How a Commercial Air Conditioner Work

Air conditioning is an expensive investment for any business but a must-have for business success. You can’t imagine a factory without an air conditioner, an office without an air conditioner, a storage business without an air conditioner. It is expensive from two perspectives; the initial cost of acquiring air conditioning equipment and the cost of running them i.e air conditioning equipment are the primary consumers of electricity in businesses, factories, or storage units. The need for air conditioning is inevitable in businesses, factories, or storage units. Is it worth investing in commercial air conditioners? You cannot feel the effects of air conditioning in your business but in the long run, you will see the benefits.

Most air conditioners work using one principle; circulating compressed air – the refrigerant, through a split system. The split system is where the air conditioning system is split into two, outside and inside components.

Components of an air conditioner

The compressor: This is considered the heartbeat of an air conditioner, it is where all the air cooling takes place. It circulates the refrigerant between the loops of a condenser and evaporator. There are two models of compressors namely, reciprocating condenser and scroll-type condenser. According to consumer reports, reciprocating compressors cause a lot of problems and make a lot of noise compared to scroll-type which is more expensive but efficient.

Condenser coil: It contains a network of tubes filled with a refrigerant. It removes heat from heated gas and converts the refrigerant back to a liquid state, while excess heat escapes into the air.

The fan: It is located outside the system and its role is to disperse air through the condenser so that the heat can be dispersed.

Evaporator coil: An evaporator is found inside the air conditioning unit and it has a network of tubes with refrigerant and its sole function is to eliminate heat plus moisture as the refrigerant changes state from a liquid into gas.

Air unit: It is like a blower and it is closely associated with the air conditioning unit, its role is to move air through the ducts.

Air filters: The main function of air filters is to catch up dust and dirt or pollen and any other airborne particles to purify the air through the air conditioning unit. They are technically good for air conditioning units and useful health-wise.

Drainage system and sometimes a pan: The process of air conditioning produces a lot of water that requires proper drainage. Inside the system, there are PVC pipes responsible for draining out by-products of the air conditioning process to the outside of the building. These pipes require regular checking and flashing to prevent the growth of algae which limits the unit’s efficiency. You can schedule such maintenance to go in tandem with your annual maintenance of the unit to reduce the cost. The pan is important in case of an emergency, it switches off the system when there is a failure in the drainage system.

Heat pumps: Air conditioners fitted with heat pumps become both an air conditioner and a heater. So, when it is too cold inside, it heats and vice versa. For an air conditioner to serve its purpose for a long time it must undergo regular maintenance.

For split system air conditioning installation, maintenance and repair, trust only an expert technician. Don’t attempt any DIY if you are not well-versed into the mechanics of an air conditioning system.