Air Conditioning 101

The primary function of your air conditioning system in spring and summer is largely misunderstood. “Conditioning” the air through the removal of heat is your unit’s number one job; the resulting cold air is a very happy end result of this action. Cold is simply how we describe a lack of thermal heat.

How does your air conditioner remove the heat from the air in your home?

Your air conditioner has three main mechanical components to cool your home:

• a compressor (a pump that pressurizes the refrigerant)
• an evaporator coil (inside cold coil)
• a condenser coil (outside warm coil)

The air in your home moves over the cold evaporator coil that’s inside your home, which absorbs the heat from the air with refrigerant (a heat transfer fluid). The refrigerant in that coil then flows to the warm condenser coil. There, the compressor compresses that refrigerant to make it super hot - hotter than than the outdoor air temperature. This allows the air outdoor to absorb the heat in the refrigerant that’s flowing through the outdoor coil until the refrigerant cools down and flows back inside where it can absorb more heat. The refrigerant flows back and forth until your home reaches the temperature set by your thermostat.

An important secondary function provided in this process is the removal of moisture. The lower the humidity level, the more comfortable a person feels at hotter temperatures. Ever notice a PVC pipe running off your roof that dripping water? That is the moisture removed from your home.

Dirty coils within your air conditioning system cause your air conditioner to work less efficiently or worse - to stop working at all. Don’t get caught in the heat! Save time, money, and frustration by making sure your unit can efficiently remove heat when it counts.

Ensure worry-free, money-saving operation! Call First Class Plumbing & HVAC at (615) 227-3554 to schedule an air conditioning tune-up today. And remember, for all of your Middle Tennessee air conditioning, heating and plumbing needs, go First Class!

For more information about special offers from First Class Plumbing & HVAC, click here: http://firstclassplumbingandhvac.com/

Protect Your Family with Regular Air Conditioning System Cleanings!

Your air conditioning system is busy, busy, busy - and it’s about to get busier. As summer approaches, you may know that it is crucial to prepare your air conditioning unit for it’s heaviest workload of the year. But did you know that having your air conditioner serviced annually is also vital for good health and safety? We have one word for you, and you’re probably not going to like it: bio-contaminants.

There are four main functions an air conditioning system performs. The largest function is the removal of heat. Hand-in-hand with heat removal in an AC unit is the removal of humidity. After heat and humidity, the functions air conditioning systems perform are the circulation and cleaning of air. Starting to get the picture now?

The problem: “filtered” return air deposits mold spores and bacteria on the moist coil surfaces. (Most air conditioner filters will not filter mold spores and bacteria; instead, they actually act as a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.) As the air conditioner system cycles on and off, the air conditioner gets damp, cold, and warm. This wet, dark environment is a perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria.

Many forms of mold love this atmosphere including Listeria, a bacterium known for its love of icemakers and air conditioning systems. Listeria is also well known for its ability to cause large outbreaks of food poisoning in restaurants. Secondary bio-contaminants that may be dispensed by an un-tended AC system include mites, insects, or nematodes. In a word, yuck!

The good news is that regular maintenance of your air conditioning system will take care of contaminants like bacteria and mites, and keep them from collecting and being dispensed by your system. That’s why it’s important to remember to schedule your air conditioning system for regular maintenance and cleaning. 

An annual air conditioner tune-up by First Class Plumbing & HVAC is the easiest way to guarantee that your air conditioning system will run cleanly and properly each summer, and stay at peak performance for years to come. To ensure worry-free, money-saving operation, call First Class Plumbing & HVAC at 615-867-0800 to schedule an air conditioning tune-up today!