National Home Inspector Exam Prep Podcast

02 - How Air Conditioners Work

Charles Bellefontaine Season 2 Episode 2

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Understand the refrigerant cycle, cooling and heating modes, heat pump operation, and the role of key components in residential AC systems.

Show Notes:

Episode Overview:
Learn how air conditioning systems operate, including the refrigerant cycle for air-source systems, the role of evaporator, compressor, condenser, and metering devices (TXV/TEV/EEV), and how heat pumps reverse the cycle for heating. Covers mini-splits, packaged systems, and regional variants.

What You'll Learn: • Refrigerant flow path: evaporator → compressor → condenser → metering device → evaporator • How refrigerant absorbs heat indoors and rejects it outdoors • Metering device operation (TXV/TEV or EEV) • Heat pump heating cycle and reversing valve mechanism • Mini-splits, packaged systems, and regional variants

Key Takeaways: ✓ Understand the complete refrigerant cycle ✓ Know how heat pumps provide both cooling and heating ✓ Recognize system types and their operational differences

IRC Code References: IRC 2018 Chapter 14 (Heating and Cooling Equipment)

Study Tips: Draw the refrigerant cycle from memory. Label each component and describe its function.

Intro

This episode is brought to you by GetSync.pro

This episode is hosted by Charlie Bellefontaine of Chicagoland Home Inspectors

For complete training with visual materials, practice exams, and certification support, visit nhiexamprep.com

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