If you’re in the market for a new AC, or just plain curious about the various types and brands on offer, then you may have wondered about what a “split” system is. Whether you are thinking about a heat pump, central air conditioner, or ductless mini split, they are all split systems. In this post, we’d like to run you through the basics of a split system so that you can stay informed about your air conditioning options. Call OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. for exceptional air conditioning installation, repair, and maintenance services in Arlington, VA.
All split systems will have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, although the particularities of each type will vary slightly. Let’s review these two components.
- The indoor unit is comprised of an air handler and an evaporator coil. The purpose of the indoor unit is to cool the air in your home. A central air split air handler has a blower motor that controls the fan, as well as various plenums that connect to the ductwork. The evaporator coil is part of the refrigerant cycle responsible for moving thermal energy. As the evaporator coil receives the cool liquid refrigerant from the outdoor unit, it evaporates in response to the warm air pulled into the air handler by the blower. This both cools the air for distribution and turns the refrigerant into a gas.
- The outdoor unit is made up of the compressor and the condenser coil. The compressor is the engine of the refrigerant cycle. There are various types of compressor, but its main purpose is to accept the low-pressure gas from the indoor unit and turn it into a high temperature and high-pressure gas. The refrigerant is then sent to the condenser coil, where the heat absorbed from the indoor air compressor now dissipates into the outdoor air, and thus cools.
We hope this gives you some idea about what a split system is and how it works. For more information about our Arlington, VA air conditioning services, call the pros at OASIS Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Inc. today!