Which part of the air conditioning system typically removes humidity from the air?

The evaporator is the component of the air conditioning system primarily responsible for removing humidity from the air. As the warm air from the environment passes over the evaporator coil, the refrigerant within the coil absorbs heat from the air, causing the refrigerant to evaporate. This process cools the air while simultaneously lowering its capacity to hold moisture. As a result, the moisture condenses on the coil's surface, effectively dehumidifying the air before it is circulated back indoors.

In contrast, the condenser's main function is to release the heat absorbed by the refrigerant during the cooling cycle, promoting the transition from a gas back to a liquid state. The expansion valve regulates the flow of refrigerant into the evaporator to ensure the system operates efficiently, but it does not directly remove humidity. The receiver/dryer serves to store and filter the refrigerant, ensuring that moisture does not enter the system, but it does not actively remove humidity from the air as the evaporator does.