Central air conditioning has forever changed our homes and lifestyles during the hot and humid months in south Florida. While ductless mini splits share many of the same features as conventional systems, the term “central air” refers to the split arrangement of an outdoor compressor and indoor air handler, which blows cool air through ductwork. It is still the most popular way to cool your home in America, and advances in AC technology have made many of today’s units extremely energy efficient. Knowing the basics of how your central air conditioning works can help you recognize problems before they become major repairs, and stay on top of your cooling performance. For air conditioning in Tampa Bay, call Forest Air today!
Central air conditioning has four major parts of the refrigerant cycle: the compressor and condenser coil housed in the outdoor unit, and the air handler and evaporator coil housed in the indoor unit, typically next to or on top of the furnace in your basement. Refrigerant moves through this system in one direction, and various pressure points and valves cause it to change from a gas to a liquid and back again. The refrigerant is chemically designed to produce dramatic shifts in temperature under pressure, and this provides heat dissipation and cooling.
The cooling process begins with the thermostat calling for temperature adjustment. The AC begins to extract air from the house through the return ductwork, where it is filtered, and brought into the air handler. This device pushes the warm air across the evaporator coil, where the refrigerant absorbs the heat. This heat vaporizes the refrigerant and pushes it to the compressor outside. At this point, a vertical fan extracts the heat out of the refrigerant running through the condenser coil. Heat dissipates into the outside air. The refrigerant then passes through an expansion valve that converts it to a very cold liquid, which returns to the evaporator coil, and provides the temperature necessary for cold air to return through the supply ductwork into your home.
We hope this helps you understand how your central air conditioning works. For comprehensive air conditioning service in Tampa Bay, FL, call Forest Air today!