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

If your home’s HVAC is at its peak the high repair costs and energy bills may make it worth investing in the purchase of a new unit. A residential HVAC professional can assist you to choose the best option for your needs.

Most cooling systems rely upon electricity to cool and heat homes, however some, such as gas-powered or propane air conditioners, utilize natural gas to fuel furnaces and operate condensers in split systems.

Evaporator

The evaporator coil in your air conditioner is what cools your home. The evaporator can be found inside a box that is attached to your gas furnace or within it (if you have one). If you don’t, the evaporator is located in an air handler. The evaporator is the place where the refrigerant turns into a liquid, and absorbs heat from the air in your home.

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

A fan blows warm air that is escaping your home over the coil that is used to evaporate. This air is cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator which alters the refrigerant’s temperatures and lowers your indoor air temperature. The cool air is circulated through the ductwork of your home to each room.

Contrary to the compressor, which requires to create refrigerant gas at extremely high temperatures for efficient cooling, the evaporator requires it to raise its boiling point to a low temperature for effective air cooling. The evaporator also has its own fans to help in achieving this goal.

The evaporator metering system ensures that the refrigerant in the liquid is always at a constant level. The low-side floating is designed to be open when there is no liquid in the evaporator. It will close when liquid is introduced into the coils.

There are two types of evaporators, cased and noncased. The most common type of evaporator that you will find in your home is the cased one. It is housed inside the metal casing that surrounds your air conditioning unit. A non-cased evaporator is the same but it doesn’t have the protective outer shell.

While both evaporators serve the identical purpose, it’s vital to choose a model that’s suitable for your home’s unique requirements. Some models are better suited to more harsh environments, while others may be more appropriate for milder conditions. Consider how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This could help you save time, money and effort.

Condenser

Condensers are one of the three primary components of your cooling system. They aid in the operation of the system efficiently. It is located outside of the house, connected to the evaporator coil via refrigerant lines. It also houses an array of fans and metal fins which work to eliminate heat from the refrigerant gas which has been transferred from the evaporator. The heat that is removed from the refrigerant gas allows it to cool and then return to liquid form.

A compressor is connected to an condenser unit. It operates to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeeze action increases the temperature, which is passed into the condenser to absorb heat trapped in the air. When the cooling process is completed, the refrigerant will be pushed into the compressor, where it will be pressurized before being pumped back to the evaporator coil.

The condenser unit is exposed to elements since it is outside. Debris like twigs, grass clippings, leaves and even roofing shingles can be thrown into the condenser unit, causing damage to it. Adding a universal HVAC condenser cover to your cooling and heating system can help protect the equipment from accidental damage when it isn’t in use.

Do not shade the condenser. This can reduce air flow, forcing the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This could lead to increased energy costs and potential loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will help to ensure that the condenser is operating correctly. Having a professional service technician examine all the major components of your system on a regular basis can help to prevent any major issues from occurring. Additionally having an expert service team monitor the refrigerant levels on a regular basis can also help to keep any problems from developing. Follow these easy steps to help extend the life of your cooling and heating system and cut down on energy costs.

Compressor

The compressor is the main component of your air conditioning. It circulates refrigerant through the system, ensuring that everything stays cool. It is like the blood that flows through your body when it pumps coolant between your evaporator coils as well as the condenser. If something is wrong with the compressor, it will prevent the evaporator and condenser from completing their tasks and leave your home uncomfortably warm.

There are several different kinds of HVAC compressors and each has its own pros and cons. For example, a reciprocating compressor has pistons that move upwards and downwards within the cylinder. This action creates suction which draws in refrigerant. When the piston is moving downwards it decreases the volume of gas. A discharge valve then opens to let the pressurized refrigeration from the condenser.

This type of compressor is also equipped with a clutch and a crankshaft that aids the piston compress the air. A Rotary compressor, on the other side, has blades within the cylinder which help compress the air. This type of compressor is quiet, which makes it a popular option for homes with a small space.

Both kinds of HVAC compressors are designed to raise the temperature of the refrigerant’s liquid as it is being compressed, so that the vapor that exits the compressor is high-pressure and high-temperature. It is normal for heat to flow from high-temperature substances down to lower temperatures, so the hot vapor will move into the evaporator, and then return to its liquid state.

You can prevent most AC issues by staying on top with your maintenance schedule. This will help your equipment last for a long time, and will give you peace of mind knowing your home is always comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you choose the best repair options should you experience a compressor problem.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the brain of your heating and cooling system, which allows it to regulate when and how it turns on and off. It reads the air temperature and compares it to an established desired level. The thermostat will send a signal to adjust the temperature if it’s off by a few degrees. Most modern thermostats use the digital sensor, also known as a thermistor to measure the temperature. The thermistor consists of two metals that expand differently when heated up and cause the metals to bend in opposite direction. When the thermistor reaches its set temperature it tells the circuit board to start your heating or AC system.

The touchscreens on the newer models make it easier to program and operate. They are usually programmed to automatically heat or cool your home at certain time frames, which avoids the hassle of manually setting the temperature each day. Additionally, they offer information on energy usage so that you can figure out how to cut back on expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model, it’s somewhat more complicated. It is composed of a bimetallic band that is bonded with mercury to the vial. When the temperature changes and the mercury inside a vial tilts, completing or breaking a circuit. When the vial tips the thermostat, it activates the heating and cooling system.

It is essential to regularly clean your thermostat to get rid of dust. You should also make sure that it’s not tangled or unbalanced. In certain cases, the thermostat may be having issues with its readings because of an evaporator coil that is dirty or the thermistor being damaged. If that is the scenario, you’ll require an expert to fix it. If you’re experiencing a other issue, like blank displays Try changing your batteries or making sure that your breaker isn’t tripped. This is a good example of how you can make your HVAC system more efficient by understanding it and maximizing its use.