How do Central Air Conditioners & Heating Systems Work

Parts of a Central Air Conditioner and Heating System

1. Condensing Unit
2. Compressor
3. Condenser Coils
4. Condenser Fan Motor
5. Furnace or Air handler
6. Heat Exchanger
7. Draft Inducer Blower Fan Motor
8. Evaporator Blower Fan Motor
9. Evaporator Coils
10. Air Filter

Let’s see how it works

In the winter the blower fan sucks cold air from the return vent through the filter and then the blower fan blows the air through the heat exchanger and the hot air will come from the supply vent. The draft inducer blower fan sucks cold air through the gas burners to heat up the heat exchanger and then the heat will be exhausted by the draft inducer blower fan for the heat exchanger to not overheat. In the summer the temperature is going to be very hot so the blower fan pulls in the hot air from the return vent through the filter and then the blower fan blows the air through the evaporator coils and then the cold air will come from the supply vent. The compressor squeezes the gas to make into a liquid but the liquid is very hot and then the liquid flows through the condenser coils and a fan is used by exhausting the heat, the condenser coils dissipate the heat when the liquid flows through them. After the liquid has passed through the condenser coils, it travels to the evaporator coils. Once the refrigerant liquid enters these coils it expands into a gas which makes the coils cold. The gas flows through the coils to a suction line attached to the compressor, the compressor converts he gas back into a liquid and the cooling cycle continues.