The compressor, typically located in the outdoor unit, is the heart of the system, responsible for circulating refrigerant throughout the system. It compresses the refrigerant gas, raising its pressure and temperature, and pushes it into the condenser.
The condenser, also located in the outdoor unit, functions to cool and condense the high-pressure, high-temperature gas into a liquid by releasing its heat to the outside air, usually with the help of a fan.
While the compressor focuses on pressurizing and moving the refrigerant, the condenser's role is to cool and convert the refrigerant from a gas to a liquid state, crucial for the refrigeration cycle.