​Heating & Cooling 101 How Central AC Systems Work The typical central air conditioning system is a split system, with an outdoor air conditioning, or "compressor-bearing unit" and an indoor coil, which is usually installed on top of the furnace in the home. Using electricity as its power source, the compressor pumps refrigerant through the system to gather heat and moisture from indoors and remove it from the home. Heat and moisture are removed from the home when warm air from inside the home is blown over the cooled indoor coil. The heat in the air transfers to the coil, thereby "cooling" the air. The heat that has transferred to the coil is then "pumped" to the exterior of the home, while the cooled air is pumped back inside, helping to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. Central air conditioning can also be provided through a package unit or a Indoor comfort during warm weather – Central air conditioning helps keep your home cool and reduces humidity levels.

Cleaner air – As your central air conditioning system draws air out of various rooms in the house through return air ducts, the air is pulled through an air filter, which removes airborne particles such as dust and lint. best wall mounted air conditioner unitsSophisticated filters may remove microscopic pollutants, as well. ac unit tie downsThe filtered air is then routed to air supply duct-work that carries it back to rooms.best air conditioner split 2012 Quieter operation – Because the compressor-bearing unit is located outside the home, the indoor noise level from its operation is much lower than that of a free-standing air conditioning unit. How a Heat Pump WorksShow All ItemsWith summer approaching soon comes the time to turn on the AC to keep the house cold.

You might notice that your electric bill spikes up more than expected or that your house is just having trouble staying cold. If it's been more than a few years sense your last AC unit cleaning (or you cant remember ever having them cleaned) then its probably time for a clean. It's a fairly easy process so save some money by doing it yourself! Step 1: Safety firstShow All ItemsWhenever doing ANY work with electronics its important to turn the electricity off and check voltage on the unit with a multimeter. Again, DO NOT WORK ON LIVE ELECTRONICS. For this particular project the risk isn't as much to do with shock (though this still exists and adding water to the mix is even more reason to be cautious) but more to do with fear of the unit turning on and spinning fan blades. Most units should have an electronics box near the unit on the outside of the building. Open it up and flip the switch to the OFF position. « PreviousNext »View All Steps Download I've read somewhere that the outdoor AC unit needs to be leveled.

My outdoor unit is a bit slanted due to the floor not being completely flat (pic below). However, I don't see any obvious structural issues. Is this something I need to correct? Perhaps by sticking a small piece of wood on one side? Refrigerant needs to flow through the coils evenly without too much interference from the slope of the unit. A level concrete slab with rubber pads between the unit and the concrete is what the manufacturers recommend. "Mostly level" is probably okay for a residential unit. Get a half-inch thick outdoor rubber mat and cut it into 6"x6" squares. Put single pieces on the high side and stack several pieces under the low side to bring the unit closer to level. Be careful not to kink or damage the refrigerant piping to the unit when you do that. If you damage the lines when you raise the unit to insert the pads, you will wish you had left it alone. It should be as level as possible. The previous posts make good mention of rubber mat 6x6" squares and careful approach to only tip the unit as little as possible not to kink any lines.

If you don't hire a professional and aren't confident by yourself to address the issue, having a second person watch the lines while you tip can save much potential trouble. Previous information from these posts also generate ambiguity over the importance of having the unit level in regards to the compressor. Leveling the unit will terminate any ambiguity. An additional concern not previously adressed is the compressor and/or fan bearings. An off level unit will put additional unintended mechanical stress/strain on these rotating components long-term. Therefore for best performance and longevity of your unit, level it and take special precautions in the process. Outside A/C compressors are typically supported on a concrete pad, concrete blocks, or a vinyl pad such as the one shown in the photo at page top. The air conditioner compressor support pad should be level and secure against movement. Compressors which are badly out of level may fail to function properly and need adjustment.

Tipping and moving compressors can also cause can cause leaks in refrigerant lines, leading to costly air conditioning service calls to evacuate and recharge the system after repairing the refrigerant leak. Do not try to move your A/C compressor yourself as you might cause a refrigerant leak or may otherwise damage the equipment. For slightly-tipped air conditioning compressors we generally leave them alone but we add support as needed to avoid further movement. Not being level can cause the oil for the compressor to not lubricate correctly. Over time it will cause the compressor to burn out costing you lots of $ in the long run. For a professional appearance it should not appear to be set without a thought to anything but function as if a war time situation where getting online asap is the priority. The thought that an AC unit must be absolutely level or its wont work or work well is based on absorption type systems RV's used in the old days that used ammonia and a flame rather than a compressor.