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

If your home’s HVAC is at its peak, high repair costs and energy bills can be a reason to consider a new unit. A residential HVAC expert can assist you in selecting the best solution for your home.

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

Evaporator

The evaporator coil inside your air conditioner is the one that cools your house. The evaporator coil is in a container that is attached to or within your gas furnace (if you have one) or in an air handler, in the event that you don’t have. The evaporator is where the refrigerant liquid is transformed into gas and absorbs heat from your home’s indoor air.

The evaporator consists of one or more copper coils that are tightly bonded. The refrigerant reaches the coils at low pressure, making it easier for it to transfer heat as it evaporates into gaseous form.

A fan blows warm air through the coil of the evaporator. The air is then cooled as heat is removed from the evaporator. This lowers the temperature of your indoor air. The cool air is circulated through the ductwork in your home to each room.

In contrast to the compressor, which has to create refrigerant gas at high temperatures to allow efficient cooling, the evaporator only requires it to raise its boiling point to a low temperature to allow for efficient air cooling. The evaporator also has its own fans to help it achieve this goal.

The evaporator metering device ensures that the refrigerant used in the liquid remains at an unchanging level. The float on the low-side is designed to open when there is no liquid in the evaporator, and it closes when sees liquid enter the coils.

There are two primary types of evaporators: cased and uncased. The most commonly used type of evaporator that you will find in your home is the one that is cased. It is housed inside the casing made of metal that covers the air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble the cased evaporators, however they don’t have an outer shell that is protected.

Although both evaporators serve the identical purpose, it’s vital to choose a model that’s capable of meeting the specific requirements of your home. For instance, some models are more suited to extreme working environments, while others are better suited for more moderate conditions. It is also important to consider how easy it will be to clean and maintain the evaporator, as this could save you time, money, and hassle in the long in the long.

Condenser

The condenser is among the three main components of the air conditioning system in your home that help keep it working efficiently. It is located outside the house, connected to the evaporator coil via refrigerant lines. It also houses several fans and metal fins that work to remove heat from the refrigerant gas that has been transported from the evaporator. The heat that is emitted helps the refrigerant cool down and transform back to liquid form.

A compressor is attached to a condenser unit. It works to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeeze action increases the temperature, and it is carried into the condenser to absorb the heat that is trapped in the air. Once the cooling cycle is complete the refrigerant will be introduced into the compressor to be pumped under pressure before being sent back to the evaporator coil.

Since the condenser is situated outside, it is exposed to the elements. Debris like twigs or leaves grass clippings or even roofing shingles can cause damage to the condenser. By adding a universal HVAC condenser cover to your cooling and heating system can help to protect the equipment from damage even when it’s not in use.

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

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system can help ensure that the condenser works properly. Having a professional service technician examine all the major components of your system regularly can aid in preventing major issues from arising. A professional service team can also avoid problems by checking regularly the refrigerant level. Follow these steps to prolong the life of your heating and cooling system and cut down on energy costs.

Compressor

A compressor is the heart of your air conditioning unit, and it circulates refrigerant throughout the system to keep everything cool. It’s like the blood of your body as it pumps coolant between your evaporator coils and condenser. If the compressor fails, the evaporator will not be able to do its job and your home will become uncomfortably hot.

There are a variety of HVAC compressors and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, for instance is one that has a piston moving upwards and downwards in the cylinder. This motion creates a suction which draws in refrigerant. When the piston moves downwards, it reduces the volume of gas, and then a discharge valve is opened to expels the pressurized refrigerant into the condenser coil.

This type of compressor also includes a clutch and crankshaft, which assists the piston to compress air. A rotary compressor comes with blades that are within the cylinder, which aid in compressing the air. This type of compressor is extremely quiet, making it a popular option for residential use.

The HVAC compressors of both types are designed to increase the temperatures of the liquid when it is compressed. This creates a high-pressure, high-temperature liquid. It is normal for heat to flow from high-temperature substances to lower temperature substances and the hot vapor will travel to the evaporator and return to its liquid state.

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

Thermostat

The thermostat is the brains of your cooling and heating system, enabling it to control the time and frequency at which it turns on and off. It compared the temperature of the air to a pre-set level. If it is off by one or two degrees it will send an electronic signal that changes it towards the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats gauge temperature using an electronic sensor referred to as the thermosistor. The thermistor is comprised of two metals which expand differently when heated up which causes the metals to bend in an opposite direction. When the thermistor reaches its temperature, it signals the circuit board to turn on your heating or AC system.

Newer models of thermostats have touchscreens that make them easy to operate and program. Many thermostats can be programmed to automatically heat and cool your home at certain times. This means you don’t have to worry about having to set them manually each day. They also provide information on energy usage so that you can find ways to cut costs.

If you have an older electromechanical model the way it operates is a little more complex. It is comprised of a bimetallic band which is bonded with mercury to the vial. When the temperature changes, it causes the mercury in the vial to tilt and complete or interrupt an electrical circuit. When the vial is tipped, it triggers the thermostat to turn on the heating or cooling system.

You should regularly clean your thermostat to get rid of dust. You must also ensure that it is not loose or unbalanced. In certain cases, the thermostat may be having issues in its readings due to an evaporator coil that is dirty or the thermistor being damaged. In this scenario, you’ll have to contact a professional to fix the problem for you. If the issue is something else, like an unresponsive screen it is possible to try changing the batteries or making sure that your breaker hasn’t been activated. This is a good illustration of how your HVAC system will be more efficient if you take the time to learn about it and make the most of its use.