An air conditioner is an appliance that helps cool a room by removing heat from the air and dissipating it outside. It does this by using a refrigerant to absorb heat and then blowing cooled air into the room. It is vital to call for regular HVAC maintenance to keep your air conditioner in top working order. A faulty air conditioner can be a health hazard, so it’s essential to identify if any components get repaired or start malfunctioning.
Read more: 7 Signs You Need to Repair Your Air Conditioner.
Different AC unit parts should work in symphony to provide you with the cold air you desire on a hot day. However, if any of these parts start to malfunction, it can cause your unit to break down entirely. To avoid this from happening, here is a list of the different parts of an AC unit and what they do:
1) The Compressor
A compressor is the heart of an air conditioner. It pumps refrigerant through the system and helps with the cooling process.
The compressor is usually located outside the home in a condenser metal box. When you start the AC system, the compressor turns on and pressurizes the refrigerant.
This process causes the refrigerant to turn from a gas into a liquid.
2) The Evaporator Coil
When your air conditioner is turned on, Freon flows through the evaporator coils. The Freon is cold, and as it passes through the coils, it absorbs heat from the indoor air passing over them. This process causes the Freon to turn into hot vapor.
The evaporator coils are one of the essential parts of your air conditioner because they are responsible for removing heat and humidity from the air. If these coils become dirty or frozen, it can cause your air conditioner to work less efficiently and may even damage the unit.
3) The Condenser
The condenser is one of the essential parts of an air conditioner. It is responsible for converting the refrigerant from a gas to a liquid.
This process helps to remove heat from the air inside your home. Without a properly working condenser, your air conditioner would be unable to cool your home effectively.
The condenser is located outside your home and consists of a coil filled with refrigerant. A metal casing surrounds the coils. As the refrigerant passes through the coils, it is cooled by the surrounding air.
4) The Expansion Valve
This is a small valve located between the evaporator and the compressor. Its job is to regulate the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator.
The refrigerant enters the expansion valve and experiences a sudden pressure drop. This causes the refrigerant to change from a high-pressure liquid to a low-pressure gas. The refrigerant then enters the evaporator, which absorbs heat from the air.
The expansion valve is a critical component of an air conditioner because it regulates the amount of refrigerant that enters the evaporator. If too much refrigerant enters the evaporator, it can cause the system to freeze up.
5) The Thermostat
The thermostat is what tells your AC unit when to turn on and off. It senses the temperature in your home, turns the AC unit on when the temperature gets too high, and turns it off when it gets too low. You can set it to whatever temperature you want, and it will turn the AC unit on and off to maintain that temperature. If you want an Atlanta AC repair service, call Moncrief Heating & Air Conditioning. Our team of experienced HVAC repair technicians will be able to quickly diagnose and fix any issues you may be having with your air conditioner.