Air Conditioner

Air conditioners remove heat and humidity from the air in your home to reach your desired indoor temperature. Central AC cools your entire home, while ductless AC cools just one portion or room in your home.

What is an air conditioner?

An air conditioner is a device that helps regulate the temperature, humidity, and quality of air in a space such as your home. It cools down hot indoor air by removing heat and transferring it outside while sending excess moisture down the drain. Air conditioners come in central or split-system, window unit, or ductless varieties.

A central air conditioner usually has two components: an outdoor condenser/compressor unit and an indoor evaporator coil. The indoor and outdoor units work together to cool and dehumidify the air in your home to keep you comfortable. While a central ducted split-system cools your entire home, ductless-mini splits are smaller and do not have ductwork throughout the home.  They are designed to cool just one room or one area of your home. Window units are single pieces of equipment that fit in a window or wall opening and are perfect for cooling one room.

How does an air conditioner work?

An air conditioner contains a refrigeration system, and works very similar to your refrigerator, except on a larger scale to keep your entire home cool. More specifically, an air conditioner works by using refrigerant to absorb the heat from inside your home, converting it into a gas state.The refrigerant is then passed through the compressor which increases its temperature further before releasing it outside of the home. This process reduces indoor temperatures and helps regulate humidity levels in the house. After absorbing heat, the refrigerant is cooled down and passed back into the indoor coil (the evaporator) to repeat the cycle.

What maintenance do I need to do on my air conditioner?

Regular upkeep and maintenance of your air conditioner is necessary to keep it running efficiently and effectively. Make sure to change or clean the air filter periodically, and keep bushes and tall grass or grass clippings out of the outdoor unit. It is also important to schedule annual maintenance visits with a qualified technician who can check the system more thoroughly and make any necessary adjustments.

What are the benefits of using an air conditioner?

Air conditioners provide many benefits including improved indoor air quality and better sleep in hot summer months. They help reduce allergens like dust particles, pet hair/dander, mold spores and other airborne contaminants that can aggravate asthma or trigger allergies. Plus they remove excess moisture which helps prevent humidity-related problems such as mold growth or musty odors.

Additionally, the right air conditioner can help you save money on energy bills by cooling your home more efficiently and keeping temperatures consistent throughout the day.

If you want to learn more about how an air conditioner works, visit our air conditioner HVAC 101 page for a detailed explanation. You can also watch this video on how HVAC systems work to learn more details on heating and cooling systems and how you can achieve optimal comfort in your home.

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