ESCO Air Conditioning Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Study Resource

In an air conditioning system, the refrigerant experiences a critical transformation in the condenser. During this phase, the refrigerant, which has been vaporized in the evaporator and is now a gas, enters the condenser where it loses heat to the outside air. As the refrigerant releases this heat, the temperature and pressure decrease, leading the vapor to transition back into a liquid state. This process is essential because it prepares the refrigerant for the next stage of the cycle in the expansion valve, where it can again absorb heat in the evaporator, leading to cooling in the conditioned space.

The other options describe processes that do not accurately reflect what occurs in the condenser. For instance, evaporation into gas pertains to the function of the evaporator, where the refrigerant absorbs heat. Likewise, absorbing heat while becoming liquid is characteristic of processes occurring in the evaporator, not the condenser. Lastly, remaining in gaseous form contradicts the fundamental operation of the condenser, where the refrigerant must condense back into a liquid to function effectively in the refrigeration cycle.