How Do Central Air Conditioning Units Work?

A woman smiling as she relaxes on a couch.

There are three main types of cooling systems currently on the market. You may have heard these systems referred to as central ACs, ductless mini-split units, and packaged air conditioners. Among all of these options, it’s safe to say that central air conditioning systems are some of the most well-known — as well as the most common.

How do central air conditioning units work? Let’s go over the step-by-step process these systems go through in order to deliver comfortable, cooled air to a home.

Why Are Central Air Conditioners So Popular?

Before we can discuss how central AC works, it can be helpful to address some common questions about these units. For example, what makes these HVAC systems such a popular option among homeowners?

If you’re considering a new air conditioning installation in Grand Cayman, you may want to know what benefits you can expect from investing in one of these systems. Here are a few noteworthy benefits:

How Central AC Works

When we adjust our thermostats and the temperature starts to change, this can sometimes seem like magic. However, this is far from the reality of the situation. When it comes down to it, central AC units work hard to meet our comfort needs. They contain many moving parts that make it possible to cool a house in a rather quick and effective manner.

So, how do central air conditioning units work? What allows these cooling systems to provide consistent, cool air? Let’s go over everything you need to know in more detail below.

Thermostat Sends a Signal

If you want to know how central air conditioners work, it’s important to start at the very beginning. After all, the cooling process begins right when you lower the temperature on your thermostat.

When you adjust your thermostat, asking for a lower temperature, it sends a signal to the air conditioning system. From here, the central AC will kick on and commence a new cooling cycle.

Warm Air Is Collected

Once your air conditioner starts running, this is when the true work begins. How do central air conditioning units work after they kick on?

The warm air inside your home is pulled into the central AC’s indoor unit so that it can be cooled. As this warm air is sucked into the unit, it passes through a filter that’s designed to trap airborne particles such as dirt and dust. There are various types of air filters that can be used to trap a wide variety of airborne contaminants.

Evaporator Coils Cool the Air

The clean air then makes its way over to the evaporator coils. These coils work alongside refrigerant, a chemical that absorbs the heat from the air. Refrigerant has the ability to flow between the indoor and outdoor units via copper tubing.

What happens after the air has been cooled? In short, the heat that was pulled from the air is sent to the condenser coil, where it is then expelled by the outdoor unit.

Cool Air Is Dispersed

So, how do central air conditioning units work once the air has reached your desired temperature? The final step in the process is to send that cold air back out into your home via return air ducts. This is when you’ll notice cool air blowing out from your vents.

Install a Central AC System With Polar Bear!

Every homeowner should know how central AC works, whether they already have one in their homes or are looking to install a new one. This way, you can know what to expect the next time you adjust your thermostat on a hot day.

Are you interested in upgrading your comfort by installing a central AC system? At Polar Bear Air Conditioning, we’re proud to be a go-to air conditioning company in the Cayman Islands. We offer high-quality services to meet a wide variety of needs.

Whether you’re interested in installing an energy-efficient mini-split system air conditioner or need air conditioning maintenance in the Cayman Islands, we can help. Contact us today to learn more about our services or schedule your installation!

Wendy Yeomans

14:38 29 Sep 23

The technician, Romaine, was very professional, knowledgeable and friendly. The only downside was it took 2 days before they could come because they were so busy but when they did arrive, their work was extremely good.

Stephen Fairs-Hall

18:18 12 Sep 23

I have just had a totally professional interaction with 5 of Polar Bear Air Conditioning Staff.They were Octavia, Billy, Dwayne, Genome, and Tony.Octavia and Billy are two of their Service Technicians, Dwayne is a Installation consultant ( I think) and Gerome and Tony are Installation Technicians. All of them were professional, courteous, and extremely knowledgeable!I am very pleased with the work they did.

Chris Krohn

16:20 26 Aug 23

They need more technicians as I waited most of a day to have someone come and service my 2 ACs only to be told they wouldn't make it that day. They did reschedule to a Saturday morning and this time the tech was right on time and did a great job. He was very personable and showed me what was wrong and that it had been corrected. The tech deserves 5 stars but Polar Bear lost one for the wait.

CheChe Br

12:59 19 Aug 23

Roemaine is a very pleasant and professional individual. He was proactive by calling ahead so that I could make arrangements to meet him for this emergency situation. He was punctual, upfront with the diagnosis and costs and explained my options. This made me feel like he was genuinely customer focused. Roemaine and his colleague resolved the issue promptly; big kudos to both of them.

