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The primary role of an air conditioner in a traditional central heating and cooling system is to draw heat from the interior of a residence and release it outside. A standard AC unit consists of an inside and an outside unit connected by a series of ducts, and refrigerant cycles through three main components housed in these units. This process can seem complicated, so the following guide breaks down the core parts of the machine and describes their roles in keeping your home comfortable.

The Major Parts of an Air Conditioner Explained

Evaporator

When air is pulled from the home, it flows to the indoor evaporator unit. Here, the evaporator core or coil — a series of copper, steel, or aluminum tubes bent into a “U” shape and placed in panels — absorbs the heat from the air. A blower fan then pushes the cooled air into the house. When the liquid refrigerant reaches this point of the system, its pressure drops. It is converted into a gas, extracting heat from the evaporator coil in the process.

Compressorair conditioner

Think of the compressor like a pump. Its primary role is to "compress" the cool, low-pressure refrigerant gas into a hot, high-pressure gas. It then pushes it into the metal-finned outdoor condenser unit.

Condenser

When the hot gas reaches the condenser, fans blow air over the condenser coil to extract the heat and transfer it outside. Once the heat is removed from the refrigerant, it "condenses" into a cool, low-pressure liquid. It then passes into the expansion valve and back to the evaporator coil to repeat the cycle.

 

Knowing how your air conditioner works will help you recognize when something’s wrong. Schedule annual maintenance with Mill Creek Heating to prepare it for the heavy workload and catch problems before they become serious. For over 15 years, this family-owned business has provided residential and commercial HVAC installation, repair, and maintenance services to Turner and the Willamette Valley, OR. Call them today at (503) 749-1000 for a free estimate and visit their website to learn more about the HVAC systems they carry.

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