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

It may be worth investing in a new unit when your home’s HVAC is old and in need of repairs. A residential HVAC expert can assist you in selecting the best option for your home.

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

Evaporator

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

The evaporator consists of one or more copper coils 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 through the coil of the evaporator. This air is cooled when heat is removed from the evaporator. This reduces the temperature of the air inside. The cooled air then moves through your home’s ductwork system to each room, where it circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system through return ducts.

The evaporator, in contrast to the compressor, requires to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a lower temperature to achieve effective air cooling. The evaporator has its own fan in order to accomplish this final goal.

The metering device in the evaporator helps to ensure that the refrigerant is at a constant level of liquid within it. The low-side floating is designed to be open when there is no liquid in the evaporator and close when liquid enters the coils.

There are two types of evaporators: noncased and cased. A cased evaporator is one you’ll likely to see 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 outer shell that protects it.

Both evaporators share the same purpose but it’s important to select a model that can satisfy your home’s particular needs. Certain models are better suited to harsher environments, while others may be more suitable in milder conditions. You should also consider how easy it will be to clean and maintain the evaporator as this can save you time, money and effort in the long run.

Condenser

The condenser is one of three primary parts of your air conditioning system which helps to keep it running efficiently. The condenser is outside the house and is connected to the evaporator through refrigerant pipes. It has metal fins and fans which help remove heat from the refrigerant which has been transported from the evaporator. The heat that is emitted helps the refrigerant to reduce in temperature and then transform into a liquid state.

A compressor is connected to the condenser unit. It is used to pressurize the low-pressure refrigerant liquid that has been taken from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeeze action increases the temperature, which is then carried into the condenser to absorb heat trapped in the air. Once the cooling cycle is complete the refrigerant will be introduced into the compressor, where it will be pressurized prior to being pumped back to the evaporator coil.

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

It is also essential to ensure that the condenser is not shaded. Shades can limit air flow and force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This could result in more expensive energy bills and a potential loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system can help ensure that the condenser works properly. Regularly having a professional technician inspect the major components of your HVAC system can help prevent major problems. A professional service team can prevent problems by regularly checking the refrigerant level. By following these steps, you will be able to prolong the longevity of your cooling and heating system and lower your energy bills.

Compressor

A compressor is the core of your air conditioning unit and it circulates refrigerant through the system to keep everything cool. It’s as the blood that circulates through your body, in that it moves coolant between the condenser and evaporator coils. If something goes wrong with the compressor, it will prevent the evaporator and condenser from completing their tasks and will make your home feeling uncomfortable warm.

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

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

The HVAC compressors of both kinds are designed to raise temperature of the liquid while it is compressed. This creates a high-pressure, high-temperature vapor. Since heat naturally flows from higher-temperature substances to lower temperature ones the hot vapor will move into the evaporator coils before it can change back to its liquid state.

You can avoid most AC problems by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for many years and provide you with peace of mind knowing that your home will remain comfortable. If you do experience a problem with the compressor then your Griffith Energy Services technician can help you decide what repairs are the best for you.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the brains of your cooling and heating system, which allows it to control when and how it turns on and off. It reads the air temperature and compares it with the desired temperature set by a preset. If it is off by one or two degrees, the thermostat will send an electronic signal to bring it towards the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats gauge temperature using an electronic sensor referred to as a thermistor. The thermistor consists of two different metals that expand at different rates as they heat up and bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches its temperature, it signals the circuit board to start 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 at certain times. This will save you from having to set them manually every day. They also provide reports on energy consumption so that you can find ways to cut costs.

If you have an older electromechanical model, the method of operation is a little more complex. It is made up of a bimetallic strip which is attached to a vial by mercury. When the temperature changes in the vial, it causes the mercury in the vial to move and complete or interrupt an electrical circuit. When the vial tips the thermostat, it turns on the heating and cooling system.

You should regularly clean your thermostat in order to eliminate dust. Also, make sure it is not crooked or loose. In some cases the thermostat could be having trouble with its readings due to a dirty evaporator coil or a damaged thermistor. In this situation, you’ll need to get an expert to fix the issue. If the issue is something else, like an unresponsive screen, you can try replacing the batteries or ensuring that your breaker has not been activated. This is an example of how your HVAC system can be more efficient when you make the effort to understand it and optimize its use.