A central air conditioner consists of two main parts: the outdoor unit (condenser) and the indoor unit (air handler). Here’s a breakdown of the key components within each unit:
Outdoor Unit (Condenser)
- Compressor: The heart of the system that compresses refrigerant gas, raising its temperature and pressure.
- Condenser coil: A series of tubes and fins where hot refrigerant gas releases heat to the outside air.
- Condenser fan: Blows air across the condenser coil to help dissipate heat.
- Reversing valve: In heat pump systems, this valve changes the direction of refrigerant flow to provide heating or cooling.
- High-pressure and low-pressure lines: Connect the outdoor unit to the indoor unit and carry the refrigerant.