You may have been using an HVAC system for a long time now but are not quite sure how it really works. It is normal to be a little curious about what is inside that box that makes cooling large spaces look so simple. Many take this amazing piece of technology for granted while it keeps us cool in the sweltering St. Louis summers. But not anymore. Today, let us finally dissect the ever so useful HVAC system and understand the parts of an air conditioner.
But before that, if you need assistance installing, repairing, or maintaining your HVAC unit, we are here to help. As leading heating and air conditioning professionals serving the greater St. Louis area, call us at 314-993-1110.
Know Your HVAC System Inside Out: Parts of an Air Conditioner
All air conditioners consist of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. Both units are quite complex with several crucial parts of an air conditioner that keep it running for years.
Indoor Air Conditioning Unit
Here are the important parts of an air conditioner that are present in the indoor unit.
- Thermostat – The thermostat is what gets your heating and cooling system started. To turn on your air conditioning system, you first have to turn on the thermostat. It controls the temperature that the HVAC system will maintain. The thermostat tells the HVAC system whether you want to heat or cool the air inside your home.
- Evaporator – The evaporator coil is where the important work is going on. The refrigerant running through the HVAC system is pumped into the evaporator coil by the condenser that is in the outdoor unit. The refrigerant gets cooled in the evaporator, preparing it to absorb heat and humidity from the circulating air. Your ambient air from inside the house is sucked in and passed over the evaporator coils containing the cold refrigerant to achieve this.
- Expansion valve – This is the valve that controls how much refrigerant will flow through the evaporator coils, preventing losses due to too much or too little refrigerant working on the air.
- Blower – The blower is responsible for pushing the conditioned air back into your house.
- Blower motor – As the name suggests, it is the motor that runs the blower.
- Air filter – It prevents dust and debris from entering the system, protecting the system, and keeping your indoor air clean as well.
- Ductwork, damper, and vents – The ductwork is the winding flexible tubes through which the treated air flows into your home. Dampers are responsible for evenly distributing the air to the ducts so your home is uniformly cooled. The supply and return vents are the entry and exit points for the treated air inside your home.
Outdoor Air Conditioning Unit
The outdoor unit is primarily the condenser. Here are the key parts of an air conditioner outdoor unit.
- Condenser coil – In the condenser, the refrigerant carrying the heat extracted from the air releases the heat to the coils, which is then dissipated to the atmosphere.
- Fan – The fans blow air over the condenser coils so that heat is dissipated faster.
- Compressor – The compressor pressurizes the refrigerant to further increase its temperature so it can transfer heat to the atmosphere. It then sends the refrigerant back to the evaporator coil.
- Refrigerant lines – The refrigerant lines are the tubes through which the refrigerant flows between the indoor and outdoor unit.
Learn More About the Parts of an Air Conditioner from the Experts
If you have more questions about the parts of an air conditioner, get in touch with our HVAC experts. Galmiche & Sons has been in the HVAC repair and maintenance industry in St. Louis for over 70 years. We have the answers to all your questions. Contact our heating & air conditioning experts today.
