The Georgia cooling season is long and hot, and your air conditioner works hard to keep you comfortable all summer long. Understanding a little about how your air conditioning system works will help you troubleshoot common air conditioning problems, as well as communicate effectively with your HVAC technician in the event service is needed on your system.

Refrigerant is the vehicle your system uses to absorb heat from your home’s air and transfer it outside. The refrigerant cycles through the three main components of your system to cool your home.

The evaporator
The refrigerant enters the evaporator coil in your indoor unit as a cold liquid. Air is blown over the coil by the system’s blower, and the heat energy in the air is absorbed by the refrigerant, warming it up and turning it into a cool gas.

The compressor
The cool gas flows into the compressor in the outdoor unit. The compressor squeezes the gas to make it hot, and the hot gas flows into the condenser, also located outdoors.

The condenser
The blower in the outdoor unit pulls outdoor air over the condenser coil, and the heat energy is pulled from the refrigerant in the coil and sent outdoors. The refrigerant cools, condenses back into a cool liquid, and travels back to the evaporator to begin the cycle over again.

The efficiency and optimum cooling power of your system depends on clean coils, optimum airflow and the correct charge of refrigerant. Annual preventive maintenance by a qualified HVAC technician is essential for keeping your system efficient, extending its life and lowering your utility costs. These tasks will help you maintain your air conditioning system:

• Inspect your air filter monthly. When it’s dirty, replace it with a clean filter.
• Spray down your outdoor unit with a hose each month to remove debris from the fins.
• Maintain the area around your indoor unit to prevent dust buildup, which can reduce system efficiency.

For more expert advice about your air conditioning system, please contact us at Powers Heating & Air, proudly serving the Peachtree City area with skill and reliability.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

Image courtesy of Shutterstock