Maytag HVAC

  • Home
  • All Products
    • Air Conditioners
    • Furnaces
    • Heat Pumps
    • Packaged Systems
  • Warranty
  • Financing
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Dependable Partner Program
  • SEER2 Guide
  • Find an HVAC Pro
FIND AN HVAC PRO

How an Air Conditioner Works

Victoria Cleland
Tuesday, 09 June 2015 / Published in How It Works

How an Air Conditioner Works

Want to know what makes your air conditioner tick?

Although it may seem like it on the hottest of hot days, an air conditioner is not powered by magic. Like your toaster, your shower or your television, your air conditioner contains parts that keep it ticking. Ever wonder how your air conditioner works? Well, let me tell you…

  • Connections. Your air conditioner works with either your air handler or evaporator coil (and gas furnace). Your air conditioner sits outside and connects to your indoor system by the lineset. This carries refrigerant between the two components.
  • Indoors. Your air conditioner pumps refrigerant through your lineset to the indoor evaporator coil.
  • The evaporator coil. Liquid refrigerant travels through the evaporator coil while warm air is blown across the coil. Heat moves from the warm air stream into the refrigerant. This cools the air blown over the coil and heats up the refrigerant – turning the refrigerant into a gas.
  • Cool air distribution. The cool air travels to your home using your blower (located in your air handler or furnace) and ductwork.
  • Back to the air conditioner. The refrigerant moves back to your air conditioner where the compressor pressurizes it.
  • The other, outdoor coil. The pressurized refrigerant moves to the condenser coil. Here, heat moves into the air that is blown over the coil. This warm air is then blown outside. This is why when you stand next to your air conditioner it is blowing out HOT air. At this point, the refrigerant becomes a liquid again.
  • Rinse and repeat. At this point, the process starts over again. It goes through this process until your thermostat detects the correct temperature.

While this is a basic explanation, it gets all the key points across. This is why it is so important that EVERY component in your system is working well. Make sure you contact a contractor before the peak cooling season. Have you contacted your contractor yet?

*NOTE: This is just the process for a split-system air conditioner. Packaged equipment and heat pumps operate differently.

 

Like this post? Share it!

Tagged under: Articles

What you can read next

What Is a Smart Thermostat
The Benefits of Air Conditioning
Myths Vs. Facts: How to Use a Thermostat

1 Comment to “ How an Air Conditioner Works”

  1. How Does a Heat Pump Work | Maytag HVAC Blog says :
    September 10, 2015 at 2:06 pm

    […] for a refresher on how an air conditioner works? Visit our previous “How an Air Conditioner Works” blog […]

Explore Maytag

  • All Products
    • Air Conditioners
    • Air Handlers
    • Furnaces
    • Heat Pumps
    • Packaged Systems
  • Warranty
  • Find a Maytag Pro

FIND A LOCAL HVAC CONTRACTOR

About Maytag HVAC

  • Why Maytag HVAC
  • Regulations
  • Maytag Appliances

HVAC Contractors

  • Start Selling Maytag
  • Contractor Login

Customer Service

  • Contractor Locator
  • Contact Us

Policies

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Tax Credits

  • 2022 Tax Credit Certificate

®/™ © 2023 Maytag. All rights reserved. Manufactured under license by Nortek Global HVAC, LLC, O'Fallon, MO. Limited warranty provided by manufacturer.

TOP