Learn the Anatomy of an AC Unit & the Basics of the Cooling Cycle
When it comes to your air conditioner, “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” That being said, there are still a whole lot of AC parts that are working hard each day to combat Southern California’s dry heat. At Timo’s Air Conditioning & Heating, we want to help you better understand the most crucial components of an air conditioning unit, so you can stay cool all summer long.
The Cooling Basics
Homeowners in Thousand Palms, CA, and the surrounding cities know what home comfort feels like, but not many are familiar with the process that’s associated with achieving that contentment. That’s why, before delving into the specifics of each individual part, it’s important to gain a basic understanding of how your air conditioning unit functions to provide your home with chilled relief.
If an air conditioning cooling cycle were a recipe, the refrigerant would be the main ingredient. Due to its ability to change in states of matter, refrigerant holds a vital role in cooling your home. In its frigid, vaporous state, refrigerant has high heat absorbing properties, while its liquid state allows for the accumulated heat to be released back into the outside air.
The compressor and condenser, located in the outdoor component of your system, change the refrigerant’s state from a gas to a liquid. This change in matter allows the heat that the gas absorbed from your home to be released back into the outside air—for good. The cooled liquid refrigerant, which is left behind, is then free to continue cycling through the system. The next stop for the liquid refrigerant is the evaporator coil, where it will be turned back into a gas, to reinstate its heat-absorbing qualities.
This gaseous refrigerant will then leave your AC unit, enter your home, absorb your home’s heat, and carry it to your AC unit’s outside component to repeat the cooling cycle, continuously leaving your home feeling cool and comfortable.
The Parts that Make the Whole
There are numerous small, but necessary parts that tend to be grouped into one well-known term—an air conditioning unit. Though you do not need to know all of the AC parts by name, there are some significant ones that every homeowner in Southern CA should be familiar with.
The Condenser Coils: Pushing Heat Back Into the Outdoors
The purpose of the condenser coils is to receive the heat that just exited your home and break it into its two components: gaseous refrigerant and the warm air that once circulated in your indoor environment. This separation allows for the gas refrigerant to be converted into its liquid form and the warm air to be released into the outdoors. The liquid refrigerant is then sent to continue on its cooling journey through your air conditioning unit, where it will be prepared for reentry into your home to provide you with a noticeably cooler environment.
Condenser coils should not bend or accumulate debris. If this occurs, the system’s airflow will be hindered. That being said, the best way to protect the condenser coils from breaking is by maintaining them. Whether you are scheduling air conditioning maintenance in La Quinta, CA, or making a tune-up appointment in Palm Desert, CA, a certified technician will be able to look at your unit and its coils to inspect their shape and condition. If necessary, adjustments will be made to restore your unit’s operating efficiency—and provide you with an unwavering peace of mind.
The Compressor: The State-Changing Assistant
The compressor is the condenser coils’ assistant. When it comes to turning the refrigerant gas to its liquid form, it’s there to help—but don’t let the compressor’s ‘assistant’ title trick you into belittling its importance. In fact, if your compressor stops working, the whole cooling cycle will be halted and the refrigerant will not be able to efficiently rid itself of the heat it accumulated while cycling through your home. This means that the warm air that was not excreted will be carried through the remainder of the cooling cycle, causing warm air to be pushed back into your home. A broken compressor is a sure-fire way for your home to lose it cool.
During a precision tune-up, a professional will check the compressor to ensure that it is working properly and will detect any damages right away. Tune-ups prevent the recycling of warm air, enhance your home’s energy efficiency, and lower your utility bills.
The Expansion Valve: The Refrigerant Draw-bridge
The expansion valve is the bridge between the evaporator coils and the condenser coils. Similar to how a drawbridge permits or prevents cars from passing to its other side, the expansion valve controls the amount of liquid refrigerant that is able to flow into the evaporator coils.
If the expansion valve breaks, your AC unit will lose control of the liquid refrigerant, resulting in flooded evaporator coils and an inefficient cooling unit.
The Evaporator Coils: Made to Keep You Cool
The evaporator coils are the “X” on the map: the refrigerant’s end goal in its cooling journey. This is where the liquid refrigerant is prepped to cool your home by being converted back into its gaseous state. Once converted, the gas refrigerant is ready to enter your home, absorb the warm air that’s circulating throughout the indoor environment, carry it outdoors, and aid you in reaching and maintaining your desired home comfort level.
Similar to the condenser coils, the evaporator coils must retain their shape and remain clear of debris to prevent any airflow blockage. Furthermore, the flow of liquid refrigerant to the evaporator coils must remain consistent: too much fluid will cause the evaporator coils to flood, while too little will cause it to starve. Both scenarios hinder your unit’s ability to provide cool air to your home.
During a professional tune-up appointment, a professional will check the refrigerant levels and uncover any issues before they become costly repairs.
It’s All About the Benefits
While there are dozens of parts within an AC unit, there is no trace of immunity built into its design. That’s why, at Timo’s Air Conditioning & Heating, our team highly recommends keeping up with the wellbeing of your HVAC unit.
Whether you’re requesting air conditioning service in La Quinta, CA, or air conditioning maintenance in Palm Springs, CA, it’s crucial to rely on a professional to ensure that small system issues are fixed before they escalate to larger, more costly repairs.
Our team refuses to waste your time and your money. That’s why, when our certified technicians recommend maintaining your unit’s health, we do so with your unit’s wellbeing in mind—and your best interest at heart.
Trust Timo’s Air Conditioning & Heating with AC Maintenance in Southern California
There are two main reasons why it is important to maintain the wellbeing of your HVAC unit: to save money and to protect your cool. At Timo’s Air Conditioning & Heating, we offer affordable and in-depth tune-ups that check every component of your cooling system to ensure that your unit is able to beat the heat—for good.
To learn more about how maintaining your HVAC system can be beneficial, call us today at 760.475.9542 or fill out our online form.
