Central Air Conditioning (Part 1)

Central air conditioning does not create "coolness". Instead it is about the movement of heat from one area to another. As with a fridge, warm air from the cabinet interior is constantly removed and discharged to the cooling coils on the back or the bottom.

Central air conditioning absorbs warm humid air in the area above the furnace. In this process the air leaving gets cooler as it has lost a measurable amount of heat. The heat transport fluid is refrigerant that transports this heat out to the outdoor unit where it is cooled and releases its heat to the cooler outdoor air. Regular maintenance is required to maintain your unit in proper working order. Neglected units are often noisy, very dirty, lack lubrication and generally draw more power than they should. Have your A/C unit checked at least once every 2 years to maintain top performance! Newer units are available with a completely ozone free refrigerant of which we shall touch base on in next weeks column.