Understanding How Your Air Conditioning Works

Last updated 9 months ago

During the hot and humid summer months, your air conditioner works hard to keep your home cool and comfortable. With regular visits from your air conditioning and heating contractor, your A/C system will continue to perform efficiently for years to come. How exactly does your air conditioner perform the feats of cooling your air and removing humidity? Read on to find out.

The Refrigeration Cycle
Air conditioners use refrigerant to control the temperature of the air inside your home, and in doing so also control humidity. The refrigeration cycle is the key principle that all air conditioners are built around. Inside your air conditioner, a refrigerant is pumped between two coils. Inside your home is the evaporator coil, and in the exterior air conditioning unit is the condenser coil.

Liquid refrigerant is pumped inside your home to the evaporator coil, where it is allowed to change phase into a gas. This action absorbs heat from the surrounding air, and the warmed refrigerant gas is pumped back outside. Within the condenser coil, refrigerant changes phase back into a liquid and releases the contained heat. The cycle begins again, continuously removing heat from inside your home.

Distributing Cooled Air and Removing Humidity
The air handler inside your home blows air over the evaporator coil, moving the conditioned air throughout your ductwork into every room of your home. Cooler air has a lower dew point than warm air, and relative humidity is lowered when your air conditioner is in operation. This is how air conditioners remove heat from inside your home and blow cool, dehumidified air for your comfort.

You can learn more about the mechanics and principles of air conditioning when you visit Greenwood Heating & Air online. When you are ready to have your air conditioner serviced for continual efficient operation, give us a call at (206) 734-3370 today.