Air conditioning has been a boon for everything from summer blockbuster movies to indoor shopping malls. Its precise control of temperature and humidity has also allowed for such advancements as electronic computers, transatlantic flights and modern agriculture. Reach out Ausco Air Heating & Air Conditioning for comprehensive assistance.

When buying a new air conditioner, look beyond brand name and Btu to consider a unit’s efficiency rating. We recommend choosing a model that has Energy Star certification and a SEER rating of at least 14.

Despite how complicated they are, air conditioning systems have simple mechanical processes at their core. The primary goal is to cool indoor air by transferring heat from warm air to cold air. They do this through a chemical process that involves changing gas into liquid and back again very quickly.

The system starts when a thermostat detects that the indoor temperature needs to be lowered and sends signals to the cooling system components both inside and outside your house or business. The warm air in your home or business passes over a set of cold pipes, called an evaporator coil, that is filled with refrigerant. As it evaporates, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the warm air, cooling it and sending it back to your home or business through return ducts.

Air conditioners also act as dehumidifiers, removing moisture from the air and lowering humidity levels. This can help with allergy and asthma symptoms. It can also reduce the risk of dehydration because it lowers the temperature in rooms, making people sweat less.

The first modern air conditioner was developed in 1902 by Willis Carrier as a solution to a humidity problem at his Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing and Publishing Company in Brooklyn, N.Y. The new air conditioning system blew cold air over paper stock in a printing press, reducing humidity and helping the company stay in business during hot summer months. Today, a wide range of air conditioning systems serve all types of indoor living spaces. These include ducted central air conditioners, window air conditioners and ductless mini-split systems that supply conditioned air to individual rooms without the need for a system of ductwork in a building.

Refrigerant

Refrigerant is a chemical compound that performs the critical role of moving heat from your home to the outdoors through your air conditioner’s copper coils. Often called Freon (a trademarked brand name), refrigerant is found in all cooling systems and has a number of characteristics that make it ideal for absorbing and releasing heat to bring cool air into your home.

The refrigerant circulates in a closed loop, alternating between the indoor and outdoor coils of your system. As it passes through the evaporator coil indoors, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air, changing from a liquid to a gas. Then it moves to the condenser coil outdoors, where it releases that heat into the atmosphere.

Once the refrigerant has released that heat, it returns to the evaporator coil indoors where it undergoes a phase change again, changing from a hot, high-pressure gas back into a cold, low-pressure liquid. This causes the evaporator coil to cool the air that blows over it, and your HVAC system distributes that cooled air throughout your home based on your thermostat settings.

There are several different kinds of refrigerants, and each is designed to have unique properties for its specific applications. For example, hydrocarbon refrigerants have a low boiling point, which allows them to absorb and release heat very quickly. They’re flammable, however, and they’re not efficient at cooling as well as other types of refrigerants. Hydrofluorocarbons, on the other hand, have a much higher boiling point and a more stable molecular structure, making them more effective at absorbing and releasing heat. They’re used in place of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons, which were banned by the Montreal Protocol of 1987.

Mechanical Components

Whether you’re a homeowner looking to improve the comfort of your home or you’re a professional in the HVAC industry, understanding the mechanics of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems is important. By demystifying these mechanical systems, you’ll be able to make better decisions that will result in comfortable indoor environments for both you and your customers.

When it comes to commercial HVAC systems, there are a variety of different components that work together to ensure optimum system performance. Understanding how these parts function can help you spot problems that may be causing issues with your system and address them before they get out of hand.

The most crucial mechanical component of any HVAC system is the compressor. Known as the “heart” of the system, the compressor compresses refrigerant gas so it can be circulated through the rest of the system. The evaporator coil, which is commonly referred to as the evaporator core, absorbs this heated refrigerant and transforms it into cool air.

Other mechanical components include the thermostat, which connects to the compressor through special wires and signals it to produce cool or hot air based on the set temperature. The thermostat can also be used to control other mechanical components, such as the furnace and heat pump.

Ventilation is a vital aspect of any HVAC system, ensuring that fresh air circulates throughout a building and that stale or polluted air is removed from the space. This is typically accomplished through a network of ducts that act as pathways for conditioned air to reach every room or area in the building.

Other mechanical components of HVAC systems include sensors and actuators, which collect data and automatically adjust system settings. These are especially useful in larger systems, as they can be used to monitor energy usage and optimize the overall system performance.

Electrical Components

The electric wiring and other electrical components in your air conditioner are responsible for sending signals and power to the different parts of your cooling system. They include capacitors, circuit boards, relays and a complex network of electric wiring. The thermostat and the blower fan are some of the main electrical components in your system.

Electrical wiring in HVAC systems is incredibly complex and often requires professional help to diagnose and repair problems. It’s important to understand how these electrical pathways work in order to know what questions to ask a technician.

For example, if your air conditioning system’s switches seem to be randomly opening and closing, or you smell a burning or smoky odor, it may indicate an electrical problem. Likewise, if the air conditioner keeps tripping its breakers or fuses, it could be due to an overheating or short circuit problem.

Capacitors store and supply the electrical energy needed to run motors in an AC, including the compressor and the blower fan. They also provide voltage to the compressor during the start cycle, when it needs an extra boost of energy.

Relays are electromagnetic switches that control the flow of electricity to different parts of the system. They are used to manage high-voltage circuits and can be tested for continuity using a voltmeter or ohmmeter. Contactors are similar to relays and are usually tested with a voltmeter or ohmmeter as well.

It’s not recommended to perform any repairs, deep cleans or recharges on these electrical components without a professional. Dealing with electricity, even in small quantities, can be dangerous and lead to serious injuries or costly damage. Additionally, improper handling of refrigerant can cause leaks or inefficient cooling.

Maintenance

Preventative maintenance procedures help air conditioning systems run smoothly and efficiently. The procedures include cleaning and replacing filters, lubricating moving parts, and inspecting the entire system for issues like a refrigerant leak, clogged drain line, or an electrical issue that could cause the unit to shut down. These simple checks catch small problems before they become major repairs and keep the cooling system working as it should.

An air conditioning technician will clean the evaporator and condenser coils and replace the air filter to reduce the amount of dirt circulating in your home. A professional will also clear the condensation drain to prevent it from overflowing during high usage times or causing water damage. They will also check that the capacitors are functioning correctly and may clean or replace them.

A good time to get an AC checkup is before the summer begins. This allows the AC to work properly and improves energy efficiency while reducing utility bills. You should also consider scheduling a checkup after inclement weather as severe storms, heatwaves, or droughts can strain the unit and cause performance issues.

Keeping the outdoor unit free of dirt, debris, and organic material is essential to air flow. The technician should remove structures, garden equipment, bins, and other items around the condenser. He or she should also rake the surrounding area and cut back leaves and shrubbery at least 2 feet away from the unit to allow for sufficient air flow.

Dirty or blocked air ducts restrict airflow and cause the HVAC system to work harder. The technician will use a blower brush and vacuum to clean the coils, blower, and vents. They will also inspect and clean the fan, blower motor, evaporator coil, and air handler for issues that need to be addressed. They will also test the electrical components with a multimeter to ensure that they are working as expected.