Air Conditioner Basics
An air conditioner is an important part of your home, but it’s not uncommon to not know much about it. You set the thermostat to the temperature you like, and don’t think much more about it. In this article you can learn the general basics of an air conditioner. How it works, how they differ, and how to help them last longer.
An air conditioner is a central cooling systems that works with the ductwork to cool your home. It works by drawing out the inside air and removing the heat. Here is a more detailed explanation of how an air conditioner works from Trane’s website,
The compressor condenses and circulates the refrigerant through the outdoor unit, changing it from a gas to a liquid. The liquid is then forced through the indoor evaporator coil or cooling compartment. The indoor unit’s fan circulates the inside air to pass across the evaporator fins. The evaporator’s metal fins exchange the thermal energy with the air around it. There, the refrigerant turns from liquid into vapor, removing any heat from the surrounding air. As the heat is removed from the air, the air is cooled and blown back into the house.
From that point, the condenser or outdoor unit then turns the refrigerant vapor back into a liquid, removing any heat. By the time the fluid leaves the evaporator again, it is a cool, low-pressure gas, eventually returning to the condensor to begin its trip all over again. This process continues again and again until your home reaches the cooling temperature you want, as programmed and sensed by your thermostat setting.
An air conditioner and heat pump work similar to cool your home by pulling the heat out. Air conditioners differ from each other based on two factors. The size of the system which is determined by how much cooling is needed in your home. The other factor is the SEER rating. The SEER rating indicates how energy efficient your air conditioner is. SEER ratings start at 14 SEER and go up to 20 SEER.
After purchasing a new air conditioner, or if you have an older system, it is very important that it is serviced annually. By having an annual inspection completed on your system, parts will be cleaned and potential problems can be caught early. If your air conditioner is maintained properly you can possibly lower your energy bills, and prolong the lifespan of your system. If you’re interested in having AC maintenance, give our office a call and you can learn about the different options.
Air conditioners are a must in southeast North Carolina in order to be comfortable in your home. Though during the winter, straight AC systems will need to be matched with a heating system. Besides straight air conditioners, we offer other products that will also cool your home. These products include; heat pumps, ductless systems, and geothermal systems.
If you have any questions about your air conditioner, or are interested in a new air conditioner, give O’Brien a call.
