The Components Central Home Air Conditioning Unit

H VAC system components may be generally divided between indoor and outdoor appliances, with the heat-producing, heaviest components such as the compressor and condenser coil located outside the home and the evaporator being installed in the plenum of the furnace, typically in the attic space, Gage or other service location indoors. These indoor and outdoor segments are connected a low-voltage relay cable and refrigeration lines.

In most cases, the cool air will be circulated into the home via insulated, flexible duct work installed in the attic space and/or under the sub flooring to vents in the ceilings, walls adorn floors inside the living space. This is very cost effective in a home that uses forced-air heating as well. If the home uses a radiant floor heating or baseboard heating system, the overall cost of installing duct work for central air conditioning entails additional expense since a dedicated blower and duct work are required for the central air conditioner only in this case.

Carrier Corporation and other manufacturers also offer a ductless system, which employs several smaller indoor evaporator coils, each with a blower to circulate air within a given portion of the living space. The units are installed in exterior walls, with refrigeration, condensation and electrical lines running outside the house from each evaporator back to the outdoor compressor unit.

The costs of a ductless versus traditional system must be weighed to determine which is more cost effective and will be based on the size of the home, cooling capacity required, number of evaporators required and distance from each to the compressor unit. A ductless system is typically only used in a home without forced-air heating; otherwise cost and simplicity make duct work the better route in the majority of cases.