Air conditioners are in three-quarters (75%) of American homes. The air conditioners in America use about 6% all of the electricity produced, which costs homeowners about $29 billion per year. Will we see a similar rise in air conditioning units in the UK? For Air con Gloucester, go to acecc.co.uk/
Air conditioners use the same basic components and operating principles as your refrigerator. Air conditioners and refrigerators both use energy (usually electric power) to transfer heat between the interior coolness of the fridge and the surrounding relatively warm environment of your house.
The evaporator, a coil that is cold inside the home, cools it. The condenser is a hot coil outside that releases the heat collected. The coils of the evaporator, condenser and heat exchanger are serpentine tubes surrounded by fins made from aluminium. This tubing is typically made of copper.
The compressor is a pump that moves heat transfer fluid, or refrigerant, between the evaporator (or condenser). The pump pushes the refrigerant along the tubing and fins of the coils.
The liquid refrigerant evaporates inside the evaporator coil to cool your home. The hot gas refrigerant is pumped outside into the condenser, where it turns back to liquid and gives off its heat to air passing over the metal tubes and fins of the condenser.
Air Conditioner Filters
Routinely replacing or cleaning your air conditioner’s filters is the most important task to ensure its efficiency. Filters that are clogged or dirty reduce airflow, which in turn reduces the efficiency of a system. When airflow is blocked, dirt can be deposited directly on the evaporator and reduce the coil’s ability to absorb heat. Replace a dirty or clogged air filter with a new, clean one to reduce your air conditioner’s power consumption by 5-15 percent.
Air Conditioner Coils
Over the years, the evaporator and condenser coils of your air conditioner will collect dirt. The evaporator will not soil quickly if the filter is clean. The evaporator will eventually collect dirt. The dirt in the coil reduces airflow, and it also acts as insulation. This decreases its ability to absorb warmth. Check your evaporator coil annually and clean it if necessary to avoid this problem.
Condenser coils outside can become dirty as well if they are in a dusty environment or there is foliage around. Condenser coils can be easily seen and dirt on their fins can be noticed.
