Every modern air conditioner consists of two key components: the evaporator and the condenser units. The coils within these units are instrumental in generating cool air, as well as removing warm air indoors and releasing it outdoors. In today’s post, local air conditioning and heating service contractor Modern Air Solutions Inc discusses why the evaporator and coils need to be matched.
How Do Evaporators and Condensers Work?
Most types of air conditioners consist of two units. The indoor unit houses the evaporator coils, while the outdoor unit houses the condenser coil. On window-mounted air conditioners, evaporator coils are located at the front panel, while the condenser coils are in the part that projects from a window.
Air conditioners generate cool air by putting a substance called refrigerant through stages of compression and decompression. Refrigerant is very cold as it reaches the evaporator coils. The air handler in the air conditioner blows air over these coils, resulting in cool air. The same coils also absorb warm air from the room. The not-so-cool refrigerant makes its way to the condenser coils, where the heat is expelled. The refrigerant is then cycled back, processed and returned cooled to the evaporator coil.
Mimatched Evaporator and Condenser Coils
The evaporator and condenser coils come matched upon air conditioner installation. As the coils reach the end of their service life, the differences in their capacity become more pronounced, resulting in a mismatch. It’s important to note that they need to be matched, and installing a higher-rated coil to compensate for the wear isn’t a practical option.
As the mismatch becomes more evident, the air conditioner becomes less efficient. Thermostat settings may need to be set lower to meet your indoor cooling needs, which will increase the air conditioner’s workload. This will also increase the wear and tear on the system, which can shorten the air conditioner’s service life even further and result in higher energy bills. If you notice such signs, your HVAC technician should be able to replace the worn-out coils with new ones that match the old ones.
Modern Air Solutions Inc is your leading provider of air conditioning and heating repair services. Give us a call at 630-884-4181 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.
