Central air how does it work

To complete this process, a lot of different parts of the air conditioner need to work together. Generally speaking, there are two categories of air conditioners: central cooling systems and ductless split systems. While both work to cool your home, these systems function in vastly different ways. Central air conditioners are designed to cool your entire home. To do this, they distribute cool air through the ducts in your home, so the air reaches every single room.

The smallest possible size for a central air conditioner is 1. These kinds of units can reach up to 22 SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio , which is a measure of how energy efficient an air conditioner is during the spring and summer months. Ductless systems are meant to cool just one room or portion of your home, rather than the entire house.

Ductless systems are inherently different from central cooling systems because the air flows through indoor units into individual rooms instead of ducts throughout the house. Ductless systems also have an indoor and outdoor component, but unlike central cooling systems, this is not a ratio.

Instead, ductless systems can have up to five indoor units for every one outdoor unit. This means up to five units can be installed throughout a home to cool up to five rooms without the presence of ducts. Because these units are designed to cool smaller spaces, they come in a small size, with the smallest being. Ductless split systems can reach up to 33 SEER, making them a much more energy-efficient option than central cooling systems.

Using them will likely save you money on your energy bill despite their higher initial costs. Here, the top two images feature examples of central cooling systems, and the bottom two images feature examples of ductless systems. Understanding the different types of air conditioners will help you determine which is right for your home.

As we mentioned above, central heating and cooling systems , like central air conditioners, work by feeding air via ductwork through your home. Central air conditioners have both an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and are one of the most common types of air conditioners.

These units are great for homes with a basement or crawlspace because the indoor portion can be tucked away in an unused space. Packaged air conditioners are another type of central air conditioner. Instead, packaged systems are two in one and are just located outside the home. These units are great for homeowners who want central air conditioning, but have nowhere to store a large indoor unit in their home.

Dual fuel systems are a one-stop-shop for all your heating and cooling needs. A heat pump can both heat and cool , so in a dual fuel system it can switch between functions depending on which is needed. Dual fuel systems function best in mild to extremely cold climates, so if you live in a place with changing temperatures, a dual fuel system could be the right fit for you.

Ductless mini-splits are perfect for those who need to cool just one room. Coolray is your Atlanta-area home comfort expert with specialists in heating, air conditioning, air quality and plumbing. Have more questions? How Does an Air Conditioner Work? So how exactly does this process work? Step 3: Heat is transferred outside The refrigerant, now a superheated vapor, reaches the condenser which is located outdoors and is exposed to the outside air.

Step 4: Refrigerant gets cold; process repeats Once the heat from the refrigerant is removed to the outdoors, the cold refrigerant travels back indoors to the evaporator to repeat the process over again. Related Reading. Subscribe to e-newsletter Get up-to-date current news, promotions and industry tips. What filter should I use with my air conditioner? Different Air Conditioner Types. Select heating system type:.

Central AC Systems. Ductless Units. Portable Air Conditioner. Window Air Conditioner. Heat Pump. Central Air Conditioners.

What is Central Air Conditioning? What are the benefits of Central Air Conditioning? Central air conditioners provide cooling to all rooms in the home, not just to select rooms. They also tend to be a more cost effective solution to ductless ACs. Central Air Conditioning Benefits When Used With Smart Thermostat Control your air conditioner from your mobile device It learns your preferences and builds a schedule for you Potential savings on your monthly energy bills.

Split Central Air Conditioner — this is the most common central air conditioning system, where air is distributed through ductwork. The refrigerant circulates between the inside unit, where heat is absorbed and the outside unit where heat is expelled. As the refrigerant cools the air it can simultaneously dehumidify it. The cool air is then circulated by the furnace blower throughout your home.

Your desired temperature is maintained by the settings on your thermostat. The AC evaporator coils are installed near the furnace or air handler. Integrating a split system central air conditioner with a furnace can be the most cost efficient whole home cooling solution. Packaged Central Air Conditioners — In a typical split system Air Conditioner the condenser is located outside the home and the evaporator is located in the home.

A packaged central AC has both components in the same unit, which is usually installed outside on the ground in beside the home. Warm air is pumped from the home to the packaged air conditioner outside the home, where it is cooled and then returned to the home.

Heat Pump What is a Heat Pump? How Does a Heat Pump Work? Heat pumps function just like a traditional air conditioner, except the AC process can also be reversed to heat the home during the winter months A central heat pump uses the same ductwork with a furnace fan to distribute warm air throughout the house The compressor in the outside unit moves the refrigerant through the system The heat pump also has a reversing valve that reverses the flow of refrigerant which switches the system to providing heat versus cooling The heat pump also has an accumulator that allows the system to adjust the refrigerant charge automatically.

Different Types of Heat Pumps An air sourced central heat pump is a common type of heat pump installed in many homes across North America. The Benefits of Heat Pumps A heat pump can both cool and heat your home Heat pumps run on electricity and consequently may produce lower CO2 emissions than a furnace that burns natural gas.

