A furnace system comes standard on almost all dwellings in North America. By simply turning a dial, residents can increase the heat in their homes to the temperature they desire. But what about the summer months, when the extreme heat has us over-perspiring? Shouldn't it be just as easy to turn down the temperature in our homes, as it is to turn it up?
An air conditioning system can provide the relief needed from the hot months between May and September. These units work alongside your heating system to keep the family home at the ideal temperature.
Understanding how an air conditioning unit works is the first step towards investing in one. Below is a quick description of the basic parts of an air conditioning unit.
1. The Compressor - The compressor is the engine of an air conditioning unit. It works in conjunction with chemicals (working fluid) that easily change from a gas to a liquid. The compressor's job is to compress low-pressure refrigerant gas into a high pressure, high temperature gas. By squeezing the refrigerant gas, the compressor reduces the space between the molecules, energizing the gas. This product then leaves the compressor and enters the condenser.
2. The Condenser - In the condenser, the high-pressure gas is cooled with a fan and turns back to a liquid. This working fluid is then fed into the next component, the evaporator. Both the compressor and the condenser are located on the exterior side of the dwelling.
3. The Evaporator - This component is found inside the residence. It is usually, but not always, located in the vicinity of the furnace. The piping between the evaporator and the condenser is extremely thin. Once the liquid reaches the evaporator section, the once high-pressure gas is now a low pressure liquid. As the pressure drops, the liquid returns to a gas state. During this process the working fluid extracts the heat from the air, cooling it. From the evaporator, the working fluid leaves as a gas to be re-pressurized by the compressor. This cyclical motion is identical to the process that occurs in your refrigerator.
4. Air Handler / Blowing Unit - These two components bring room air to the evaporator and then distribute the cooler air back into the house. A duct system is employed to move the air around the dwelling.
5. Thermostat - Set it and the air conditioning unit does the rest of the work.
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