How Does a Split Air Conditioner Work?

A split air conditioner is a suitable alternative to wall, window or centralized air conditioner systems. It adequately cools a standard-sized house without requiring extensive installation costs and effort. Split air conditioners are home appliances that do not require ductwork, which reduces energy expenditures. Still, many homeowners shy away from a split air conditioner system because they do not know how it works or why it is a viable choice. Read on for more information about the function and installation of split air conditioner systems.

Components and Function of a Split Air Conditioner

A split air conditioner contains two separate component sections, one outdoor and one indoor. The outdoor section is a compressor that initiates the cooling process, while the indoor component is an evaporator and fan. The two sections are connected with a set of electrical wires and tubing used to transport air between the two sections.

The compressor is controlled via a thermostat inside.  As the thermostat detects warm air, it activates the compressor outdoors. The compressor circulates a refrigerant gas, increasing the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant as it compresses it through a series of pipes. The refrigerant than moves to the condenser for further processing.

In the condenser, a cooling system removes heat from the high-pressure gas and the gas changes phase and becomes a liquid. This chilled liquid is pushed through tubing indoors until it reaches the evaporator system.

Inside the home, the evaporator fan collects warm air and passes it through a chamber containing the chilled liquid refrigerant. The fan system then serves to blow this now-cooled air back into the room, lowering the overall temperature of the space. If the thermostat still detects air that is warmer than desirable, the process continues, and the refrigerant and any excess heat that remains in the system are passed back outdoors to the compressor in order to begin the cycle anew.

Choosing an Air Conditioner System

Because a split air conditioner is compact and isolated between two localized component sections, there is very little opportunity for heat and other energy to escape the system. Centralized air conditioning systems waste enormous amounts of energy due to heat exchange in the air conditioner duct system. However, this problem is virtually eliminated in a split air conditioner system.

Split air conditioner systems are preferable to window and wall air conditioning units as well. Although the latter are small and easy to install, they do not provide reliable cooling to a large space, or to multiple rooms. Even with thoroughly sealed windows and walls, these air conditioner units allow for heat to enter the space, partially negating the effects of the system.

Split air conditioners are compact, easy to operate and maintain, and relatively inexpensive. They do require some electrical wiring and other specialized installation techniques, so it is advisable to hire a professional air conditioner installer to set up the system. However, once the system is installed, most homeowners find that it is a cheap, energy-efficient way of adequately controlling the heat within the home.