You don’t have to know the inner workings of your air conditioner in order to make sure it works properly; that’s why you have contractors in the area waiting for your call. But knowing a little bit more about how your AC equipment works can help you to understand a little bit more about the importance of maintenance and prompt repairs. If you are curious about the large outside condenser unit of your AC system, we detail some of the most important features in this guide.
The Compressor
Refrigeration is the process that allows your home to cool down, and it involves the removal of heat from the air in your home. Refrigerant is a chemical blend that circulates around the indoor and outdoor portions of your system. Inside of the home, it converts into a gas and absorbs heat as air blows over the evaporator coil. Outdoors, the compressor adds pressure to the refrigerant so that it can continue to circulate, and then heat is released at the condenser coil.
The Condenser Coil and Fan
The set of coils that refrigerant moves through outside is called the condenser coil (though the entire cabinet it is contained in may also be referred to as the condenser). Refrigerant moves through the coil while a large fan blows warm air over it. This allows the pressurized gas refrigerant to condense into a liquid. As it does, heat releases naturally from the refrigerant, and the fan helps this to dissipate to the air.
These are the largest portions of the outside condenser unit, but there are additional electrical components enclosed in this cabinet as well, such as the fan motor and the electrical wiring. All of these parts of your system need maintenance to keep heat transfer going smoothly. If the condenser coil becomes too dirty or if parts of the fan or coils become loose or bent, heat cannot dissipate and the entire system will struggle. Schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with a professional to prevent such problems from occurring.
Call APC Plumbing & Heating for air conditioning repair, replacement, maintenance, and installation in the Westminster area. We have someone in your neighborhood today for Outside Condenser Unit service.
