HOW IT WORKS
Air conditioning works by circulating cooled or heated air in your home. To achieve this, air is drawn through two coils, one inside your home (the evaporator fan-coil unit) and one outside (condensing unit).
These two units are connected by refrigerant pipes. The refrigerant is pumped in a loop between these two units.
In cooling mode the compressor, located in the outdoor unit, compresses the low pressure refrigerant gas making it heat up. This high pressure hot gas is then circulated through the outdoor condensing coils where a fan dissipates the heat in heated coils, to cool down the refrigerant changing it from gas to a liquid under high pressure. This high pressure cool liquid travels to the indoor fan-coil where it passes through an expansion valve. As the pressure drops the refrigerant begins to evaporate into a gas. Heat is needed for this process, so warm indoor air is drawn through the coil where it is cooled, and then the cooled air is circulated through the home.
Condensation on the indoor coil may occur as heat is removed when the air is passed through the indoor coils. This water is collected in a tray under the unit and piped outside. Finally the low pressure refrigerant gas travels back to the outdoor unit to repeat the process. In heating mode, the air conditioner operates in heat pump mode where the indoor coil becomes hot, and the outdoor coils become cold. On very cold nights in winter, ice often builds up on the outdoor unit coils. When this occurs, the unit will automatically put itself into a defrost cycle, producing cool air from the vents for a few minutes. You will also notice a puddle of water around the outdoor unit following defrosting.
However, there is one important thing that you do need to look after. The Return Air Filter needs to be cleaned every 3 to 4 months, as a dirty filter restricts the air-flow and will reduce the performance of your system, substantially. This is done by simply removing the filter from the return air grill, and depending on the type of filter you have you can either vacuum it, or wash it down with a hose. If you do wash it, leave it in the shade to dry before replacing it.
We recommend you call us every year to check your system is operating at maximum efficiency. This service involves checking the refrigerant charge, air discharge temperatures, electrical connections, make sure the drain is running correctly and hasn't become blocked. Clean the filters and the air conditioning coils. On a ducted system we also check zone motor operation and the duct for any air leakage.
If you would like an air conditioning quote from us simply contact us.
