Does Central Air Pull Air from Outside?

- 10:34 am - April 30th, 2024


Central air conditioning keeps your home comfortable during hot summer months, but you might be wondering – where does all that cool air come from? Does your system pull in fresh, outside air and cool it down, or does it recirculate the air that’s already inside?

 

Short answer: your central air conditioner does not bring fresh air from outside your home. It recirculates the air that’s already inside your home and cools it down. Here’s an inside look at how central air conditioners work.

 

  1. A fan pulls warm air from your home into your unit.

  2. A filter in your air conditioning unit filters out dust, pet dander, and other allergens from the air in your home.

  3. The air travels over a cold evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air. A refrigerant circulating through the coil aids in the cooling process.

  4. As the air cools down, moisture is lost, and it condenses on the coil and drains out of your system.

  5. The cooled air is then distributed through vents located throughout your home.

  6. Now that the refrigerant is warmed up from absorbing the warm air indoors, it travels to your condenser coil. A fan blows air over the condenser coil, and releases the heat back outside.

 

While your central air doesn’t directly bring in outside air, it does play a pivotal role in improving indoor air quality by removing moisture and particles that can exacerbate your allergy and asthma symptoms. If you have concerns about your indoor air quality, Sound Energy is here to help! We offer a variety of indoor air quality solutions such as high-density media filters, electronic air cleaners, and UV lights to keep allergens out of your home.

 

If your air conditioner is struggling to keep your home cool, or you notice any strange noises, call us for service! Our annual cooling system checks will make sure everything is working properly. In the event we find something is beyond repair, we offer high-efficiency central air systems to keep your home cool all summer long. We know how hot Connecticut summers can get, and that’s why we provide around-the-clock service to get your AC back up and running. Visit our air conditioning page for more information on our central air systems.