Air Conditioner Compressor: How They Work

What’s Inside An AC System?

The most essential parts of a home central air conditioner are the evaporator, condenser, and HVAC compressor. While these are the main components, other crucial parts include the expansion valve and refrigerant. All of these elements work together to provide cool comfort for your family.

How Do Air Conditioners Work?

Now you may be wondering—how does air conditioning work?

Let’s take a quick look at the process:

What’s the Role of an AC Compressor?

An air conditioner compressor's primary purpose is to pressurize your system’s refrigerant, which will increase its temperature. When the pressure rises, so does its temperature. The process involves pressing the refrigerant gas together, leading to a boost in heat.

An AC compressor heats up this refrigerant until it reaches a higher temperature than the outdoors. The reason for this is due to the fact that warm air naturally flows to cooler areas. That said, in order for heat to escape your home, it needs to be hotter than the outdoor temperature—hence the pressurizing process. The hot indoor air escapes your home through the condenser.

As the refrigerant travels to the condenser, it reverts back to its cold temperature. This refrigerant feeds back into the evaporator coils, where the process will restart. This cycle happens time and time again as long as the AC system is powered on. While most air conditioners work this way, some HVAC compressor components actually work in reverse; hot air is produced instead of cold air.

Air Conditioner Compressor Maintenance

When it comes to air conditioning maintenance, you can’t forget about your HVAC compressor. As this component is crucial to your home comfort, properly maintaining it is essential.

Here are some tips on how to do this effectively:

Always Remove Obstructions

If your air conditioner compressor is found outside, there’s a good chance it's impacted by leaves, dirt, grass, and other debris. This can cause your compressor to work overtime, shortening its lifespan and causing poor energy efficiency—not to mention an uncomfortable home. That said, periodically check your system to ensure nothing is in the way.

Protecting the Compressor in Cold Temps

If you live somewhere with freezing temps, AC compressor maintenance is even more important. If your area receives snow, be sure to wrap your compressor with a fresh, breathable cloth before any snowstorm. Make sure the unit is powered off before starting this process.

Routinely Clean Air Filters

If your system has dirty air filters, your AC compressor could experience significant problems. To keep these filters clean, regularly wash them with a clean, soft-bristle brush. Do your best to remove all the dirt and debris you can.

Understanding the answer to “how does an air conditioner work” involves knowing about an AC compressor. After learning about this topic, you can ensure this vital HVAC component is always in excellent condition.