The temperatures are hitting record numbers across the country and many homes are utilizing some kind of air conditioner to combat the seasonal heat. Although we are all appreciative that your air conditioner works, the team at ACE Solutions in Hasbrouck Heights wants to give you a glimpse at just how an AC system works.
The Basics
There’s plenty of science regarding keeping your home cooler. Your air conditioner functions in a similar way to your refrigerator, of course your AC has a more difficult task to tackle. Both your fridge and AC cool with a consistent loop of refrigerant, with your AC this refrigerant loops from inside to outside your home. This refrigerant quickly converts from a liquid to gas and back to a liquid again. It goes into your residence as a sub-cooled liquid and as it evaporates it absorbs heat from your indoor air and turns back into vapor. This vapor then moves back to the unit outside where the heat is released and is then condensed back into a sub-cooled liquid.
Four Components
There are 4 main sections to your AC system: a compressor, an evaporator coil, the condensing coil and an expansion valve.
The evaporator coil is the place your refrigerant evaporates from a sub-cooled liquid into a super-heated vapor. This component can be found indoors, in your garage or even in your attic. Warm air transports throughout the cold evaporator coil and the heat is taken from the air. This cooled air is then sent throughout your home.
Your compressor resides in your outdoor condensing unit. The super-heated vapor from your evaporator coil flows into the compressor which surges the pressure of the vapor until it is transformed into hot, high pressure vapor. The hot vapor then moves back into the condenser coil where less hot outdoor air runs across the coil, heat is pushed outdoors and the refrigerant is converted back into a sub-cooled liquid. This sub-cooled liquid is then returned to the indoor evaporator coil via an expansion valve or metering device. This process is continually repeated.
That accomplishes your physics lesson for now…your air conditioner runs on an relentless loop of science. We realize that it’s not as top-priority to you how it works, but that you are staying cool. If you’d like to chat about staying cool and comfortable in Hasbrouck Heights you can reach us at 201-579-2562. With the help of our team and science we’re going to make it through this sweltering summer.