What Are the Main Parts of Your Heating Air Conditioning Unit?
It may be worth investing in a replacement unit in the event that your home’s air conditioner is old and in need of repairs. A residential HVAC expert can assist you in selecting the right option for your home.
Gas-powered air conditioners, also known as propane air conditioners, make use of natural gas for heating and condensers to run.
Evaporator
An evaporator coil is the part of your air conditioner that cools your home. The evaporator coil is in a box attached to or inside your gas furnace (if you have one) or in an air handler in the absence of. The evaporator is the place where the refrigerant liquid transforms into a gas and absorbs heat from your home’s indoor air.
The evaporator is made up of one or more copper coils that are tightly packed together. The refrigerant has a low pressure as it reaches the coils, which makes it easier to transfer heat.
A fan blows the warm air from your home over the coil that is used to evaporate. The air is then cooled as heat is taken away from the evaporator. This reduces 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 produce refrigerant gas in high temperatures for efficient cooling, the evaporator has to raise its boiling point to a low temperature to ensure that it is cooling effectively. The evaporator makes use of its own fans to accomplish this goal.
The metering device of the evaporator assists to ensure that the refrigerant maintains a constant level of liquid inside it. The low-side floating is designed to open when there is no liquid in the evaporator, and close when liquid is introduced into the coils.
There are two types of evaporators, noncased and cased. The most popular type of evaporator that you will find in your home is the one that is cased. It is housed inside the metal casing that surrounds the air conditioning unit. An uncased evaporator is similar but it doesn’t have the protective outer shell.
Both evaporators share the same function, but it’s crucial to select one that is able to satisfy your home’s particular needs. Some models are more suited to more harsh environments, whereas others might be better suited to more moderate conditions. You should also consider how easy it will be to clean and maintain the evaporator as this could save you time, money and effort in the long run.
Condenser
Condensers are one of the three major components of your cooling system. They aid in the operation of the system efficiently. It is located outside the home, and is connected to the evaporator coil by refrigerant lines. It is also home to an array of metal fins and fans that remove heat from the refrigerant gas that was transported here from the evaporator. The heat that is emitted helps the refrigerant to reduce in temperature and then transform into a liquid state.
A compressor is connected to the condenser unit. It operates to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that is pumped out of the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeeze action increases the temperature, which is transferred to the condenser unit to absorb latent heat in the air. After the cooling cycle is completed, the refrigerant will be moved into the compressor to be pressurized before being pumped back to the evaporator coil.
Since the condenser is situated outdoors, it is vulnerable to the elements. Debris, such as twigs grass clippings, leaves, and roofing shingles may be thrown into the condenser unit and cause damage to it. A universal HVAC condenser will protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage when not in use.
Do not shade the condenser. This can impede air flow and make the compressor work harder to cool your home. This could lead to increased energy costs and potential loss of refrigerant.
Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is operating correctly. Having a professional service technician look over every major component of your system on a regular basis will assist in preventing any major issues from occurring. In addition having an expert service team examine your refrigerant levels regularly can also help to keep any problems from developing. Follow these easy steps to prolong the life of your heating and cooling system and lower your energy costs.
Compressor
The compressor is the main component of your air conditioner. It circulates refrigerant throughout the system, ensuring that everything stays cool. It is as the blood flowing through your body, since it moves the coolant between your evaporator and condenser coils. If the compressor fails and the evaporator fails, it will not be able to do its job, and your home will get extremely hot.
There are a myriad of different kinds of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example the reciprocating compressor features an engine that moves between up and down inside the cylinder. This motion creates suction that draws in the refrigerant. As the piston moves downward it decreases the volume of gas. A discharge valve opens to release the pressurized refrigeration to the condenser.
This type of compressor also has a clutch as well as crankshaft, which assists the piston to compress air. A Rotary compressor, on the other hand, has blades inside the cylinder which help compress the air. This type of compressor is very quiet, making it a popular choice for residential use.
Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to increase the temperature of the refrigerant’s liquid while it is compressed, ensuring that the vapor which exits the compressor is high-temperature and high pressure. It is normal for heat to flow from high-temperature substances to lower-temperature substances which is why the hot vapor moves to the evaporator and return to its liquid state.
You can avoid the majority of AC problems by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for many years and give you peace-of-mind knowing that your home will always be comfortable. If you do encounter a problem with the compressor then your Griffith Energy Services technician can assist you in determining which repair options are best for you.
Thermostat
The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it determines when and how the system is turned on and off. It measures the temperature of the air and compares it to 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 closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats monitor temperature by using the digital sensor, also known as a thermosistor. The thermistor is made up of two metals that expand in different ways when heated up and cause the metals to bend in an opposite direction. When the thermistor reaches its temperature set it tells the circuit board to switch on your heating or AC system.
The latest models of thermostats feature touchscreens that make them easy to operate and program. They are often programmed to automatically heat or cool your home at specific time frames, which avoids the effort of manually setting the temperature each day. Additionally, they offer reports on energy usage so you can learn how to reduce expenses.
If you have an older electromechanical model the method of operation is a bit more complicated. It is made up of a bimetallic band which is joined to mercury in the vial. When the temperature fluctuates it causes the mercury inside the vial to move and complete or interrupt an electrical circuit. When the vial is tilted, it triggers the thermostat to activate the cooling or heating system.
To ensure that your thermostat is in good working order It is essential to clean it frequently to get rid of any dust that may have accumulated. Also, make sure that it isn’t crooked or loose. In certain cases the thermostat may be experiencing issues with its readings due to an evaporator coil that is dirty or the thermistor being damaged. In that scenario, you’ll require a professional to fix it for you. If the issue is something else, like a blank screen or a blank screen, you can try replacing the batteries or checking that your breaker has not been tripped. This is a good illustration of how you can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system more efficient by gaining knowledge about it and optimizing its use.