What is the role of evaporator coils in an air conditioning system?

The evaporator coils in an air conditioning system play a crucial role in the cooling process by absorbing heat from the indoor air. When warm air from inside a space passes over the evaporator coils, the refrigerant within these coils evaporates at low pressure, absorbing heat from the air. This heat exchange lowers the temperature of the air, which is then circulated back into the space, resulting in a cooler indoor environment.

This process is essential because it enables the air conditioning system to effectively cool down living or working areas by removing heat. Simultaneously, as air moisture condenses on the cold surface of the evaporator coils, it also aids in reducing humidity levels in the space, although the primary role of the evaporator coils is heat absorption.

Other options such as releasing heat or filtering contaminants are functions associated with different components in the HVAC system, but not specifically the evaporator coils. Thus, understanding the absorbing function of evaporator coils is key to grasping how air conditioning systems maintain comfortable indoor conditions.