The Fundamentals of Heating and Air Conditioning

When the outside temperature becomes too hotthe home is cooled to the desired temperature.
for most people, they flock indoors where the airYour air conditioning unit will work best when your
is comfort controlled and regulated by an airhome has been properly insulated. In order to
conditioner. Air conditioning units can be large orkeep the cool air inside your home for longer, you
small, central or window-based. Air conditionershould have correct insulation, energy-efficient
units that sit outside the home are most commondoors and windows, and proper ventilation. Homes
in newer homes and help to cool the entire house.that sit in direct sunlight may have a tougher time
Air conditioners, or Central Air, use a refrigerantregulating the temperature inside, but a
(usually Freon gas) to provide the cooling. Theywell-maintained air conditioning unit can get the job
are complex machines that require highly skilled airdone.
conditioning contractors or technicians to install andModern units have been manufactured with
maintain. However, there are some steps you canefficiency in mind. A lot of energy can be spent
take to prolong the life of your air conditioningon running older air conditioner units, and in the
unit.long run, you're better off purchasing a new,
In order for your air conditioner to work properly,energy efficient model. These modern systems
you must make sure the airflow is unrestricted.can save hundreds of dollars per year on energy
Make sure there is no debris near the fan portionbills because they have been engineered to cool
of the outdoor unit. Also check for ice build upyour home without consuming a large amount of
near the pump, as this can be a sign of low Freonelectricity. When these units are properly
or a damaged compressor. Running your airmaintained and inspected by a professional air
conditioning unit with low Freon levels or with aconditioning contractor, their lifespan increases and
damaged compressor or pump can cause eventhey continue to operate at maximum efficiency.
more damage. Make sure you call an experiencedTalk to a professional HVAC contractor to find
HVAC contractor to inspect your air conditionerout what size air conditioning unit you need for
and repair any problems.your home. You'll want to make sure you find one
Put simply, the air conditioner works like this: Athat can put out enough cool air effortlessly. One
compressor takes the cool Freon gas andthat is too large will constantly be turning on and
squeezes it down until it becomes a hot gas undershutting off, while one that is too small will be
high pressure. The hot gas runs through the airrunning all the time just to keep up with the
conditioner unit and a set of coils to condensedemand for cool air. An air conditioning
further into a liquid. As the Freon liquid evaporatesprofessional will be able to determine the size unit
into gas, it becomes cold. The cold gas absorbsyou need for you home and your family's
heat and is pumped throughout the home, andcomfort.