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

It could be worthwhile to invest in a new unit if your home’s air conditioner is a bit old and in need of repairs. A residential HVAC expert can help you choose the best option for your needs.

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

Evaporator

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

The evaporator is comprised of one or more copper coils tightly packed. The refrigerant has a low pressure when it reaches the coils, making it easier to transfer heat.

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

The evaporator, in contrast to the compressor, needs to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a low temperature to ensure efficient air cooling. The evaporator uses its own fans to accomplish this final goal.

The evaporator metering device ensures that the liquid refrigerant 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 enters the coils.

There are two kinds of evaporators: cased and noncased. The most common kind of evaporator you can find in your home is a cased model. It is housed inside the metal casing that protects your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are similar, except it doesn’t have the outer shell that protects it.

Although both evaporators serve the identical purpose, it’s vital to choose a model that’s able to meet the requirements of your house. For instance, some models are better suited for harsher working environments, while others are better suited for milder conditions. Also, you should take into consideration how easy it would be to clean and maintain the evaporator as this could save you time, money, and hassle in the long run.

Condenser

Condensers are one of the three major components of the cooling system in your home. They help it work efficiently. It is situated outside of the house, connected to the evaporator coil via refrigerant lines and contains a series of fans and metal fins that work to remove heat from the refrigerant gas that has been transferred from the evaporator. The heat that is emitted allows the refrigerant to reduce in temperature and then transform to liquid form.

A compressor is connected to an condenser unit. It is used to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeezing action raises the temperature, which is then transferred to the condenser unit to absorb latent heat in the air. After the cooling cycle, the refrigerant is pushed back into the compressor, where it is again pressurized before being pumped to the evaporator coil. There, the process begins again.

The condenser unit is exposed to the elements because it is outside. Debris such as twigs, grass clippings, leaves and even roofing shingles can fall into the condenser unit and cause damage to it. A universal HVAC condenser will protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage while not in use.

It is also essential to not shade the condenser. This can impede air flow and force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This could result in increased energy costs and possible loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will help to ensure that the condenser is working correctly. Having a professional service technician inspect all the major components of your system on a regular basis can assist in preventing any major issues from occurring. A professional service team can prevent problems by regularly checking the refrigerant level. By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to extend the longevity of your heating and cooling system as well as reduce your energy costs.

Compressor

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

There are a variety of HVAC compressors and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. For instance, a reciprocating compressor has an engine that moves upwards and downwards within the cylinder. This movement creates suction that draws in refrigerant. As the piston moves downward it decreases the volume of gas. A discharge valve then opens to release the pressurized refrigeration into the condenser.

This kind of compressor also comes with a clutch and crankshaft, which assists the piston to compress air. A Rotary compressor, on other hand, has blades inside the cylinder which help compress the air. This type of compressor is quiet, which makes it an ideal option for homes with a small space.

Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to increase the temperature of the refrigerant’s liquid while it is compressed, so that the vapor that leaves the compressor is high-temperature and high-pressure. The heat naturally flows from high-temperature substances to lower temperature substances and the hot vapor will travel 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 ensure that your AC will last for years and give you peace-of-mind knowing that your home will always be comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you decide on the best repair options if you experience a compressor problem.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it controls the frequency and manner in which the system turns on and off. It determines the temperature of the air and compares it to a preset desired level. The thermostat will send an alert to adjust the temperature if it’s off by a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats gauge temperature with an electronic sensor referred to as a thermistor. The thermistor consists of two metals that expand in different ways when heated which causes the metals to bend in an opposite direction. When the thermistor is at the temperature it was set to it informs the circuit board that heating or AC should be turned on.

Modern thermostats come with touchscreens that make them simple to operate and program. Many thermostats are programmed to automatically cool and heat your home according to specific times. This saves you from having to manually set them every day. They also provide information on energy consumption so you can find ways to cut expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model, it is a little more complicated. It is composed of a bimetallic band which is bonded with mercury to a vial. When the temperature changes it causes the mercury in the vial to shift, completing or interrupting an electrical circuit. When the vial tilts, the thermostat turns on the cooling and heating system.

To ensure that your thermostat is in good working order You must clean it frequently to get rid of any dust that has accumulated. You must also ensure that it is not loose or unbalanced. In some cases the thermostat’s readings could be incorrect due to a dirty or damaged evaporator coil. In this instance you’ll need to contact a professional to fix the issue. If you’re experiencing a different issue, for instance blank displays, try changing your batteries or checking that your breaker is not in a state of being tripped. This is a good example of how your HVAC system will be more efficient if you take the time to research it and improve its use.