Lynn Kelly

23:31 09 Aug 23

My experience was a great one from start with the receptionist, she was very helpful which I greatly appreciated. Overall I was happy with the professional service provided, Pascale was great, arrived on time and took the time to explain everything. Keep up the good work and thank you very much.

Tonie Brown

23:29 05 Aug 23

These guys did a fantastic job, from start to finish. First the team of two introduced themselves and gave an explanation of what work they were going to do.This was a job well done from the correct size unit for the room to a neat installation and oh they even cleaned up before they left. Thanks again Polar Bear for an excellent job.

Carol Peart

15:38 25 Jul 23

I am so grateful to Polar Bear Air Conditioning. I was smelling a combination of stale cigarette smoke and a wet dog for approximately 2 weeks and then the A/C unit stopped working on a particularly hot Friday night. I called Polar Bear and Mr. Gilbert Smith came out and he would not leave until he got the A/C to start cooling. He gave me his phone number and asked me to call him if it stopped cooling. Mr. Dwayne Ashley called me on Saturday morning and answered all my questions and reassured me that the unit would be fixed ASAP. My initial appointment was set for Tuesday morning but Mr. Dwayne called me on Monday morning to say that there was a cancellation. I had taken my vehicle to be serviced and Mr. Dwayne came to me to get the key to open the apartment. When I returned to the apartment, I was surprised with how well the team had cleaned up. Don't get me wrong, I still swept and mopped the floors, but it looked like what I would regularly do at the end of the week. Mr. Dwayne came by on his way home to collect payment. At the end of the day, I checked all the boxes for Polar Bear and I would highly recommend them to anyone. As a matter of fact, I have already recommended them to two people. Well done Polar Bear and thanks a million.

Anitoaie Alexandra

21:33 07 Jul 23

Romaine was amazing, very professional and responsive.He helped me out on a late friday afternoon and did not leave until my AC was up an running. Amazing, friendly service!The gentleman that he was training was also very professional.

Bibiana Butasova

22:58 28 Jun 23

Tyrone and Travis are professional, knowledgeable, honest, hard working and very pleasant to deal with. They came to install new thermostat units in the house and spent time to make sure that everything was set up properly and working with no issues. I highly recommend the 'T&T' team to all new and existing customers at Polar Bear. Thank you again for amazing service! Bibi & Nina

veronika harabinova

17:01 23 Jun 23

The team from Polar Bear Company came to replace our air conditioning unit, and they did an excellent job. From start to finish, their service was professional and efficient. The technicians arrived on time, well-prepared, and knowledgeable. They handled the installation with expertise, paying attention to detail and ensuring optimal functionality. Not only were they skilled, but they were also friendly and courteous, addressing my questions and concerns with clear explanations. Overall, the Polar Bear Company exceeded my expectations in terms of quality, efficiency, and customer service. I highly recommend their services to anyone in need of AC replacement or related work.

John Thistle

21:32 17 May 23

I recently had my air conditioning unit installed by Polar Bear Air Conditioning in Cayman Kai. I was very pleased with the service I received. The workmen, Jerome, Tony, and Nathan, were all professional and courteous. They arrived on time and were dressed in their uniforms. They laid out carpeting where they would be walking inside the house to avoid leaving debris or making a mess. They worked clean and kept the space tidy. They were polite and provided me a good understanding of the work they completed as well as showed me all pieces of equipment. They emailed me a jpg image of each piece of equipment's information plate so that I could record it in my home management software, as requested.Here are some specific details about the work they did:They installed 3 new high-efficiency air conditioning units that are much more energy-efficient (26 SEER) than my old units.They cleaned and disinfected the air ducts, as well as replaced previously installed flex ducts with rigid duct work that is superior in efficiency and durability.They installed new filters to help keep the air clean and free of allergens.They explained the operation of the new units to me and answered all of my questions.They cleaned up after themselves and left my home in good condition.I would highly recommend Polar Bear Air Conditioning to anyone in need of air conditioning installation or service. They are a professional and reliable company that provides excellent customer service.

