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How Does Air Conditioning Work?


As the top air conditioning service in Fayetteville NC, we know a thing or two about the machines that cool your home. Here’s a bit of information about exactly how your air conditioning works. Knowing this, you’ll be better equipped to take care of the unit, recognize a problem and perhaps know the importance of an annual professional checkup!

How Exactly Does Air Conditioning Work?

Your air conditioning unit works much the same way a refrigerator works, but instead of cooling a small, insulated space, it cools an entire room or house. Contrary to popular belief, air conditioning does not work by cooling a space, but rather by removing heat from the air through a unique, three-step process involving chemicals that easily convert from a gas to a liquid and back to a gas.

What Are The Components of an Air Conditioning System?

An air conditioning unit is comprised of three parts: the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator. The compressor and condenser are located outside the home in the bulky units seen on the side of your home, while the evaporator remains inside, often near the furnace.

A fluid comprised of special chemicals enters the compressor as a cool, low-pressure gas. The fluid is then compressed, causing the molecules to compact together under high energy and temperatures. The pressure converts the fluid to a hot, high-pressure gas, which is forced out of the compressor into the condenser.

The condenser functions much like a radiator in a car and helps reduce or dissipate heat. After its time in the condenser, the fluid is much cooler, but still under immense pressure.

This cooler gas flows through a very narrow hole in the evaporator. The liquid’s pressure drops tremendously during this phase and converts back into a cool, low-pressure gas. A fan is attached to the evaporator and circulates the cool air into the house. This cool air is blown all over the house, and the process is repeated until the house reaches the desired room temperature.

As the cool, low-pressure gas in the evaporator is released, it extracts the heat from the air and converts back into a liquid, which is pumped back to the compressor. Heat rises, and cold air sinks, so hot air rises to the top of a room. Air vents along the ceiling collect the hot air and pump it back through to the evaporator.

The thermostat monitors the temperature and turns off the air conditioning unit when the proper temperature is reached. It will turn the unit back on as the room warms.

Regular Air Conditioning Check-Ups

Regular maintenance checks on your air conditioning unit will ensure it functions exactly as it should at all times, particularly during our blistering summer months. Don’t get stuck in the heat! Blanton’s Heating & Air will keep your unit in tip-top shape and keep your home cool.

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4.9
Based on 8924 reviews
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