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The Process of an Air conditioner | Air Conditioning Service in Irving, TX 

The Process of an Air conditioner | Air Conditioning Service in Irving, TX 

The first air conditioning services were in the form of ice which was stored during the winter and then used for cooling in the later hotter seasons. The science behind the cooling was simple, ice in the environment would cool the area, the process of heat conduction would occur. The heat transfers to the colder object and molecules cool down.

Circulating air makes the process of cooling an area faster. This can be achieved by using fans, whether our ancestors realized this is a good question, but nevertheless the fan is a key component of modern air conditioning services. A key discovery made by Benjamin Franklin and others, leading to modern air conditioning services, was that evaporation has a cooling effect.

In this post, the process used by air conditioning services will be examined. Each phase of the process carries its own set of components, and while we won’t describe every component, we will mention the necessary parts as we move along the Air conditioning cycle or the refrigeration cycle.

Refrigerants

A core element of modern air conditioning services are refrigerants, which are a medium that absorbs heat while being circulated in the cycle. The first refrigerants employed were toxic flammable gases such as ammonia, methyl chloride and propane. These were dangerous particularly if there was leak. It did not take long until the first non-toxic gas was used called Freon, developed in 1928. The gas is classed as a Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), which is still harmful to the earth as it results in ozone depletion.

Lately we have made a switch to R-410A refrigerant, which eliminates the ozone depletion effect. Older refrigerants are slowly being replaced and their production is coming to a halt, lessening availability. You should note that the lesser availability of older refrigerants (e.g. R-22) will result in higher prices, and this only makes the new R-410A refrigerant more attractive. You should also note that these new refrigerants require the whole air conditioning services system to be overhauled and key components to be replaced.

Condensing coil

These coils are located outside in a split Air Conditioning (AC) system. The heat is removed from the refrigerant from the coil from inside the house, in the cooling process, to outside. As the pressurized refrigerant air enters from the compressor to the coil, it transfers its heat to the air blowing at it. The air gets heated, rises, and is blown outside. At the same time, the refrigerant cools down and returns to its liquid form, in a high-pressure state, that can then repeat the process.

The condenser can be cleaned annually to ensure peak efficiency and to prevent breakdowns. You can do the job yourself, but sometimes a professional might be needed. Vacuum away any minor obstructions to the outside unit. The primary task will be to clean the condenser fins, which you can recognize as the fine metallic blades that surround the unit. Reach out to us for your queries regarding your air conditioning services in Irving, TX and get our experts on the job.

Expansion valves

Expansion valves restrict the flow and remove the pressure from the refrigerant in your cooling unit to convert the liquid to gas. The warm refrigerant enters the valve (the temperature can be felt at the liquid line) and the and cold liquid leaves the valve. One should note that the valve does not remove heat it only reduces pressure. Two types of valves are used in machine air conditioning systems, the common internally-equalized valve and externally-equalized valves special control.

The evaporator coil

This part of the refrigeration cycle is where the refrigerant absorbs heat and evaporates. The process cools the air down. The coil is located on top of the furnace or inside an air handler. The evaporator is an indoor component of the AC. The cool air is released from this section of the refrigeration cycle.

Compressor

The heart of modern air conditioning services is the compressor.  The refrigerant, in the form of gas, is circulated inside under pressure. The process concentrates heat and the temperature is raised to the right degree. The low-pressure gas is changed to high pressure. This process makes the refrigerant ready for the condenser. A failed compressor means the condenser will not be able to make the house cool or warm.  There are 2 types of compressors, Scroll and Rotary compressors, which have different internal designs. You can always refer to the professionals to inquire about the type of compressor your AC has.

A lot of noise related complaints can be related to the compressor. The noise can be dealt with by changing the belt adjustment. If your AC unit is noisy at one side and the other side is relatively quiet, the compressor is not the issue. The sound can also be from the clutch, which is close to the compressor. The clutch can be difficult to identify as a source of noise, as it is positioned close to the compressor. A loose bolt holding the clutch can result in a lot of noise. You may also check if enough air is being fed over the evaporator coil.

Air conditioning systems

Heat pump units are devices that reverse the refrigeration cycle and heat your home or office instead of cooling. Air conditioners might be part of larger systems called Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning that substantially raise the number of parts involved in the air conditioning cycle.

K&S heating and air

Air conditioning services employ the aforementioned core components to get cooling done. In different units, there will be certain differences in some processes, but the principles remain the same. You are welcome to ask us regarding your AC or HVAC system and about any more parts that might have you curious. K&S Heating and Air are your professional partners for all your air conditioning service needs in Irving, TX.  We’re operating in Texas’ major cities. Look for us in Dallas, Richardson, Irving, Frisco and more!