Charles Mobley

01:19 01 May 23

Our ac stopped working a few weeks ago and Polar Bear sent Roemaine and Tyrone to diagnose the problem. Roemaine and Tyrone very quickly identified the problem and communicated with me. It turns out the best option was replacing the condensing unit which Paul quoted within a matter of minutes and they had expert installation team (Tony and Jerome) complete late in the afternoon with short notice. I’m very happy with their work!

lisa jackson

21:02 20 Apr 23

Tony and Jerome were such amazing technicians during my first service with Polar Bear AC! They were diligent and very hardworking while also being extremely careful and considerate with the home during an AC unit dismantlement and full new installation of a downstairs home AC unit. They were very clean and tidy as they worked with protective carpet through the house and cleaned up throughly when the job was done. They were an example of best kind of people who taking pride and care as they completed their work. They did such an excellent job, i couldn't recommend them enough for future jobs!!!!! thank you Tony and Jerome for a job well done.

Dana Parsons

18:43 30 Mar 23

From booking the appointment, reminder notifications, calls prior to arrival, details of who to expect to the very staff who answer the calls, the service has remained exceptional. Value for money and the quality of work performed has always been at a high standard. Would certainly continue to use their services and recommend them.

jamaal anderson

21:49 24 Mar 23

Professional, timely, flexible, great customer service.I wish to thank Polar bear for the excellent service provided for ac work at my apartment. I truly impressed with the attention to detail and quality of work. I would happily recommend them to potential clients.

Rebecca Paull

20:55 27 Feb 23

Octavia is very professional and it's a pleasure to see her when she comes to work on our AC systems. Polar Bear is extremely responsive to emails and phone calls and they provide a great service.

17:26 22 Feb 23

I have, over the years been trying to find a reliable, professional A/C maintenance and repair company. I have tried a few. That search is now over after using Polar Bear. Billy and Jerry were absolutely a pleasure to work with. Knowledgeable and professional from the initial diagnosis to the final repair. I highly recommend this company and the team that came to do work on my AC. Tim.

Gill Gordon

01:58 27 Jan 23

Polar Bear technicians are always very polite, friendly and professional in their service. Each of their technicians that we have dealt with have been great and they are always super responsive to getting someone out. Pictured are Antony and Billy who completed our recent service 👍

Zichri M.

22:27 30 Dec 22

Great work. I received an email and also a call from the dispatcher that the tech would be calling me, and sure enough, the tech (Simon) called shortly after that to let me know he was on his way which was very much appreciated. The customer service from all of the team and updates was spot on, and Simon was very thorough and very knowledgeable. He was also very courteous and professional. I rate Polar Bear as the best company in town. Great work!

Glenroy Miller

03:27 24 Dec 22

Tyrone is very knowledgeable and professional, he gave me a step by step update of what he was doing. He also gave advice on how best to protect not only the unit but my family. My wife and I are totally satisfied with the service.

Kyle Roberts

22:50 23 Dec 22

Polar Bear's service and response was amazing! Nicole who answered my phone call and scheduled me was extremely friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable! The Technician assigned to me was Simon and he was also extremely friendly and very knowledgeable. Within a minute of looking at my system he knew what the errors and issues were! He was able to fix one of the two problems that day, and then came scheduled and came the following day to fix the remaining issue. He was perfectly on time and the courtesy call before arrival both times before arriving was a welcome touch as it made sure that I was ready.Will continue using polar bear for all my HVAC needs! 5*

Kayla Shibli

01:09 05 Oct 22

My experience with Polar Bear has been awesome!!!! From the beginning, the office staff were so professional and kind, then receiving my AC quote, the gentleman has been very prompt in his response time—, the kind of employee that puts customer first and has such a nice and an approachable attitude, very patient in answering my questions and providing guidance as required by me- customer focus completely, then as if that wasn’t enough to convince me to move my AC maintenance and installation to Polar Bear; the technicians that attended to my AC installation provided such excellent service— what stood out was how they used a carpet that was placed on my floor to avoid making any mess on my floor and whatever mess they did make, the technician used their broom to remove it. I know this message is long but I really wanted to express my THANK YOU and appreciation for such excellent customer service that I’ve experienced by Polar Bear — you have won me as a customer!! THANK YOU! Keep up the excellent customer service!!! Looking forward to building a relationship with you as a new customer.

Robert L White

11:48 15 Aug 22

Olivia and Demitri very professional , competent and are delightful people! She came by and diagnosed some issues with our AC system . I am reviewing your estimate at this time..I truly enjoyed meeting them. They both real assets to your Company!Rob

Omari Rankine

04:58 10 Jul 22

I am very pleased with the service that was provided by Polar Bear. I had an issue where the ac was not working at one of my rental properties after hours on a weekend. Rohan came all the way out to East End at 10pm and worked on the issue to get the system back up and running. He was very thorough and explained the issue in detail, and the measures I needed to take to prevent it from reoccurring. Excellent customer service