How Air Conditioning Systems Work

Air conditioning systems provide more than just cooling. They also dehumidify and remove airborne contaminants like dust particles, pet hair/dander, mold spores and other allergens that can cause asthma or trigger allergies. They also remove excess moisture that can lead to musty odors and mildew. In addition, the right system can help save energy by enabling the system to “economize” by using outside air rather than mechanically produced cool air when possible.

Air conditioners work based on a principle known as phase conversion. It’s the same principle that makes boiling water in a pot on the stove turn to steam and evaporate into a gas. Air conditioners employ a special substance, called refrigerant, that has the superpower of converting from liquid to gas and back again very quickly. This allows it to pick up heat from the air inside a house and carry it away to be dissipated.

Modern air conditioners come in many types, from portable units designed to fit into a window to central systems that use sheet metal ducting throughout a home or building. The type of air conditioning a property requires depends on many factors, from how much cooling is needed to the location of the property to whether or not the property has access to natural sunlight and shade.

Regardless of the type of air conditioning system, there are some basic steps that most systems follow to cool air and remove humidity. First, the compressor (or engine) turns the refrigerant into a high-pressure vapor. The vapor travels through the system to a radiator-type device, called the condenser, which dissipates some of the heat into the atmosphere by the physical force of air flow over the coils. The rest of the heat is removed from the refrigerant by a fan that blows cool air across the condenser. The cooled refrigerant then travels to the evaporator, where the process starts over again with fresh, cool air being blown into the conditioned space.

The air conditioned and dehumidified air is then circulated through the ducts of a property, which is either done by an electric motor or by natural drafts, depending on the type of air conditioning system. A filter above the evaporator coils removes any remaining debris and helps ensure that the system is operating at peak efficiency.

Generally speaking, the best way to keep an air conditioning system working well is to perform regular maintenance and repairs as needed. For example, a dirty filter can reduce air flow and cause the unit to work harder, while replacing old filters can help improve airflow and prevent dust from clogging the evaporator coils. If an air conditioning system is not working properly, a professional should be consulted to diagnose the issue and determine whether or not there are any underlying problems with the equipment. An a/c expert will usually recommend some sort of maintenance or repair to keep the air conditioning system in good working condition. This can include anything from a simple cleaning of the fan to replacing the condenser coils.

from Temper Troops https://ift.tt/RMZxDni