor is the workhorse of air conditioning.
For central and split systems, the compressor is located in the outdoor unit. Most of an air conditioner's energy consumption is due to the compressor, and it's usually the most expensive part of the system. The purpose of the compressor is, as the name suggests, to compress the refrigerant, which is a hot vapor that reaches the compressor, into a hot compressed liquid. As the air conditioning process continues, it cools and expands again to remove heat from indoor air. More on this later in the article.
Depending on the size of your air conditioner, the size of the compressor will vary. You can keep the most important air conditioning component in good condition by frequently checking for refrigerant leaks, avoiding dirt and contamination, keeping the condenser coils clean and keeping the air conditioner well-oiled. The opposite of the evaporator, the condenser coil, draws heat from the refrigerant and expels it to the outside environment. It's located in the outdoor unit of your air conditioner.
The evaporator coil works effectively in the opposite direction to the condenser, with a fan that expels heat. If you stay outside the outdoor unit of your air conditioner, you will feel warm air coming out. This is the heat that the condenser expels during the process by changing the refrigerant from hot vapor to hot liquid. Between the condenser and the evaporator, there is another small device called an expansion valve.
Because the coolant is now liquid, it will not be able to absorb heat. In the expansion valve, the refrigerant expands into gas after suffering a pressure drop and also cools rapidly. This cooled gaseous refrigerant is then passed to the evaporator coils to repeat the air conditioning process. Common refrigerants include R-410A and R-22, the latter of which is slowly becoming obsolete.
See our article on air conditioning refrigerants for more information on them. The thermostat acts as the “brain” of your home's air conditioning system. Control when the heating and air conditioning system turns on and off depending on your preferred configuration. The thermostats are located in the center for convenience and are placed away from direct sunlight and heat-generating devices to ensure accurate readings. Depending on the type of thermostat you buy, you can control it manually (manual thermostat), preset the temperature according to the day of the week and the time of day (programmable thermostat) or change it remotely from your smartphone (smart thermostat).
Smart thermostats can use geolocation technology to automatically adjust settings based on the location of the smartphone. The air controller, located inside, houses the HVAC components necessary for air conditioning to circulate in homes or buildings, and plays a fundamental role in maintaining a comfortable indoor environment. It contains several key HVAC components, including the fan, the fan motor, the air filter, and the evaporator coil. The evaporator coil is a crucial component of an air conditioning and heat pump system.
It facilitates cooling by absorbing heat from the interior as the refrigerant passes through it, causing the refrigerant to evaporate. As hot air contracts the cold coil, moisture from the air condenses on the surface of the coil, contributing to dehumidification, while cool, dehumidified air circulates back to space interior. Heat pumps, on the other hand, use the evaporator coil in heating and cooling modes. During the heating mode, the evaporator coil of the heat pump draws heat from the outside air and transfers it to the interior through the process of compressing and condensing the refrigerant, effectively heating the interior space.
The condenser coil, which is part of the central air conditioning and heat pump systems, is located inside the outdoor condensing unit (the large box next to the house). Collaborate with the inner evaporator coil for regulate the indoor temperature. Throughout the cooling cycle, the condenser releases heat absorbed from indoor environments to outside air. The proper functioning of the condenser coil during heat transfer is essential for the overall performance and efficiency of the system.
A qualified HVAC technician must clean the condenser coil at least once a year during an HVAC tune-up. While air conditioners and central heat pumps work by transferring heat between indoor and outdoor spaces for cooling, a gas furnace depends on an indoor heat exchanger to generate heat. Located inside the furnace, the heat exchanger absorbs heat from the flue gases and transfers it to the surrounding air. This warm air is then distributed through ducts to provide heat.
Annual furnace maintenance ensures that the entire heating system, including the heat exchanger, works properly and is in good condition. Cracks in the heat exchanger can cause harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide, to be emitted to living areas, which can cause health problems and potential hazards. The ductwork is responsible for transporting air conditioning across a home or business and distributing it to living or work areas through ventilation grilles. Usually, the ducts are out of sight between the walls or in the attic.
Regular inspections are necessary to ensure that there are no leaks that could cause a loss of air conditioning, which can increase energy costs and cause greater wear and tear on the system. Heat exchangers are responsible for heat transfer. They carry heat from one place to another and use it for both heating and cooling. An air conditioner uses a chemical liquid called a refrigerant to move heat and convert it into cool air that is expelled through ducts and vents into a room.
In gas ovens, the exchanger heats the indoor air with the furnace's flue gases and distributes the hot air throughout the space; the exhaust gases are vented through an outdoor chimney to prevent poisoning. In addition to these main components, you will also learn about the smaller parts that allow the HVAC system to operate, how they work, and how to diagnose, troubleshoot, repair and replace the Parts. The job of an HVAC technician is to listen to customers, identify their problems and diagnose the problem in the system which parts of the system are most likely to cause problems. If you're thinking about becoming an HVAC technician, you're probably researching what the job is and how an HVAC system works.
Many vocational HVAC schools now include refrigeration repair and training in their HVAC training programs. Compression can be achieved through several different mechanical processes and, as a result, several compressor designs are currently used in HVAC and refrigeration.
