The air conditioner you choose for your home has to match your cooling needs, especially during the hot summer months. Even with a durable, well-maintained HVAC unit, individual components may need repairs or replacements. As a homeowner, knowing the different types of AC coils is crucial to ensure your unit performs efficiently when you need it the most. Let’s look at what you need to know about AC coils to ensure you make an informed decision.
Air Conditioner Coils
The most important part of the air conditioner’s function is its AC coils. These are internal components that remove the heat and humidity from your unit and direct it outside. Regardless of the unit or type of AC coils, the goal is to provide cool air for indoor spaces. A standard AC unit usually has specialized chemicals and refrigerants that come in three main components: a condenser coil, compressor, and evaporator coil. These components work together to create a seamless process by converting refrigerant liquid to gas and vice versa to facilitate cooling.
Condenser Coil
Another type of AC coil is the condenser coil. The condenser outside the building houses several components, such as a fan, a compressor, fins, and condenser coils. Once the refrigerant absorbs heat from your home, it reaches the condenser unit through copper tubes. The warm, low-pressure refrigerant gas enters the compressor, where it is pressurized and turned into high-pressure, hot gas.
The hot gas travels to the condenser coils, where a fan blows warm air over the coils to cool it. Several condenser coils are needed to expose more of the refrigerant to the fan and remove as much heat as possible. Once the refrigerant cools, it travels back through the copper tubes into the expansion valve indoors for distribution.
Evaporator Coils
Lastly, evaporator coils are circular-shaped components found in the air handler. These types of coils are made from metals that conduct heat easily, such as copper, steel, and aluminum. Evaporator coils contain the refrigerant for cooling and also have fins that draw air in for cooling near the refrigerant. Once vapor from indoor spaces reaches the evaporator coils and refrigerant, it turns into liquid and drains into the condensate pan. The evaporator coil is designed to reduce humidity and improve air quality.
Read more: Your Troubleshooting Guide for Evaporator Coils
When it comes to your AC, a proactive approach is always the best way to ensure minor issues don’t get out of hand. Contact us at Moncrief Heating & Air Conditioning, a trusted HVAC company in Atlanta to learn more about your HVAC system and its vital components. We leverage extensive expertise to ensure efficient air conditioning installation in Atlanta at competitive market rates.