Furnace and Air Conditioner - How Do They ACTUALLY Work?

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Furnace and Air Conditioner - How Do They ACTUALLY Work?

If you do not have any prior knowledge of them, heating and cooling systems are quite complex equipment to deal with. So, if you have not been trained to work on them, it is likely that you will have many questions concerning your air conditioner, furnace, heat pump, and other HVAC equipment. Don’t worry – we are here to help you! 

Furnace: How Does It Work? 
Most people have the idea that furnaces heat homes or businesses, but they have some questions as to how exactly it is done. Furnaces heat a home or a business by warming air and circulating it into the indoor living or work areas. Furnaces can be electric or powered by a heating fuel such as natural gas, oil, or propane. 

In a gas furnace, the system’s ignitor or pilot light fires up the burners in the combustion chamber. These burners produce heat and move into the heat exchanger. The heat then is transferred to the air cycling through the furnace. The heated air is then moved by the system’s blower through the duct system and into a home or business. 

In an electric furnace, on the other hand, the electricity starts the heating process rather than the ignitor or pilot light. Heating elements warm the air instead of a gas burner. Air passes through the electric resistance coils of the heating element, and heat is transferred to the air supply. The blower circulates the heat to interior areas. 

Air Conditioner: How Does It Work? 
There are many users who have HVAC questions about how an air conditioner actually works. This cooling equipment is made up of four elements: the compressor, evaporator, condenser, and expansion device. Indoor air circulates through the system by passing over the evaporator coil which is located inside homes. Inside the evaporator coil is the refrigerant which absorbs heat from the air, and then transforms from liquid to vapor. 

Vaporized refrigerant then moves to the compressor, and this is located outside. The compressor compresses the vapor, thus increasing temperature and pressure. Next, the refrigerant moves to the condenser. The condenser now condenses the refrigerant gas back into its liquid form, allowing heat to radiate out. The metal fins that surround outdoor components allow the heat to be dispersed into the outdoor air quickly. 

The refrigerant moves back to the interior system in a cooled state, still in liquid form. The expansion device now regulates the refrigerant flow going into the evaporator coil. 

Once the heat is extracted from the air in the evaporator coil, the blower then will move the cooled air back into the interior spaces. This process is repeated until the desired temperature has reached the indoors. 

For your HVAC needs and inquiries, our team of experts here at Twintech Heating and Cooling are more than willing to help! Visit our website today or give us a call.