The 4 Main Components of Your AC in Seattle

There are 4 main parts of your air conditioner, hopefully understanding this may help you to troubleshoot some of the problems you may have with your AC not cooling effectively.

Condenser
This is the outside metal unit. This is where the gas from the compressor is condensed into a liquid. The gas that enters the condenser is very hot. The temperature is then lowered so that the gas can convert back to a liquid.

Compressor
This is inside the condenser. It circulates the pressurized refrigerant, to concentrates the heat and changes the low pressure gas to high pressure.

Evaporator
This is the part of the system that is inside the home. In simple language: it absorbs the heat from your home.

Expansion Valve
This controls the amount of refrigerant in your system.

All of these pieces are connected by a copper tube that handles refrigerant, creating the closed-loop.

Heat is collected in the evaporator, sent outside to the condenser the heat is removed and the cool air is recirculated back into your home.

Things to look for if your Seattle cooling system is not working effectively.

Open Doors and Windows
You would be surprised at how being vigilant about your doors and windows can significantly improve the cooling process for your home.

Air Flow
Leaky ducts or improper air flow are another very common culprit for why your AC is not cooling properly. Check for inconsistent temperatures throughout your Seattle home. If there is a leak somewhere in the line then the cool air that is moving from your unit through your home is not making it all the way to where it needs to go.

Dirty Filters, Coils and Condensate Drain
A dirty filter or coil will restrict your air flow and keep your machine from running at peak efficiency. A clogged condensate drain on your unit can cause loss of efficiency and cooling. Please call a certified HVAC technician from Ballard Natural Gas Service to check this for you. It is bit more technical and it is better to be safe than sorry. If you break something it could cause a much more expensive repair later on.

If you are in Seattle or the greater Seattle area request service online and if you are not sure if you are in our service area, check out our service area page for more information on the communities we serve.