Knowing when and where an air conditioner is in need of maintenance can be a tricky thing for many homeowners. Unfortunately, this often leads to breakdowns and other expensive problems. If you would like to brush up your understanding of central air conditioning components, read on. This article will discuss two of the most important parts of your system.

The Condenser

The condenser is that large cube or cylinder sitting somewhere along the outside edge of your home. To understand its role, it helps to first realize how an air conditioner works. The basic idea is that refrigerant is used to cool warm air, which is then circulated through your home. In the process of accomplishing this cooling, however, the refrigerant turns from a liquid to a gas. In order to continue cooling air, it must next be turned back into a liquid. That, in a nutshell, is the condenser’s job: condensing the refrigerant inside of the system from a gaseous to a liquid state.

The Evaporator Coil

Unlike the condenser, the evaporator coil is located inside of your home. It is housed in a special metal box known as the plenum, which itself generally sits atop the furnace. The job of the evaporator coil is to perform the actual cooling of air. Liquid refrigerant is pumped from the condenser to the evaporator coil. As the refrigerant courses through this coiled metal tube, it absorbs heat from the warm air around it. The evaporator coil is located in close proximity to the blower motor which distributes air through your duct system, meaning as air is cooled it can rapidly be sent outward into your home.

If you would like to learn more about your air conditioning system, or if you believe that it may be in need of maintenance or repair, feel free to contact us.