Air conditioning is one of the most useful features a home could have. It helps regulate the air in your household. Moreover, it also filters the air, keeping it nice and breathable. This system is especially useful during the hot summer days. Like any other piece of machinery, if you maintain your air conditioner regularly, you will be able to enjoy it for a long time without unnecessary costs!
There are quite a few types of air conditioners, and almost all of them are incredibly beneficial. We will talk about window air conditioners, how they work, and the main components. Stick around to find out more!
If you wish to explore on your own and find out about the air conditioner parts and components, make sure to click here.
Page Contents
What Are Window Air Conditioners?
Source: popularmechanics.com
Window air conditioners are the simplest form of air conditioning. The unit is mounted to a window or a wall from the outside. This is a single unit, and all of the components are in the same place, contained by the housing.
This type of air conditioner operates independently from the rest of your HVAC system. It is useful because of its mobility, as it can be moved from one window to the other. Window air conditioners work just like any other AC. They remove heat and humidity from the room by using refrigeration.
Once the temperature in the house rises, the hot air is pulled into the unit, and the thermostat turns on the blower. Next, the blower cools the air, passes it through the coils, and pushes it outside. This helps regulate the temperature in the room.
These air conditioners come in different sizes, depending on your needs. Even if you have an HVAC system, getting a window AC might be a good idea. This is because sometimes your HVAC is not enough to cool off the entire house!
Window Air Conditioner Components
Source: cnet.com
Most of the window air conditioner components are in the same casing. They work together to give your home a better feel and to bring about a more enjoyable atmosphere.
Some of these components include the following:
1. Front panel
The front panel is the one that you can see inside your room. It is installed from indoors, and there is a user interface control, which can be either electronic or mechanical. Older air conditioners have a mechanical control system, which is usually a rotary knob that controls the fan speed and the temperature.
On the other hand, newer ACs use an electronic control system. This usually involves a remote control, or if it is a step above the ‘normal’ modern, there will be a touch screen panel. Moreover, some types of front panels have adjustable louvers that control the direction of the airflow. This is very useful if you want to direct it to a certain part of the room.
You also have the option to take in fresh air from the outside, as the panel provides ventilation as well! Given that the mechanical type is slightly older, it is also the cheaper option. If you are not too concerned about the look and convenience, you should opt for this type. However, if you want the AC to suit the aesthetic of your modern home, go for the electric type!
2. Cooling coils
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There are two types of coils within the air conditioning unit. These are evaporator coils and condenser coils.
Evaporator coils are the part of the AC where the refrigerant absorbs the heat. The refrigerant gets into the coils as a liquid and leaves as a gas. It is cooled down by the expansion valve and pushed outside to cool the room!
They are generally made of copper, steel, or aluminum because these materials efficiently conduct heat. Make sure to keep evaporator coils clean because even the thinnest layer of dust can slow down the system!
Condenser coils work together with evaporator coils to make your home cooler. As the refrigerant moves into the compressor and turns into gas, it goes into the condenser coils.
The refrigerant then releases the gathered heat, and as the fan blows over condenser coils, the refrigerant cools off. After that, the conditioner air is free to leave the unit and enter the room!
3. Fan Blower
Fan blowers are another essential part whose primary purpose is to get the air through the air conditioning system. They pull in the warm air into the unit and release the cool air outside. This is a simple centrifugal evaporator blower.
4. Capillary Tube
Source: materialsampleshop.com
A capillary tube is an expansion device that is used to control the refrigerant’s flow. It connects the remote bulb and the thermostatic expansion valve, but it can also connect the remote bulb to the thermostat itself. Sometimes, if installed near the evaporator, the capillary tube can be a bit noisy.
5. Operation Panel
The operation panel serves to control the speed of the fan and the temperature in the room. As mentioned earlier, there are mechanical and electronic panels. No matter what you choose, it will not affect the way the unit operates. As a rule of thumb, you should pick the one that suits your style better.
6. Filter Dryer
Source: amazon.com
A filter dryer is an essential component of your AC! It not only absorbs the contaminants but also provides physical filtration. However, its primary purpose is to remove moisture from the refrigerant.
7. Compressor
A compressor in your AC unit controls all other parts of it. Its main purpose is to compress the refrigerant for it to cool down and regulate the temperature in the room.
Firstly, the compressor moves the outside air into the unit. Next, the refrigerant absorbs the heat and turns it into cold air. Lastly, the refrigerant vapor goes back to the compressor as it pulls the heat out of the home. The compressor will keep this process going until the air reaches the temperature required by the thermostat.
8. Fan Motor
Source: coolproject-store.com
The fan motor finds its place in the outdoor part of the unit. It connects the indoor blower and the outdoor propeller fan. It serves as the power engine for these two to start blowing the air. The fan motor begins to work as soon as you turn the AC on!
Endnote
Window air conditioners are an excellent investment if you want a simple system that serves its purpose. It consists of numerous parts that work together to cool down your home. Make sure to be informed about all parts in order to maintain the unit regularly!
