differences between central AC and normal AC

For your home, you can have a window unit or you can have Central Air. A window unit cools a relatively small area, such as one room. You may need several window units to cool your whole house.

With central air, you will have one main unit, usually situated in your attic or outside your home. It produces cool air which is then blown through large 'tubes' called ducts into vents situated throughout your home.

How do air conditioners work?

Air conditioning units contain a special chemical called a refrigerant, which has the unique ability to change from a gas to a liquid in a short amount of time. A refrigerant called freon is commonly used in air conditioning units, although there are other commercial refrigerants available. The refrigerant is pumped into the air conditioning unit at the factory, along with a small amount of lubricating oil for the compressor, an essential part of the air conditioning process.

The parts of a typical air conditioning unit usually form a closed system consisting of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and a thermostat. Motorized fans help to circulate the conditioned air, while thin metal fins allow heat to dissipate quickly. The heaviest part of a typical air conditioning is often the compressor, since it must be strong enough to withstand a significant amount of pressure.