What’s the Difference Between Evaporator & Condenser Coils?
Two extremely important components of cooling systems are the evaporator and condenser coils. The following introduction will help you understand how these coils work.
Air Conditioner Function
Air conditioners remove heat from a particular space – the inside of your home. As a refrigerant circulates between the indoor and outdoor units of your air conditioning system, it changes state from liquid to gas and back to liquid again. When the evaporator changes refrigerant into a gas in the indoor unit, it absorbs heat. When the gaseous refrigerant is compressed back to liquid in the outdoor unit, it releases heat. The cycle then repeats and the heat capture and release continues.
Evaporator and Condenser Coils
- The evaporator and condenser coils are important components of the heat transfer process. They are usually made of copper, which allows for easy heat transfer. They often include fins or vanes that increase the surface area for heat movement.
- Evaporator coils contain the system’s refrigerant as it converts from liquid to gas. The refrigerant moves through an expansion valve and into the evaporator coils. The expansion valve decreases pressure on the refrigerant, which turns into gas. Heat transfer occurs in these coils, creating a cold surface. The blower moves air across the cold surface, creating the conditioned air that cools your home. The gaseous refrigerant moves to the outdoor unit.
- Condenser coils in the outdoor unit house the refrigerant during its return to liquid form. The compressor increases pressure on the gas, causing it to condense into liquid. As the refrigerant changes state, it release the heat it contains. The heat is dispersed into the air outside. The liquid refrigerant moves back inside for the cycle to begin again. Contact us today for more information on evaporator and condenser coils and how they work to provide indoor comfort for your home.
At Sobieski Services, Inc., our goal is to help our customers in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey learn more about energy and home comfort issues, especially HVAC and plumbing issues, so that they can save money and live in healthier, more comfortable homes.
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