If you are unsure as to how air conditioning in Florida works, you are not alone. Most people set their thermostat to 70-74 degrees Fahrenheit and assume the air conditioning system will function as designed. However, most people do not delve any deeper than that. Let’s take a closer look at air conditioning in Florida to help homeowners and business owners in the Sunshine State better understand how their homes and businesses are cooled.
The Basics of Modern Day Air Conditioning
Air conditioners transmit cool air indoors through the removal of heat as well as humidity. This undesired heat and humidity is moved outside while the cooler air remains inside. Air conditioning systems function with a chemical dubbed “refrigerant” and three primary mechanical components: an evaporator coil, a condenser coil and a compressor. These key components work in unison to convert the aforementioned refrigerant from its gas form to liquid and then back to gas form.
The compressor boosts the temperature and pressure of this refrigerant gas, transmitting it to the condenser coil where it becomes a liquid. The refrigerant moves back inside, whereupon it moves into the evaporator coil. This is where the liquid refrigerant subsequently evaporates, cooling down the indoor coil.
The indoor air is blown across the cooled evaporator coil, allowing the heat within the building to be absorbed by the refrigerant. The cold air is subsequently moved throughout the living or working space. The warmed evaporated gas is transmitted outdoors to the compressor. Heat is subsequently moved into the air outside of the building as the refrigerant moves back to its liquid state. The cycle repeats itself until the building achieves the selected temperature.
A Deeper Dive Into Central Air Conditioning
Central air conditioning systems cool indoor air yet that is only one of their functions. Central air conditioning also controls indoor humidity, airflow and air quality in homes and businesses. Central air conditioning in Florida is controlled with a thermostat that designates the indoor temperature. The indoor unit is comprised of a fan coil or furnace that contains the fan and evaporator coil to circulate the cold air throughout the living or working space.
The outdoor unit contains the compressor, condenser coil and fan. The refrigerant described above moves between the indoor/outdoor units by way of copper tubing. An expansion valve is used to regulate the level of refrigerant transmitted through the evaporator coil. Ductwork permits air to move from the unit inside the home into the building and its interior unit.
The Cooling Process
The cooling process commences when the thermostat senses the indoor air must be decreased. Signals are transmitted from the thermostat to the central air conditioning system’s components within the home and outside of the home. The indoor unit’s fan pulls the hot air from the interior of the home up through the return air ducts. The air passes through filters, ensuring lint, dust and additional airborne particles are gathered. Once filtered, the hot indoor air moves across the cool evaporator coil as described above.
Every Florida Home Needs Reliable Central Air Conditioning
In short, it is best to think of central air conditioning in Florida as a massive refrigerator for homes and businesses. Central air conditioners and refrigerators rely on the same types of materials, systems and components to transfer warm/cool air as appropriate. Furthermore, central air conditioners and refrigerators both operate with electricity.
Your central air conditioner will undoubtedly consume an abundance of energy in the summer months so it is important that it operates with the utmost efficiency. If your central air conditioning in Florida is flawed in any way or if it has not been maintained in the past year, do not hesitate to reach out to our team for assistance. Our mission is to keep you cool and comfortable throughout the entirety of the summer, spring and fall.
Conclusion
There’s more to your air conditioning unit than you know. Cooling indoor air is only one of its tasks. It also controls indoor humidity, airflow and air quality. It is important to maintain it and keep it working efficiently to prevent it from inflating your energy bill. Hopefully, this post has allowed you to take a closer look at this electronic equipment that works hard to keep you comfortable.
Contact Our Team for Air Conditioning Work
Our air conditioning specialists are here to help with your HVAC woes. If anything goes wrong with your air conditioning or if you simply need AC maintenance in Florida, reach out to us. You can contact our HVAC crew by dialing 561-260-5763.
