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Central Air Conditioning

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Central Air Conditioning

Central air conditioning (or central A/C) is a system in which air is cooled at a central location and distributed to and from rooms by one or more fans via ductwork. The compressor is what makes the whole process of air conditioning work like magic. The compression of the refrigerant gas enables it to release heat from the house, and in turn, cool air is produced.

Advantages of a central air conditioning unit

  • Cooling comfort during the heat of summer – Central air conditioning helps keep your home cool and reduces humidity levels.
  • Cleaner air – As your central air-conditioning system draws air out of the rooms in your house through return air ducts, the air is pulled through an air filter, which removes airborne particles such as dust and lint. Sophisticated filters, like those found in the Lennox Healthy Climate® purification systems, may remove microscopic pollutants, as well. The filtered air is then routed to air supply ductwork that carries it back to the rooms.
  • Quieter operation – Because the compressor-bearing unit is located outside the home, the indoor noise level from its operation is much lower than that of a free-standing air- conditioning unit.

Types of central air conditioners

There are two types of central air conditioners: a split system or a packaged unit. In a split-system central air conditioner, an outdoor metal cabinet contains the condenser and compressor, and an indoor cabinet contains the evaporator. In many split-system air conditioners, this indoor cabinet also contains a furnace or an air handler. The air conditioner’s evaporator coil is installed in the cabinet or main supply duct of this furnace or heat pump. If your home already has a furnace but no air conditioner, a split system is the most economical central air conditioner to install.

Central air conditioning systems

In a packaged central air conditioner, the evaporator, condenser, and compressor are all located in one cabinet, which usually is placed on a roof or on a concrete slab next to the house’s foundation. Air supply and return ducts come from indoors through the home’s exterior wall or roof to connect with the packaged air conditioner, which is usually located outdoors. Packaged air conditioners often include electric heating coils or a natural gas furnace. This combination of air conditioner and central heater eliminates the need for a separate furnace.

Benefits of ducted AC system in Philadelphia

  • Indoor comfort during warm weather – Central air conditioning creates consistent temperatures throughout conditioned spaces.
  • Higher quality of indoor air while circulating through central filtration
  • Easier user friendly operation – Central air conditioning systems are very easy in operation. Most systems come with programmable advanced controls, which are easy to set up and run.
  • Noise Reduction – The main reason for this is due to the compressor-bearing unit being located outside your home, thus the noise level from its operation is low.
  • Ability of most common central air conditioners to run in heating mode – Heat pumps or combinations with gas furnace produce heating for conditioner spaces. Both AC and heat equipment utilize the same blower to move air through the same air duct system. Such central air HVAC combinations help to save money on installation.
  • Useful info about central air conditioning from Energy.gov

Hire EMCO Tech for your next Central AC project

If you want or need central air conditioning system replaced or a new one installed, always involve professionals. It is such a big component in your house and office which you can’t have it done shadily. For exceptional services, never hesitate to contact EMCO Tech Contractors, formerly known as Emergency Maintenance Company for emergency HVAC Service in Philadelphia, Willow Grove, Doylestown, Feasterville-Trevose, Huntingdon Valley, Southampton, Bryn Mawr, and other local areas near you.

How A Central Air Conditioning Unit Works?

An interesting fact that you might not know is that a central air conditioning system and a refrigerator work in the same way.  A refrigerator cools a small insulated space while central air conditioning systems can keep homes, offices, or commercial premises at comfortable temperatures.

Heating and cooling costs account for around 40% of an average household’s energy bills.  Knowing how your central air conditioning system works can reduce future maintenance costs and help increase the energy efficiency of your home or office.

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Unlike window units which can only cool one room or area at a time, central air conditioning systems can cool an entire building or a house.

Central air conditioning is one of the most convenient, popular, and energy efficient ways to get relief from the hot and humid Philadelphia weather in the summer.

If you are looking to buy the perfect central air conditioning system for your home and budget, seek advice from a leading residential and commercial HVAC services company which has the knowledge and adequate experience in AC installation and AC repair in Philadelphia.

When liquid turns into a gas or evaporates, it absorbs heat.  This is why when you pour water over your skin in the summer, it makes you feel cool.

Air conditioning systems use a chemical compound called refrigerant that turns liquid into gas at lower temperatures.  This refrigerant moves through the air conditioning system, absorbing heat from your home and transferring it outdoors in a continuous cycle.

