Most people in Florida use air conditioning on a daily basis for the majority of the year. Because of this, they know the basics about how an air conditioner works. You likely know that your air conditioner runs on electricity and uses refrigerant (also known as Freon) as well. You know that it runs in cycles, shutting off once it has reached the range needed to meet thermostat settings.
For the most part, you don’t need to know too much about an air conditioner. A technician will handle most of what you need. However, there is some information that may help you manage your air conditioner and take advantage of its settings. We’re here to offer you 4 pieces of information you may not have known already.
Refrigerated Air Conditioners Remove Heat
First, you should know that the cold is not really something than can be created or generated, like heat can. In order to produce cool air, heat energy must first be removed. That’s where refrigerant comes in.
Refrigerant is a great heat transfer agent, a chemical blend capable of absorbing heat as it evaporates and releasing heat as it condenses. It absorbs heat from the air in the home and moves it to the outdoors, which is how the air cools down before moving back to your home.
Air Filters Don’t Just Clean the Air
Something we think any homeowner should know is that an air filter does much more than clean the air. Yes, this is an important function of an air filter, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only function. The air filter’s design can block allergens, but the actual purpose of the filter is to block particulate from damaging the air handler.
However, a dirty filter does more harm than good. When dirt clogs up the filter, airflow may not come through very smoothly, which can prevent the system from doing its job. It may become overworked, which leads the system to break down sooner than it should, or at least use up more energy than is needed.
Air Conditioners Dehumidify
In fact, the very first air conditioners were designed to be dehumidifiers for a printing press, as moisture in the air would interfere with the equipment. Air conditioners remove moisture as they cool the air, incidentally. Excess moisture in the air condenses on the coil inside of your home as it cools down removing heat from the air as well. However, it uses a lot of energy to dehumidify, and you may still require a whole-house dehumidifier.
They Need Routine Maintenance
Finally, something you may not know about your air conditioner is that it needs maintenance at least once a year. In Florida, they get such frequent use, that air conditioners tend to need routine maintenance twice a year. That’s because without maintenance, excess wear and tear plagues the system. It can force your AC system to work harder than it should have to, raising monthly bills and leading to more frequent system breakdowns.
Get more out of your air conditioning in Homestead, FL by calling the experts at Air On Demand for your next AC repair, installation, or maintenance visit.