Image
hvacBlog-feature-CentralAirConditioning

What is a Central Air Conditioning System?

Central air conditioning has made living through Canadian summers much more pleasant. Instead of sweating in the heat and humidity or drowning out the noise of window and ductless units, the rise of central air conditioning has changed the way we experience hot days by making the temperature comfortably cool in every room of the home.

A central air conditioning system can keep your house comfortably cool even on the hottest days of the year. Unlike window and ductless units that can only cool their immediate vicinities, central air conditioning is connected to ductwork that gets cool air flowing to every room in your home. As a result, you don’t have to stay close to one unit when it is too warm but can enjoy every space in your home regardless of how hot it is outside.

 

A central air conditioning system has several parts that all work together in a split system that uses both indoor and outdoor equipment to keep your home at a comfortable temperature:

  • The outdoor unit, which contains the condenser coil, compressor, electrical components, and a fan.

  • The evaporator coil, which is usually installed on top of the gas furnace inside the home.

  • A series of refrigeration lines that connect the indoor and outdoor equipment.

  • Refrigerant, which is the substance in the refrigeration lines circulating between the indoor and outdoor equipment.

  • Ductwork that goes to each room in your home.

  • A thermostat that controls your desired temperature in the house.

 

How Does Central Air Conditioning Work?

The most significant benefit of central air conditioning is that you don’t have to think about it. Most modern thermostats have automatic temperature settings so that the air conditioning kicks in whenever the temperature gets too high. Central air conditioning uses the refrigeration cycle to circulate cool air through your home:

  1. If the temperature in your house gets to be too warm, or if it rises beyond the thermostat setting, a signal will be sent from the thermostat to the circuit board in your furnace. The signal tells the system that cold air is needed and will turn on the blower motor inside the house and the condenser outside the house.

  2. Warm air is drawn into the ductwork and cools as it passes over the evaporator coil in the furnace. The cooled air is returned to the home through the return air vents located throughout the house.

  3. The refrigerant in the air conditioning system absorbs the heat from the air as it flows over the evaporator coil. Once heated, it is pumped to the condenser outside the house.

  4. The condenser blows outside air across a different set of coils. This removes the heat from the home that was absorbed by the refrigerant before the refrigerant is sent back into the house.

  5. The refrigeration cycle repeats as long as the air is too warm. Once the house temperature is within your desired range, it will turn off automatically. As a result, your home stays consistently cool.

 

What are the Benefits of Central Air Conditioning?

Indoor comfort in all areas of your home during warm weather.
Unlike ductless air conditioners and window units, central air conditioning cools every area of your home. When the weather is warm, it provides an efficient option for cooling and reducing humidity in your home.

The air is cleaner than with other air conditioning options.
Central air conditioning uses an air filter to remove any airborne particles like dust and lint. If you opt for better quality air filters, they can even remove microscopic pollutants. The result is clean filtered air that is cycled through the ductwork and back into rooms.

Central air conditioning operates very quietly.
Because central air conditioning has its compressor-bearing unit located outside, the noise is minimal compared to other units. Most of the time, you won’t notice the noise at all.

 

While a new central air conditioning system can be an investment, it is an investment that will pay dividends. Central air conditioning systems run more efficiently than alternatives, reducing your energy bills during the summer months. Your purchase may be eligible for the Canada Greener Homes program if you opt for a high-efficiency system. This is a government grant of up to $5,000 that could substantially lower the cost of a new central air conditioning unit.

A central air conditioning system is an investment and costs a fair bit up front. However, it typically lasts 10-15 years before needing to be replaced, and the comfortable summers you’ll experience are well worth the cost. Napoleon’s central air conditioning systems use the finest technology and durable materials to keep your house cool with quiet operation. Once you experience the summertime comfort of a central air conditioning system, you’ll never want to go back to living without it.

General