What Are the Main Parts of Your Heating Air Conditioning Unit?

It may be worth investing in a new unit when your home’s HVAC is old and in need of repairs. A residential HVAC expert can help you determine the best option for your needs.

The majority of cooling systems rely on electricity to cool and heat homes, but certain gas-powered or propane air conditioners, utilize natural gas to fuel furnaces and operate condensers within a split system.

Evaporator

An Evaporator coil is the component of your air conditioner that cools your home. The evaporator can be found in a box connected to your gas furnace or within it (if you own one). If you don’t, the coil can be found in an air handler. The evaporator is where the refrigerant liquid turns into gas and absorbs heat from the home’s indoor air.

The evaporator is comprised of one or more copper coils that are tightly packed. The refrigerant is in low pressure as it reaches the coils, which makes it easier to transfer heat.

A fan blows warm air from your home over the evaporator coil. This air is cooled when heat is taken away from the evaporator. This lowers the temperature of the air inside. The cooled air then moves through the ductwork of your home to every room and circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system via return ducts.

Contrary to the compressor, which requires to create refrigerant gas in high temperatures to ensure efficient cooling, the evaporator only has to bring its boiling point to a lower temperature for effective air cooling. The evaporator is also equipped with its own fans to help it to achieve this objective.

The evaporator metering device makes sure that the refrigerant in the liquid remains at a constant level. The low-side float is designed to open when there’s no liquid in the evaporator, and it closes when sees liquid enter the coils.

There are two kinds of evaporators: noncased and cased. The most common type of evaporator that you will find in your home is the one that is cased. It’s enclosed inside the metal casing that protects the air conditioning unit. A non-cased evaporator is the same however it doesn’t come with the protective outer shell.

While both evaporators serve the identical purpose, it’s vital to choose a model that’s suitable for the requirements of your house. For instance, certain models are better suited to more harsh working environments, whereas others are better suited for more moderate conditions. Think about how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This could save you time, money and effort.

Condenser

The condenser is among the three main components of your home’s air conditioning system that help keep it working efficiently. It is situated outside of the home, and is connected to the evaporator coil via refrigerant lines and contains a series of fans and metal fins which work to eliminate heat from the refrigerant gas which has been transported from the evaporator. The heat removed from the refrigerant gas aids it to cool before turning back into liquid form.

A compressor is attached to the condenser unit and is used to pressurize the low-pressure liquid refrigerant that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeezing action raises the temperature, which is then passed into the condenser to absorb heat trapped in the air. Once the cooling cycle is complete, the refrigerant will be moved into the compressor to be pressurized prior to being pumped back to the evaporator coil.

Because the condenser is located outside, it is exposed to the elements. Debris like twigs, grass clippings, leaves, and roofing shingles too can fall into the condenser unit and cause damage to it. A universal HVAC condenser can shield your heating and cooling equipment from damage when not in use.

Do not shade the condenser. This could reduce air flow, which can force the compressor to work harder in order to cool your home. This could lead to higher energy bills and a possible loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will help to ensure that the condenser is working effectively. Regularly having a professional technician check every major component of your HVAC system can aid in preventing major issues. Additionally having a professional service team check your refrigerant levels regularly can also help to avoid any issues from arising. Follow these easy steps to help extend the life of your heating/cooling system and reduce energy bills.

Compressor

The compressor is the main component of your air conditioner. It circulates refrigerant through the system, keeping everything cool. It’s similar to the blood of your body when it pumps the coolant between the evaporator coils and condenser. If the compressor fails then the evaporator won’t be able to perform its job and your home will be extremely hot.

There are a myriad of different kinds of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, as an example, has a piston moving upwards and downwards in a piston. This creates a suction that draws in refrigerant. As the piston moves downward it reduces the gas volume. A discharge valve then opens to let the pressurized refrigeration to the condenser.

This type of compressor also comes with a clutch and crankshaft, which assists the piston in compressing the air. A rotary compressor is equipped with blades inside the cylinder, which help compress the air. This kind of compressor is very quiet, making it a popular option for residential applications.

Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to raise the temperature of the liquid refrigerant while it is compressed, ensuring that the vapor that leaves the compressor is high-pressure and high-temperature. The heat naturally flows from high-temperature substances down to lower temperatures which is why the hot vapor will move to the evaporator before returning to its liquid state.

While you can’t avoid the occasional problem with the compressor, you can prevent the majority of AC issues by keeping track of your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for years and provide peace of mind that your home will always be comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you determine the best repair options should you have a compressor issue.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it decides the frequency and manner in which the system turns on and off. It determines the temperature of the air and compares it with the desired temperature set by a preset. If it is off by one or two degrees, the thermostat will send an electronic signal to bring it towards the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats gauge temperature using a digital sensor known as a thermosistor. The thermistor is made up of two metals that expand differently when heated up and cause the metals to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor is at its set temperature, it signals the circuit board to start your heating or AC system.

The touchscreens on newer models make it easy to program and operate. They are usually programmed to automatically heat or cool your home at specific time frames, which avoids the hassle of having to manually set it every day. In addition, they provide reports on energy usage so that you can figure out how to cut down on costs.

If you have an older electromechanical model, the way that it works is a little more complex. It is made up of a bimetallic strip that is attached to a vial with mercury. When the temperature changes the mercury in the vial tilts, completing or breaking a circuit. When the vial tipping the thermostat, it turns on the heating and cooling system.

To keep your thermostat in good working order You must be sure to clean it on a regular basis to remove any dust that has accumulated. You must also ensure that it is not loose or bent. In some instances, the thermostat’s readings could be incorrect due to a dirty or damaged evaporator coil. In this instance you’ll need to get a professional to fix the issue. If the issue is something else, such as a blank screen it is possible to try replacing the batteries or making sure that the breaker hasn’t been activated. This is an illustration of how your HVAC system will be more efficient if you make the effort to learn about it and make the most of its use.