Most electricity in Canada is produced through non-carbon emitting sources, especially in British Columbia and Ontario. Energy savings — You can potentially reduce your energy bills due to higher efficiencies on the heat pump in milder weather Flexibility — Shield yourself from increases in natural gas prices by giving yourself the choice of heating your home with either natural gas or electricity Comfort — The temperature in your home could be more even and work on a more continuous basis vs.

Portable Air Conditioners What is a portable air conditioner and how does it work? Select units can heat a room as well. Disadvantages of Portable Air Conditioners Typically noisier than other AC systems The venting kit will obstruct the lower section of a window or sliding door.

Portable AC Venting Options Vent through a standard window Vent through a sliding window Vent through a sliding door not as easy to install as window option, since a standard kit will not cover the full height of the door. You may need to combine two or more kits Vent through a dropped ceiling or wall.

Where Does The Moisture Go? Manually Removed — A traditional portable air conditioner will have a container inside for collecting water. Depending on the humidity in the room you are trying to cool, you may need to empty the container once or twice daily. This could become tedious and disrupt your AC runtime. Self-Evaporative — Higher end portable ACs will evaporate moisture and push it outside along the same exhaust hose used to push the heat from your room to the outside.

This low maintenance option is usually more expensive. A pump accessory may also be used to move the drained water to a desired location more effectively, especially if the hose is elevated or lengthy.

To maximize energy efficiency and lifetime of your outside air conditioning unit, keep the following recommendations in mind: The outdoor unit should be 12 inches away from any object Do not place the unit near hot areas or ones which experience frequent foot traffic The unit should be placed on a level pad, elevated so that the condenser will avoid contact with heavy rain accumulation and snow during the winter.

Factors in selecting a proper air conditioning size: How many bedrooms are there in your home? What is the size of your home? What type of windows do you have? What are the insulators in your walls and your ceilings?

Consider factors on the outside — what is the exposure of your home? Dangers of an Oversized Air Conditioner An oversized air conditioner will cool your home but will not remove the humidity, which will make your home feel warmer and less comfortable.

Dangers of an Undersized Air Conditioner An undersized air conditioner will not be able to keep up with demand on the hotter days which will prevent your home from maintaining your desired temperature. Most Important Factor When selecting an air conditioner, an engineering analysis should be performed includes a heat loss assessment. Here are a few guidelines around where to position the wall-mounted AC units: It should be at least 7 feet above your floor with at least 6 inches of space above the unit and on each side At least 3 feet away from coaxial cables, electronics, Wifi modems and mobile devices to avoid the electrical noise associated with these devices The integrity of the wall should be strong enough to support the unit for many years.

Where possible fasten to a stud or two by four. Position the unit away from direct sunlight or other heat sources like an oven Ensure the unit is not obstructed by anything, like a large piece of furniture. Both the furnace and AC also share the ductwork that allows both warm and cool air to circulate as needed.

An outdoor unit can have a two-stage capacity through the compressor. A two-stage unit can run at lower capacity during humid days when full cooling is not needed and be able to extract more moisture from the air than a single stage unit that will run at full capacity for shorter periods of time.

High humidity during hot summers is common in many humid climates around the world. A key component to your AC is the evaporator coil that is the part of your air conditioner that is inside your home. Refrigerant resides inside these coils, which is used to absorb heat from warm circulating air. Once the heat is removed from your home, the refrigerant returns back to the evaporator coils.

A pad may be required to stabilize and secure the outside unit. Your contractor will connect the outside unit to the inside unit. Refrigerant will be added and the entire system will be thoroughly inspected and tested to ensure it is running smoothly and efficiently.

What are the Different Types of Refrigerants. All new units are RA. R is being phased out due to its effects on the ozone layer. As a result, the price of R is expected to go up significantly over the next few years, however R replacements are available. RA, also known as Puron is more environmentally friendly than R Freon.

Keep in mind that RA cannot be used in R systems. What is a Seer Rating and Why is it Important? Other factors like proper installation by a qualified and experienced contractor will impact how efficient your air conditioning system ultimately performs. Why Should I Rent? Buying Buying is another great option for some home owners. Choosing and Replacing Filters Air filters play an important role in your heating and cooling system.

Choosing the right AC air filter Depending on your home and the needs of your family, there are various air filters available to suit your needs.

Pleated air filters — Coming in at only a slightly higher cost than Fiberglass and Electrostatic air filter, pleated air filters are another great option. High-efficiency air filters — These filters are generally considered to be the most effective filters for a residential heating and cooling system. First you need to locate your old filter — In some cases the filter housing may live behind a main vent.

In other cases you may find it behind your furnace. Figure out what size and type you need — your old filter should have the size printed on the side of it. Match this with the size of your replacement filter. There are many different filter types. When selecting the right one for your home consider how long each type will last and what type of air filtration you and your family require.

Install your new filter — insert your brand new filter into the filter housing and fasten the cover or snap it back into place. Ensure you insert the new filter is in the right direction. There should be an arrow pointing which way it needs to be inserted. How often should I change my air filter? Maintaining Your AC. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing an air conditioning contractor or company to maintain your AC system and perform annual tune-ups: Find out how many service calls the company does each year How prompt are the technicians?

Avoid companies that take days to respond to a service request.