Air conditioning is a wonderful system that can transform the way you live at home. But do you know how air conditioning units work? In this blog we go into more detail to explain the roles of the various components and some of the additional benefits it can offer.
How do air conditioning units work?
There are 5 main steps that an air conditioning unit goes through in order to produce the air that cools the room.
- The systems draws in the warm air already in the room.
- This then flows over the cold evaporator pipes located inside the unit, cooling down the air, while any excess moisture is removed by a dehumidifier.
- The chiller pipes hold a coolant which is able to absorb the heat from the passing air before evaporating. This turns from a cool liquid into a warm gas.
- The coolant moves through a compressor and a condenser, which turns the gas back into a cool liquid. Meanwhile, the warm air is pumped outside.
- Finally, cold air can be pushed back into the room to reduce the humidity and overall temperature of the space.
What do each of the components do?
Evaporator
After the cold evaporator coil receives the warm air that has been drawn into the unit and initially passed through an expansion valve it is then evaporated. The heat is transformed back into a gas as it is absorbed by the coils, before moving onto the next stage with the compressor.
Compressor
This works as a pump to reduce the amount of gas while raising its temperature and pressure to support the condensing part of the process.
Condenser
Here the heat that has been collected is pumped outside where it is absorbed and changed back into a liquid from a gas. With the heating travelling outdoors, the refrigerant moves back into the evaporator so the process is repeated.
What else do air conditioning units do?
Air conditioning units offer more than just cooling the air in the room. They also provide a number of benefits such as:
- Allergens such as dust and pollen is removed by the air conditioning filter, making the air cleaner to breathe.
- Air conditioning units also offer dehumidifying benefits, reducing humidity by drawing in the moisture from the air.
- Dehydration can be a major concern during hot periods of the year, but a good air conditioning unit can lower the temperature and ensure you reduce perspiration. Sweat = water being lost from the body, so the system can reduce overall water loss.
- It can be difficult to sleep at night during peak summer, but an air conditioning unit can make the room feel more comfortable so you get a good night’s rest.
Get a free survey and quote
If you want to improve the air quality in your home and have greater control over the temperature, get in touch with AAC today to arrange a free quote and survey at a time that suits you. Email info@aacteam.co.uk or call 01707 32 55 66.
