Understanding the Components of Your Indoor AC Unit and How It Affects Your Cooling System

Whether you have central air conditioning or a ductless mini-split, effectively cooling your property likely relies on two things—an indoor unit (often referred to as the inside AC unit) and an outdoor unit. These appliances work together to remove hot air and moisture from your property, replacing them with a cool breeze. An AC is an especially necessary tool in a climate like New Orleans’, where it can turn your property into a chilled indoor haven on hot, humid days.

But to truly understand what your air conditioner inside unit does for your property, you need to know how it works. And our team at Optimum Air Solutions can help you achieve this. With over 20 years of experience repairing and replacing air conditioning and heating systems, we know these appliances like the backs of our hands—and we’d like you to get to know them, too. So let’s dive into the building blocks that make up your inside air conditioning unit, as well as how central air and mini-splits differ and the technical processes that go into cooling your property.

What are the components of your indoor AC unit?

To understand how your inside HVAC unit works, you must look to its components. These include:

• Evaporator coil: After the outdoor condenser cools your system’s refrigerant—a chemical that absorbs heat—it sends it to the evaporator coil. Here, warm air and humidity are pulled into your AC inside unit, where the air is drawn across the refrigerant in order to cool it.

• Blower: A fan which pushes the cooled air back into your space.

• Condensate drain pan: Holds any collected moisture which drips from the evaporator coils.

• Air filter: A screen which blocks dust and dirt from getting into your inside of AC system.

• Ductwork: A network of tubing that ferries heated and cooled air in and out of your property. Central systems use ductwork, while mini-splits are designed without ducts.

• Expansion valve: Reduces pressure on the liquid refrigerant before it enters into the evaporator coil, allowing it to rapidly cool as it releases the absorbed heat.

• Thermostat: Lets you turn your inside air conditioning system on and off and control the temperature.

Knowing what the air conditioner inside unit consists of not only helps you understand your cooling system but also makes it easier to identify problems when they arise.

Of course, not every air conditioner has the same layout. Central air conditioning and ductless mini-splits differ in several ways—particularly in how they deliver cooled or heated air. While central air conditioners provide air to your entire property via ducts, mini-split systems can only provide air to the rooms which have an indoor unit. However, one of the mini-split system’s unique benefits is that, while each indoor unit has to be completing the same function (heating or cooling), they can be set to different temperatures. This allows the occupants of each room to determine how warm or cold they’d like the air to be. 

How Does Your Indoor AC Unit Work?

Now that you know the components of your inside AC unit, you can consider another couple of questions: What is the inside air conditioning unit called? And how does it work?

To begin the cooling process, the AC inside unit collects heat and humidity from your property by pulling hot air into the return vents or indoor units. Central systems send this air through ducts, where it is cooled by the evaporator coil and blown back into your rooms. Meanwhile, the refrigerant—now hot—travels to the outdoor unit for compression and cooling before cycling back inside.

In ductless mini-split systems, each airco inside room unit contains its own evaporator coil and blower fan. This removes the need for ductwork and prevents energy loss that often occurs with leaks. By cooling the air directly within the room, each inside AC unit maintains efficiency while also offering the ability to set different room temperatures.

Contact Optimum Air Solutions for Your Air Conditioner Needs

So, what is the inside HVAC unit? It is a collection of components—including evaporator coils, blowers, air filters, and ductwork—that keep your property’s air fresh, cool, and humidity-free. Maintaining the inside of your AC may lower energy bills, improve air quality, and extend the system’s lifespan.

At Optimum Air Solutions, our team has over 20 years of experience maintaining, repairing, replacing, and installing both central AC and air conditioner inside units across the Greater New Orleans area. Whether you need service for your AC inside unit or want to learn more about how your inside air conditioning works, our technicians are ready to help.

Give us a call today to schedule maintenance or request expert advice on keeping your inside AC unit running smoothly.