In which HVAC component would one typically find the refrigerant?

The refrigerant is a critical component in HVAC systems, responsible for transferring heat throughout the system. It is found in various components, but the compressor is where the refrigerant plays a crucial role in its cycle.

In the compressor, the refrigerant is compressed, which raises its temperature and pressure. This process is essential for moving the refrigerant through the entire HVAC system, allowing it to absorb heat from indoor air in the evaporator coil and release it outside through the condenser. The compressor is essentially the "heart" of the refrigeration cycle, facilitating the movement and transformation of the refrigerant between its various states, thereby allowing the HVAC system to operate efficiently.

While the heat pump and evaporator coil also involve refrigerant, they do not contain it in the same way the compressor does. Ventilation ducts, on the other hand, are part of the air distribution system and do not contain refrigerant at all.