The first step to keeping your cooling system in good shape is to understand how air conditioning cools your space. Well, here is your answer!

Air conditioning has changed the way a lot of people live in this modern world. Stepping out of the hot and humid outdoors into an air conditioned building is like stepping into a completely different climate zone. It is very rare home or building that is built today that does not include central air conditioning. It has moved in a few short years from a luxury to a necessity. The scientific principle behind air conditioning is the heat exchange properties of condensation and evaporation.

The basic substance that enables the majority of air condition units to operate is known as Freon. Actually, Freon is the brand name for Dupont's R-22 refrigerant. The scientific name is halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). Freon has become the common use name for all types of R-22 refrigerant. CFCs are used in many air conditioning units because the heat exchange properties are very good during the condensation and evaporation cycles. The substance is associated with ozone loss, and is strictly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. Air Conditioning Technicians must be certified by the EPA in order to handle R-22 refrigerants.

The evaporation and condensation cycle is the secret to how the air conditioning process actually takes place. It begins with a compressor that turns low pressure, cool gas refrigerant into high pressure, hot gas vapor. The hot vapor moves through a series of coils where it dissipates its heat and condenses into a liquid. The liquid moves through an expansion value where it evaporates into a cold vapor. The cold vapor passes through a second set of coils where it contacts the ambient air and cools the air by absorbing the heat. The cooled vapor is pulled into the compressor and the cycle begins again. It is this constant cycle of high to low pressure and liquid to gas form that allows the heat to be removed from the ambient air and that air to be cooled for circulation.

There is a fan associated with the air conditioning system. The purpose is to draw air into ducts where it passes over the cool coil part of the cycle, and then blows it back into the building. The air is also dehumidified during this process. This occurs as a result of the warm air passing over the cooling coils. The air gives up some its excess moisture which condenses on the outside of the coils much the way water forms on the outside of an ice cold drink glass on a hot day. The water drips off the coils and out of through a drain.

This type of air conditioning uses the same principles as a common refrigerator. The difference is that the air is not circulated in the refrigerator but is retained in a confined space and thus cools to a low temperature. This same method is also used in automobile air conditioning systems. There are other methods of cooling air inside larger buildings. Heat pumps draw hot air from the building and discharge it outside, pulling cooler air in to replace it. Cooling towers are another means of cooling large buildings. Cooling towards use water rather than refrigerant, and so are more environmentally safe, but are also much less effective in maintaining the low temperatures of evaporation/condensation type units.

Quinton Williams is with AirConditioningRepairCompanies.com - your resource for air conditioning information.