What Are the Different Parts of an AC Unit and What Do They Do?

There are numerous moving parts to your AC unit that helps it perform its job. Unfortunately, though, the more parts a machine has, the more that can go wrong.

If your AC unit starts acting up, our team at Ambient Edge can help. Give us a call, and we’ll be able to get your unit back up and running in no time!

Parts of an AC Unit

As far as the parts of an AC unit go, there are five main components that make an air conditioner an air conditioner. Those parts are the:

• Compressor
• Air Filter
• Condenser
• Expansion Valve
• Evaporator

Let’s take a more in-depth look at what in particular these parts do.

Evaporator

The evaporator is the part of the unit that starts the whole “air conditioning” process. Here, inside air reaches the evaporator’s coils. From there, the evaporator pulls the heat out of the air and converts the air into a highly pressurized gas.

Evaporator Issues

There are three main evaporator issues you can experience:

• Frost on the indoor coil
• A malfunction with the blower motor
• A clogged air filter

While you should be able to change your AC’s air filter on your own, do not attempt an AC repair unless you have prior experience in this area. If you think you may be having an evaporator issue, give our techs at Ambient Edge a call.

Compressor

After the evaporator’s work is done, the gas then transfers to the compressor. Do you know when you put so much pressure on something that it actually creates heat? That’s the compressor’s job in a nutshell.

The compressor “compresses” the refrigerant to heat it to a temperature that is higher than the temperature outside. Cooled air naturally pulls warmer air to it. The heated refrigerant, therefore, works by pulling hot air out of your home and disposing of it outside.

Compressor Issues

There are so many things that can get in the way of a compressor functioning normally. Just a few of these include:

• Too much, or too little, refrigerant
• Pollutants in the system
• Electrical issues
• Dirty coils

In order to properly diagnose a compressor issue, you need a professional’s opinion. Our team at Ambient Edge can help.

Condenser

Once the compressor’s process is complete, the air then transfers to the condenser, which is essentially a group of coils. The condenser coils then cool the warmer air and dispense it throughout your home, completing the “air conditioning” process. You know your AC unit is having a condenser issue if your air conditioner is blowing out warm air.

Condenser Issues

Some of the problems that can affect a condenser include:

• Dirty coils
• Problems with the fan
• Refrigerant leak

Don’t let these issues go on for long without hiring a professional to take a look. If you wait to address these issues, it can lead to the total breakdown of your AC unit, which will cost you, even more, to fix – if it is even still possible.

Expansion Valve

After the refrigerant leaves the condenser, and while it’s still a liquid, it is still too hot even after giving off some heat to go back into the evaporator coils. The expansion valve is necessary here because it pulls the pressure out of the refrigerant, allowing it to cool back down. The expansion valve also controls how much refrigerant and voltage end up in the evaporator.

Expansion Valve Issues

You’ll know you’re having an issue with your expansion valve if your AC has stopped running as efficiently and/or is blowing out warm air. You may also notice frost building up on the evaporator or leaking out of the vents. If either of these is the case, seek out a professional’s help immediately.

Air Filter

The air filter, of course, traps those particles that you don’t want to be breathing in. Many people regard the air filter as an inconsequential part of an air conditioning unit, but it is actually quite important.

If you neglect to clean the air filter regularly, you are inviting dust, debris, and possibly even mold to build up in there and release at a later time. This is an absolute nightmare for anyone in your home that suffers from allergies, and it can even lead to the breakdown of the unit if the filter stays dirty for too long.

If Your AC Unit Is Down, Give Ambient Edge a Call!

When your AC unit is not working properly, there’s no real way to tell for sure what’s going on under the hood, so to speak, unless you consult with a professional. Ambient Edge has decades of experience in this very area, repairing and replacing all makes and models of air conditioners in the local area.

Call our team to set up a service call. You can also send us your information via the contact form on our website, if you prefer. Let Ambient Edge fix your system so you can get back to enjoying a cooled-off home again in no time!