An evaporator coil is an assembly of metal tubing found cooling systems. It draws the heat from highly pressured gas and is essential to the function of an air conditioning unit. Whether an air conditioner is part of a central air system or simply a window mount unit, it will contain an evaporator coil.
The way an evaporator coils work is really quite simple. The compressor in an air conditioner compresses gas until it becomes highly pressurized and hot. This hot Freon gas is then passed through the evaporator coil system where heat is readily absorbed. As the heat is released from the passing gas, it causes it to condense even further into a cool, liquid form. This liquid is then moved through the expansion valve where it evaporates and becomes even colder. It is then expressed through vents into a home or building, effectively lowering the temperature therein.
The evaporator coils in an air conditioning unit removes heat and reduces humidity in the air that passes by it. This process is not unlike the phenomenon that occurs on a glass of water on a hot summer day. The evaporation and condensation you can witness during this simple process also occurs as evaporator coils change the state of the air passing by them. As a result, the temperature of the air is able to be manipulated. It is all a simple matter of heat exchange. Hot air is transformed into liquid refrigerant within the coils and is then changed once again into vapor refrigerant within the expansion valve. This vapor refrigerant is then used to reduce the temperature in the air that surrounds you.
Each evaporator coil is really fairly simple. They tend to function quite effortlessly, but occasionally your evaporator coils may freeze up. You may suspect this problem if your AC is running continuously with little air flow coming from your vents. To check and see if this is your problem, simple open the duct work surrounding your evaporator coils. It will be very obvious if your coils are frozen, and it is easy to remedy this problem. All you have to do is shut off your air conditioner for a few hours and let the ice melt off the coil. While you are waiting, it would be wise to check your filter. A clogged filter can easily lead to icing problems, so change it if needs be. Once the coil has thawed, simply clean any lint or dirt off with a plastic brush, close up the duct work, and turn your AC unit back on.
An evaporator coil is an essential part of any AC system. By drawing heat away from compressed gas, the evaporator coil effectively cools it for use. Visit Airconditioning-filter.com for more information.