Are you wondering, does the AC fan pull air from outside? The answer to this question is a bit complicated. Air conditioners do intake some air from the outside, but they also recirculate indoor air. In order to understand how an air conditioner works, you first need to understand how it cools down a room.

How Does Your Air Conditioner Cool Down Your Home?

The simple answer is that your AC unit pulls warm air from your home, and a bit from outside, and blows it over a set of coils filled with a refrigerant. As the refrigerant evaporates, it absorbs heat from the air passing over the coils. This cooled air is then circulated back into your home through a system of fans and ductwork.

So while your AC unit does take in some amount of outdoor air, the vast majority of the air it’s circulating is already inside your home. In fact, most AC units are designed to intake less than 20% of outdoor air in order to minimize the amount of pollutants and allergens that enter your home.

Curious about boosting your AC efficiency? Read 5 Ways to Improve Your Air Conditioner Efficiency and Save Money.

How Do You Improve the Quality of Air in Your Home?

So if you’re worried about the quality of the air in your home, opening up your windows is a better solution than relying on your air conditioner to circulate fresh air. Still, there are a few reasons why you might not want to open up your windows while your air conditioner is running.

Opening the Windows Is Not for Everybody

First, it can cause your AC unit to work harder than necessary and drive up your energy bills. Second, if you live in an area with high levels of pollution or allergens, you’re better off keeping the windows closed and relying on your AC unit to filter the air inside your home.

If you have any concerns about the quality of the air in your home, we recommend talking to a professional HVAC contractor. They can help you determine what steps are best for keeping your home cool and comfortable. Moncrief is always here to help with maintenance and air conditioning repair in Roswell.

We hope you found this article helpful! If you have any further questions about how air conditioners work, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help. Stay cool!