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 be a reason to consider a new unit. A residential HVAC expert can assist you in selecting the right option for your home.

The majority of cooling systems rely on electricity to cool and heat homes, however some, such as gas-powered or propane air conditioners use natural gas to fuel furnaces and run condensers in a split system.

Evaporator

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

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

A fan blows your home’s warm air through the coil that is used to evaporate the air. This air is cooled as heat is removed from the evaporator. This lowers the temperature of the air inside. The cooled air is circulated through the ductwork of your home, and then to each room.

In contrast to the compressor, which has to create refrigerant gas at high temperatures to ensure efficient cooling, the evaporator needs to bring its boiling point to a lower temperature to ensure that it is cooling effectively. The evaporator makes use of its own fans to achieve this final goal.

The metering device of the evaporator assists to ensure that the refrigerant maintains a constant level of liquid inside it. The float on the low-side is designed to be open when there’s no liquid in the evaporator and it closes when it sees liquid enter the coils.

There are two main types of evaporators: cased and uncased. The most common type of evaporator in your home is a cased model. It’s enclosed inside the metal casing that protects your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are similar but it doesn’t have the outer shell that protects it.

While both evaporators serve the same purpose, it’s crucial to choose a model that’s able to meet the specific requirements of your home. For example, some models are better suited for extreme working environments, while others are better suited to milder conditions. Think about how easy it would be to clean and maintain your evaporator. This can save you money, time and effort.

Condenser

Condensers are among the three primary components of the cooling system in your home. They assist in making it operate efficiently. The condenser is situated outside the home and is connected to the evaporator through refrigerant pipes. It has metal fins and fans which help remove heat from the refrigerant which was transferred from the evaporator. The heat removed from refrigerant gas helps it cool before turning back into liquid form.

A compressor is attached to the condenser unit and helps to pressurize the low pressure refrigerant liquid that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The squeezing action of the compressor increases the temperature of the coolant, which then passes into the condenser coils to take in latent heat from the air around it. Once the cooling cycle is completed the refrigerant is introduced into the compressor, where it will be pumped under pressure before being sent back to the evaporator coil.

The condenser unit is exposed to elements due to its location outside. Debris such as leaves or twigs grass clippings or roofing shingles, could cause damage to the condenser. A universal HVAC condenser can protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage while not in use.

Avoid shading the condenser. This can reduce air flow, forcing the compressor to work harder in order to cool your home. This could lead to more energy costs and a possibility of losing refrigerant.

Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is running correctly. Regularly having a professional technician examine the major components of your HVAC system will assist in avoiding major problems. A professional service team can also prevent problems by regularly checking the refrigerant level. By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to extend the lifespan of your cooling and heating system as well as reduce your energy costs.

Compressor

A compressor is the center of your air conditioning unit, and it circulates refrigerant throughout the system to keep it cool. It’s like the blood that flows through your body as it pumps coolant between the evaporator coils and condenser. If the compressor fails, the evaporator will not be able perform its job and your house will be extremely hot.

There are several different kinds of HVAC compressors and each has distinct advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, for example is one that has a piston moving up and down in a piston. This motion creates a suction that draws in refrigerant. When the piston moves downwards it decreases the volume of gas, and the discharge valve opens to release the refrigerant pressurized into the condenser coil.

This type of compressor is also equipped with a clutch, and a crankshaft that helps the piston compress the air. A Rotary compressor, on the other hand, has blades inside the cylinder that assist in helping compress the air. This type of compressor is extremely quiet, making it a popular option for homes.

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

While you cannot avoid the chance of having problems with the compressor, you can avoid the majority of AC issues by keeping track of your maintenance schedule. This will allow your equipment to last for a long time and it will give you peace of mind knowing your home is always in good condition. If you do encounter an issue with the compressor then your Griffith Energy Services technician can assist you in determining what repair options are most suitable for you.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain and it determines the frequency and manner in which the system is turned on and off. It reads the air temperature and compares it to a preset desired level. The thermostat will send a signal to adjust the temperature if it’s off a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats employ an electronic sensor known as a thermistor to measure the temperature. The thermistor is made up of two metals which expand differently when heated which causes the metals to flex in an opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches its set temperature, it signals the circuit board to switch on your heating or AC system.

The touchscreens on newer models make it easy to program and operate. A lot of thermostats are programmed to automatically cool and heat your home according to specific times. This means you don’t have to worry about having to manually set them every day. They also provide information on energy consumption so that you can discover ways to reduce costs.

If you have an older electromechanical model, it is somewhat more complicated. It is composed of a bimetallic band which is bonded to mercury a vial. When the temperature changes and the mercury inside a vial shifts, either completing or rupturing an electrical circuit. When the vial is tipped, it triggers the thermostat to activate the cooling or heating system.

It is essential to regularly clean your thermostat to get rid of dust. Also, make sure that it isn’t bent or loose. In certain cases, the thermostat’s readings could be inaccurate due to a damaged or dirty evaporator coil. In that scenario, you’ll need to call an expert to fix it. If you’re experiencing a different issue, for instance blank displays, try changing your batteries or making sure whether your breaker has not connected. This is a good illustration of how your HVAC system can be more efficient if you take the time to research it and optimize its use.