Before understanding how a central air conditioning works, it is essential to know the key components of a central air conditioning unit.  A typical central air conditioning system normally includes:

  • a thermostat that controls the operation of the system,
  • an outdoor unit that contains a fan, condenser coil, and compressor,
  • an indoor unit that consists of the evaporator coil and a fan to circulate the cooled air,
  • cooper tubes that let refrigerant flow between the indoor and the outdoor units,
  • an air handler that has an expansion valve that regulates the amount of refrigerant that goes into the evaporator coil. A blower pushes air over the coils, which warms the refrigerant into a gas that goes back to the condenser
  • supply ducts that distribute cool air from the air handler to the various rooms in the house. Return ducts carry warm air back to the air handler to be filtered and cooled.  Properly sized ducts can deliver clean air throughout the house.
  • Two register grilles, one connected to the supply duct and the other to the return duct. Supply registers are located near the ceiling while return registers are situated near the floor.

How Do Central Air Conditioning Systems Work?

The air conditioning process involves two actions that take place simultaneously, one inside the home and the other outside the home:

  • Inside The Home (‘Cold Side’ Of the System).

Warm air is cooled as it blows across a cold coil full of refrigerant.  Heat from the indoor air is absorbed into the refrigerant as it turns from liquid to gas.  The cooled air is distributed back into the house.

  • Outside The Home (‘warm Side’ Of the System).

The refrigerant gas is compressed before entering a large coil in the outdoor unit.  Heat is released outside as the refrigerant turns back to a liquid state.

The thermostat, which is centrally located within the house, monitors and controls the temperature of the indoor air.  The cooling process is set into motion when the thermostat senses that the air temperature in the house needs to be lowered.  It sends signals to the various air conditioning system components located both inside and outside the house.

The three main components of a central air conditioning system: a compressor, a condenser coil, and an evaporator coil work together quickly to convert a specialized chemical called a refrigerant from a gaseous state to liquid form.

The compressor raises the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant gas and sends it to the condenser coil where it is converted into liquid.  The refrigerant travels back indoors and enters the evaporator coil.  Here the liquid refrigerant evaporates and cools the indoor coil.  A fan blows indoor air across the cold evaporator coil where the heat inside the home is absorbed into the refrigerant.  The cool air is circulated throughout the home while the heated evaporated gas is sent back to the compressor.  The heat is then released into the outdoor air as refrigerant returns to a liquid state.

This cycle continues until your home has reached the desired temperature.

Types Of Central Air Conditioning Systems

Central air conditioning systems come in two basic designs: split and packaged.  Both contain the same components and provide the same amount of cooling despite some differences.

  • Split air conditioning systems.

Split air conditioning systems are commonly used and are immensely popular.  As the name suggests, this system is split between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit.

The indoor unit is housed in a metal cabinet and contains the evaporator coil.  It is usually installed in a utility closet or an attic.

The outdoor unit is located outside the house and installed on a concrete slab or composite pad.  It contains the condenser coil, compressor, and expansion valve.

  • Packaged air conditioning systems.

All the components in the packaged air conditioning system are housed together outside the house.  Roofs are a preferred location for installing these systems.

Two different types of condensers are used in packaged air conditioning systems:

Air-cooled condensers use the surrounding air to cool and are usually used by households.

Water-cooled condensers require water towers that can store plenty of water to cool.  These types of condensers are used by large commercial buildings

Contact EMCO Tech Heating and Cooling for All Types Of AC Services

With emergency air conditioning services, flexible appointments, and free and accurate estimates on any air conditioning service, EMCO Tech Heating and Cooling works round-the-clock to keep you and your family happy and comfortable.

Our experts will:

  • Help you choose an energy efficient air conditioning system that is easy to operate and is within your budget.
  • Help remove your old air conditioning unit and install your new one.
  • Perform AC repair and maintenance when you need it most.

Make an appointment today. We proudly serve Philadelphia and its neighboring communities.

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About EMC

Emergency Maintenance Company field supervisors have been servicing heating & cooling equipment in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs for over 30 years. We have repair and installation experience with all residential and commercial manufacturers of HVAC equipment located in Montgomery, Bucks, Philadelphia, Chester, and Delaware Counties.
EMCO Technicians are well known for their quick troubleshooting and emergency repair service calls. Our office staff delivers superior customer service, and our trained technicians use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to diagnose HVAC problems quickly.
We pride ourselves on offering cost-effective repair and replacement solutions to meet your HVAC servicing needs.

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