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The Differences Between an Evaporator Coil and a Condenser Coil

Introduction

Have you ever wondered what an HVAC technician meant when they talked about evaporator and condenser coils? Did you think, “Why do these parts matter so much, and what is the difference between them, anyway?” Those are fair questions.

In this blog post, we will be answering those questions by explaining what an evaporator coil is, what a condenser coil is, and the differences between them. If you have questions after reading, leave a comment below. Now, let’s jump in!

What Is an Evaporator Coil?

An evaporator coil is an HVAC part that absorbs heat from the air, cooling it. As the evaporator coil absorbs heat, the temperature of the liquid refrigerant flowing inside of the coil increases. This causes the refrigerant to evaporate as it changes from a liquid to a gas. Once there is no liquid refrigerant to be found, the refrigerant is superheated.

Superheating is the temperature increase of the refrigerant once the refrigerant’s temperature is above boiling point and it is completely vaporized. The superheated refrigerant then moves on to the compressor. 

Evaporator coils usually look like triangles with fins on the side and metal tube hoops on the front and back, as pictured below:

A close-up of a new evaporator coil inside of a new furnace.

What Is a Condenser Coil?

A condenser coil is an HVAC part that releases the heat absorbed by the evaporator coil. It is located inside of the condenser, the outdoor HVAC unit associated with the air conditioning system.

When refrigerant vapor (gas) flows into the condenser coil from the compressor—an HVAC part that increases the pressure of the refrigerant—the coil releases the heat from the refrigerant vapor as it condenses the gas back into a liquid. The heat is released outside. Once the refrigerant has been turned into a liquid and no vapor is remaining, it exits the condenser.

Condenser coils are typically made out of aluminum fins and copper tubing. They wrap around your outside air conditioner unit and are protected by paneling. Here is a picture of a condenser—the outdoor HVAC unit where the condenser coil is located:

An HVAC Condenser - Which houses the condenser coil

What Are the Differences Between an Evaporator Coil and a Condenser Coil?

The main differences between the evaporator coil and the condenser coil lie in their functions and what state refrigerant is in when it enters and exits the coils.

An evaporator coil absorbs heat while a condenser coil releases heat. Refrigerant enters as a liquid into the evaporator coil and exits it as a gas. On the other hand, refrigerant enters as a gas into the condenser coil and leaves as a liquid.

While there are differences between the two coils, they do have some significant  similarities. For example, they both work together to cool your home, and without them, that wouldn’t be possible. They also both manipulate the temperature of refrigerant in order to transfer heat in and out of it. Overall, the evaporator coil and the condenser coil play a vital role in the cooling cycle.

Conclusion

We hope this blog post answered any questions you had about the differences between an evaporator coil and a condenser coil. If you have any more questions about them or HVAC in general, leave a comment below. If you want to learn more about evaporator coils, we have a blog post dedicated to them here.

 Do you think something might be wrong with your evaporator coil or condenser coil and live in Herculaneum or the surrounding areas? Give us a call! We offer free estimates and are here to help. Our phone number is 636-475-9384. Call today and get your system back in tip-top shape. 

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