How is condensate made?

Condensate is made through a thermodynamic phase change process where water vapor suspended in a gas transitions into liquid form due to cooling or a drop in temperature. In a typical home air conditioning system, this process begins when the indoor blower fan draws warm, moisture-laden household air through return ducts and pushes it directly across the cold metal surface of the evaporator coil. As the warm air passes over the coil, which is chilled by expanding liquid refrigerant inside, its thermal energy is rapidly absorbed by the cooling system. Because colder air cannot hold as much water vapor as warm air, the relative humidity reaches saturation point, causing the invisible water vapor to lose energy and liquefy into visible water droplets on the exterior of the metal coil fins. These water droplets accumulate, grow larger, and gravity pulls them downward where they drip off the bottom of the coil into a sloped condensate drain pan, forming the stream of liquid water that is safely channeled away from your home.