An air conditioning system makes summers a lot more comfortable. Now you may think that your air conditioner works by “creating” cold air, but you would be wrong. Your air conditioner uses chemicals that easily convert from a gas to a liquid and back again. These chemicals transfer heat from the air inside your home to the outside air.

Air Conditioner Working Principle

There are three main parts to an air conditioner: a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The outside portion of your air conditioner is where you will find the condenser and the compressor. You will find the evaporator inside the house. Refrigerants like R-22 or R-410A arrive at the compressor as a cool, low-pressure gas that the compressor squeezes. This process packs the molecules of the fluid closer together. The closer the molecules are together, the higher its energy and its temperature. The refrigerant leaves the compressor as hot, high-pressure gas that then flows into the condenser. The condenser has metal fins around it that act like a radiator in a car. They help the heat go away more quickly. When the refrigerant leaves the condenser, the temperature is much cooler and had changed from a gas to liquid under high pressure. The liquid moves into the evaporator via a very tiny, narrow hole. Once it passes through to the other side the pressure drops and is evaporated into a gas. As it changes to a gas and evaporates, it pulls heat from the air around it. The heat is necessary to separate the fluid from a liquid to a gas. You will also find metal fins on the evaporator to aid in the exchange of thermal energy with the surrounding air. When the fluid leaves the evaporator, it is a cool, low-pressure gas that will then return back to the compressor to start the cycle all over again. There is a fan connected to the evaporator that circulates the air inside your home to blow across the evaporator fins, and because hot air is lighter than cold air, the hot air in the room will rise to the top. The return air ducting is where the air is pulled into the air conditioner and enters the ducting system. This is where the hot air is used to cool the gas in the evaporator. As the heat is pulled out from the air, the air is cooled. This air is then blown into your home through supply ducts that are usually located on the ground level. This will continue to happen until the temperature you desire has been reached. Once the thermostat senses that desired temperature has been reached it will turn the air conditioner off. When the thermostat senses that the room is heating up again, it will turn the air conditioner back on until the desired temperature is reached again.

Central Air Conditioning System Services in Summerlin, North LV, Henderson, Enterprise, Paradise, Sunrise Manor, Spring Valley, Aliante, Anthem, Desert Shores, Eldorado, Green Valley Ranch, Inspirada, Mountain’s Edge, Peccole Ranch, Providence, Rhodes Ranch, Seven Hills, Silverado Ranch, The Lakes, Tuscany Village & Las Vegas Nevada

Air Supply Heating & Air Conditioning has experts that are trained to maintain, repair or install HVAC systems for your home. Give us a call if you suspect your air conditioning system isn’t running properly.