How ACs Work
How Do Air Conditioners Work?
Air conditioners work to cool off the air inside your home. You may not know that cooling is not their only function; they also play an important role in ensuring that you are comfortable by removing humidity from the air in your home as well. Air conditioners work by using refrigerant that converts from a gas to a liquid and back to a gas. Heat from the air inside your home is transferred outside.
Air conditioners have three main parts: a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. Most air conditioners are split units, meaning some parts are located outside of your home and the rest is located inside your home. The compressor and condenser are usually located in the outside portion and the evaporator is located on the inside. Most South Florida homes do not have a heating system, but if there is a furnace, the evaporator is sometimes part of the furnace. Here is a listing of what each of the parts do when cooling off your home:
- Evaporator – Receives the liquid refrigerant
- Condenser – Facilitates heat transfer
- Expansion valve – regulates refrigerant flow into the evaporator
- Compressor – A pump that pressurizes refrigerant
The refrigerant that is inside the air conditioner is what cools off the air as it passes through the evaporator coils. The fans and duct system all push air into the coils so that the air can be cooled down. The coils are chilled by the refrigerant. During this process, the extra moisture and liquid is drained and collected, this is how humidity is removed from the cooler air that is pumped through your home.
The warm air is released back into the outside. The thermostat lets the air conditioner know when your home has reached the desired temperature and then it stops the cooling process automatically. If the air temperature rises above the level you have set it at, the system automatically turns on and begins cooling again. Another important part of the air conditioner that we should mention is the air conditioner filter. This is a mesh material guard that filters out dust and debris and prevents it from being blown through your home with the cool air.
Air Conditioner Efficiency at Work
Air conditioner efficiency is very importantwhen it comes to cooling your home. Especially here in South Florida, when air conditioners are utilized all year round, understanding how your air conditioner works can contribute to the efficiency of your unit. When your air conditioner runs at its most efficient levels, it helps the environment by reducing the usage of fossil fuels and energy while also reducing air conditioner yearly operating costs.
There are slightly different variations of the air conditioner as described above and new air conditioners are being developed all the time. When purchasing a new air conditioner, you should be sure to check the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating to get one that is the most efficient and will save you the most money. Air conditioner efficiency and rating is governed by U.S. laws and regulated by the Department of Energy. New air conditioners its must have a SEER rating of 13 or higher. If you want to find the most efficient air conditioner and also one that has the least impact on our environment, then you should choose one that is part of the Energy Star Program.