Efficient Air Conditioners, How Do They Work?
Efficient air conditioners can seem like a luxury in the hot, scorching summers of Kansas City.
Keep enjoying a cool home and ensure your unit is well maintained by getting the necessary repairs before the hot weather hits. Anthony Plumbing, Heating & Cooling in Kansas City, MO, provide reliable heating and cooling services to homeowners and businesses in KC.
Our licensed and certified technicians have years of expertise in AC repair or replacement using modern equipment and tools to get the job done to your satisfaction. More importantly, knowing how your air conditioning unit works helps you to determine when it needs maintenance, repair, or replacement.
What is an Air Conditioner?
An air conditioner is a system of equipment that converts warm air into cool air and distributes or circulates it throughout the rooms in your home or office; this is done using energy or electricity and the processes of refrigeration, evaporation and condensation. The amount of energy needed to do this depends on the brand or model of the unit.
Older units typically use more energy to cool the same square footage of space compared to the newer models. The high-efficiency units we install use far less energy to provide cool air, saving you a ton of money in the long run. You can get one installed if your current unit has been costing you too much money to repair or has stopped working.
Types of Air Conditioning Systems
There are generally two different types of AC systems. They are room air conditioners and central air conditioners. Then there is the ductless, mini-split unit which is a hybrid air conditioner. Central AC units can be a split system or packaged unit but they both work similarly and function efficiently to provide cool air.
Split-System Central Air Conditioner
The main parts of the split-system central air conditioner are the outdoor unit, the indoor unit, and the thermostat to control the temperature. The outdoor unit or cabinet contains the compressor, fan, condenser coil, and electrical parts. The indoor unit cabinet houses the evaporator and evaporator coil and may also contain a furnace. Otherwise, the coil is installed at the top of the gas furnace in the home.
The outdoor and indoor units are connected by pipes and the refrigeration lines that contain a gas called the refrigerant. When installing the AC system, ducts are placed throughout the home and function as air tunnels. Finally, a thermostat is installed, usually on the wall in one of the rooms. It is used to set the room temperature as desired.
Packaged Central Air Conditioner
With the packaged central air conditioner, the compressor, condenser, and evaporator are all housed in one unit. It also usually contains a natural gas furnace or electric heating coils. The cabinet may be placed on a concrete slab outside the home or business or on the roof. The ducts are placed through openings in the roof or exterior walls of the building and then connected to the unit. With the furnace or heating coils and the evaporator, this type of AC unit removes the need for an indoor furnace. It also saves on indoor living space.
How Air Conditioners Work to Provide Cool Air
Air conditioners are installed in three-quarters of all homes in the US, yet many people do not know how this important piece of cooling equipment works. The science behind how it works is generally the same but there may be unique differences depending on the type of unit installed.
The refrigeration lines built into the unit are largely responsible for the cycle of cool air that comes through the unit. But each component of the system provides a special function that helps cool the air.
The Cooling Cycle
The refrigerant flows through the refrigeration lines between the indoor and outdoor units of the central AC system. When the AC is turned on, the fan in the outdoor unit will spin and pull warm air from inside the home through the vent and into the ductwork.
The gas refrigerant is vaporized or compressed by the compressor and pumped onto the condenser coil in the outdoor unit, then released to the evaporator coil in the indoor cabinet.
The evaporator coil absorbs the heat in the air and cools it. The cool air flows through the connected ducts and escapes through the vents connected to the HVAC system. This refrigeration cycle continues over and over to lower the temperature and cool the room to match the setting on the thermostat.
Common Air Conditioner Problems
The last thing you want to happen during the hot summer days is for your window, room, or central AC unit to malfunction or stop blowing cool air. Some of the most common problems with these cooling units our technicians have seen and fixed are:
- Clogged filter
- Thermostat isn’t working
- Leaking refrigerant
- Burnt out capacitors
- Dirty condenser coils
- Compressor not working
- Refrigerant needs refilling
- Problems with the breakers or fuse
- Filthy or clogged condensate drain lines
- Worn out fins
When to Get Air Conditioner Repairs in Kansas City
Other times, the problems are an indication that the system needs maintenance or repairs. Your unit may need repairs if any of these problems are present:
- Leaking refrigerant
- The unit blows hot air
- Increase in humidity in the rooms
- Noisy unit, e.g., loud grinding, grating, or squealing sounds
- Pungent, musty, or burnt smell coming from the unit
Skip the DIY and Call the Air Conditioner Repair Experts
The heating and cooling system installed in your home or office are complex. If an AC problem occurs, you may be tempted to try and fix them yourself; however, to avoid causing any damage to the system, it is best to call in the air conditioner repair professionals at Anthonys PHC.
They are available any day of the week to ensure you remain in cool comfort. Having years of expertise diagnosing problems in various types of AC systems, our experts can easily identify what’s causing the problem and recommend repairs if needed. Armed with state-of-the-art tools and equipment, they’ll get your unit working again in no time!
When to Replace Your Air Conditioning Unit
There are times when the only economical thing to do is to replace your AC or cooling system. If any of the following applies you, it may be time to upgrade to a new, energy-efficient air conditioner installed by Anthonys PHC:
- The unit is old (10-15 years)
- It stops working efficiently
- Frequent and expensive repairs
- Energy bills keep rising
- It’s not the right size for your home
Call to make an appointment for AC repair or replacement in Kansas City
If you’re experiencing one or more of the common AC problems, call the AC repair professionals at Anthonys PHC in Kansas City, MO. We provide HVAC services to satisfy the heating and cooling needs of customers in KC. Our technicians are skilled in servicing and repairing various types of cooling units and will run a complete diagnosis to determine the problem.