How do central air conditioners work?
Central air conditioners are “split systems,” which means that there is an outdoor unit (condenser) and an indoor unit (coil). The function of an air conditioner is to transport heat from one “station” to the other. The “vehicle” your system uses to carry the heat is called refrigerant. In air conditioning operation, the compressor in your outdoor unit pushes the liquid refrigerant through copper tubing into the evaporator coil located in your fan coil unit or attached to your furnace. As the refrigerant is compressed, it turns into a gas. When it moves through the evaporator coil, the refrigerant takes on heat from the air circulating over the coil. The cooler air is then re-circulated into your home. Meanwhile, the heat absorbed by the refrigerant is carried outside through the copper tubing and given off to the outside air as a fan pulls the air over the condensing coil in your outdoor unit. While it’s keeping you cool, your air conditioner also works as an effective dehumidifier. A
