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

It might be worth investing in a replacement unit in the event that your home’s air conditioner is a bit old and in need of repairs. A residential HVAC professional can help you select the right 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, use natural gas to fuel furnaces and run condensers within a split system.

Evaporator

An evaporator coil is the part of your air conditioner that cools your home. The evaporator coil can be found in a container that is attached to or within your gas furnace (if you have one) or in an air handler if you don’t. The evaporator is where the refrigerant turns into a liquid and absorbs heat in your home’s air.

The evaporator is made up of a few coils of copper that are tightly packed. The refrigerant is able to reach the coils at a low pressure, which makes it easier for it to transfer heat as it evaporates to a gaseous state.

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

Unlike 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 for effective air cooling. The evaporator also uses its own fans to help in achieving this goal.

The evaporator metering device makes sure that the refrigerant in the liquid is always at an unchanging level. 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 main types of evaporators: cased and uncased. A cased evaporator will be the one you’ll likely to find in your home, since it’s enclosed within the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. An uncased evaporator is similar however it doesn’t come with the protective outer shell.

Both evaporators serve the same purpose but it’s important to select a model that can satisfy your home’s particular needs. For instance, certain models are more suited to more harsh working environments, whereas others are better suited for more moderate conditions. Think about how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This can save you money, time and hassle.

Condenser

Condensers are one of the three main components of your home’s cooling system. They assist in making it operate efficiently. The condenser is located outside the house and connected to the evaporator by refrigerant pipes. It is comprised of metal fins and fans that work to remove the heat from the refrigerant which is being transferred from the evaporator. The heat that is removed from the refrigerant gas aids it cool and then return to liquid form.

A compressor is connected to the condenser unit and helps to pressurize the low pressure liquid refrigerant that was pumped from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeezing action raises the temperature, which is passed into the condenser to absorb the heat that is trapped in the air. Once it has completed its cooling cycle and the refrigerant is pumped back into the compressor, where it is pressed again prior to being pumped into the evaporator coil, where the process begins again.

Because the condenser is located outside, it is exposed to the elements. Debris like twigs or leaves grass clippings, grass clippings, or even roofing shingles can cause damage to the condenser. Adding the universal HVAC condenser cover to your heating and cooling system can help safeguard the equipment from accidental damage even when it’s not in use.

Do not shade the condenser. This can reduce air flow, which can force the compressor to work harder in order to cool your home. This could lead to increased energy costs and possibility of losing refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will help to ensure that the condenser works effectively. Regularly having a professional technician check all 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 levels. By following these easy steps, you will be able 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 conditioning. It circulates refrigerant throughout the system, ensuring that everything stays cool. It’s similar to the blood in your body when it pumps coolant between your evaporator coils and condenser. If something goes wrong with your compressor, it will prevent the evaporator and condenser from performing their jobs and will make your home warm and uncomfortable.

There are many different types of HVAC compressors and each has distinct advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, for instance it has a piston that moves upwards and downwards within the cylindrical. This creates a suction which draws in refrigerant. As the piston moves downward it decreases the volume of gas. A discharge valve then opens to let the pressurized refrigeration from the condenser.

This type of compressor is equipped with a clutch, and a crankshaft that aids the piston compress air. A rotary compressor has blades inside the cylinder to help compress the air. This type of compressor is quiet, which makes it a popular option for residential use.

The HVAC compressors of both kinds are designed to increase the temperature of the liquid while it is compressed. This results in an extremely high-temperature, high-pressure liquid. Since heat naturally flows from high-temperature substances to lower temperature ones the hot vapor will flow into the evaporator coils, and change back to its liquid state.

While you cannot avoid the chance of having problems with the compressor, you can stop the majority of AC problems by being on top of your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your AC will last for many years and provide you with peace of mind knowing that your home will remain comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you determine the best repair options if you have a compressor issue.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the brains of your heating and cooling system, enabling it to decide the time and frequency at which it turns on and off. It compares the temperature of the air to a set desired temperature. The thermostat will send a signal to adjust the temperature if it’s off a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats employ a digital sensor called a thermistor to gauge the temperature. The thermistor is made up of two different metals that expand at different rates when they warm up and bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches the temperature set it sends a signal to the circuit board that your heating or AC should be turned on.

The latest models of thermostats feature touchscreens that make them easy to operate and program. They are usually programmed to automatically heat or cool your home at specific time frames, which avoids the effort of having to set it every day. They also provide reports on energy usage so that you can learn ways to reduce costs.

If you have an old electromechanical model, it is a little more complicated. It consists of a bimetallic strip which is bonded to a vial using mercury. When temperatures change and the mercury inside a vial tilts, completing or rupturing an electrical circuit. When the vial is tilted it triggers the thermostat to start the heating or cooling system.

You should regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. Also, you should ensure that it isn’t sagging or bent. In certain cases the thermostat could be having trouble with its readings because of a dirty evaporator coil or the thermistor being damaged. If that is the scenario, you’ll need to call a professional to fix the problem for you. If the problem is something else, like blank screens it is possible to try changing the batteries or ensuring that the breaker hasn’t been activated. This is a good illustration of how your HVAC system can be more efficient when you make the effort to understand it and improve its use.