Welcome, science nerds! Today we will talk about something near and dear to our hearts: air conditioning.
Specifically, we will debunk a common misconception about how A/C units work. So, grab your lab coats, and let’s dive in!
Contrary to popular belief, your A/C unit doesn’t actually create cold air. Instead, it removes heat from warm air. The cold air you feel blowing out of the unit is simply the absence of heat. Mind. Blown.
Here’s how it works
The A/C unit has an evaporator coil that cools and dehumidifies the air. As the warm air from your home blows over the coil, the refrigerant inside absorbs the heat from the air. This cools the air down and removes moisture, resulting in that refreshing cool breeze you feel.
But wait, you might be thinking, if the air is getting colder, isn’t the A/C unit creating cold air? Nope! As we learned in physics class, cold is just the absence or removal of heat. So, the A/C unit is actually just removing heat from the warm air, leaving behind the “cold” air that we feel blowing out of the unit.
So, next time you’re basking in the glory of your A/C on a hot summer day, remember that it’s not creating cold air but removing heat from warm air. And if anyone tries to argue with you, hit them with some cold hard science.
If you have any more questions, science or otherwise, for the HVAC pros here at Ballard in San Bernardino, contact us online or call us at 909-297-1914.
