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

If your home’s HVAC is in its senior years the high repair costs and energy bills may make it worth investing in a new unit. A residential HVAC expert can help you choose the best option for your home.

Gas-powered air conditioners, also known as propane air conditioners make use of natural gas to heat and condensers to run.

Evaporator

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

The evaporator has one or more copper coils packed tightly together. The refrigerant is able to reach the coils at a low pressure, making it easier for it to transfer heat when it evaporates into a gaseous state.

A fan blows warm air from your home over the coil that is used to evaporate. The air is cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator which changes the refrigerant’s temperature and reduces the temperature of your home’s air. The cool air then flows through the ductwork of your home to every room and circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system via return ducts.

In contrast to the compressor, which needs to produce refrigerant gas at high temperatures to allow efficient cooling, the evaporator only needs to bring its boiling point to a low temperature to allow for efficient air cooling. The evaporator also has its own fans to help to achieve this objective.

The evaporator metering system ensures that the refrigerant in the liquid is always at a constant 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. A cased evaporator will be the one you’ll likely to find in your home because 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.

While both evaporators serve the same purpose, it’s important to select a model suitable for your home’s unique requirements. For instance, certain models are more suited to more harsh working environments, whereas others are more suitable for more moderate conditions. You should also take into consideration how easy it would be to clean and maintain the evaporator, as this can save you time, money and hassle in the long time.

Condenser

The condenser is among the three major components of your home’s air conditioning system that helps keep it operating efficiently. It is located outside the home, and is connected to the evaporator coil by refrigerant lines. It also houses an array of metal fins and fans that remove heat from the refrigerant gas that has been transported from the evaporator. The heat removed helps the refrigerant to cool down and transform back to a liquid state.

A compressor is attached to the condenser unit and works to pressurize the low-pressure liquid refrigerant that was pumped from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeeze action increases the temperature, which is then transferred to the condenser unit to absorb latent heat in the air. When the cooling process is completed the refrigerant is pushed into the compressor, where it will be pressurized before being pumped 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 even roofing shingles can cause damage to the condenser. By adding an universal HVAC condenser cover to your heating and cooling system can help safeguard the equipment from accidental damage when it’s not in use.

It is also crucial to avoid shading the condenser. Doing so can restrict air flow and force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This can result in more expensive energy bills as well as a possible loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will help to ensure that the condenser is operating correctly. A professional service technician look over every major component of your system regularly can assist in preventing any major problems from occurring. A professional service team can prevent problems by regularly checking the refrigerant level. By following these simple steps, you will be able to extend the lifespan of your heating and cooling system and reduce your energy bills.

Compressor

The compressor is the main component of your air conditioning. It circulates refrigerant throughout the system, ensuring that everything stays cool. It is as the blood that circulates through your body, as it moves coolant back and forth between the condenser and evaporator coils. If the compressor fails then the evaporator won’t be able perform its job and your home will get extremely hot.

There are a variety of HVAC compressors and each has its own pros and cons. A reciprocating compressor, as an example is one that has a piston moving upwards and downwards in a cylindrical. This creates a suction that draws in refrigerant. As the piston is moved down it decreases the volume of gas, the discharge valve opens to release the refrigerant pressurized into the condenser coil.

This type of compressor is equipped with a clutch, and a crankshaft that helps the piston compress 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 a popular option for residential use.

Both kinds of HVAC compressors are designed to increase the temperature of the refrigerant 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 materials down to lower-temperature substances which is why the hot vapor will move to the evaporator before returning to its liquid state.

While you can’t prevent the occasional problem with the compressor, you can prevent the majority of AC issues by staying on top of your maintenance schedule. This will allow your equipment to last for a long time, and it will give you peace of mind knowing that your home is always in good condition. Griffith Energy Services can help you decide on the best repair options should you are experiencing a problem with your compressor.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it determines the time and frequency at which the system turns on and off. It compares the temperature of the air to a pre-set 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 the digital sensor, also known as a thermistor to gauge the temperature. The thermistor is comprised of two metals which expand differently when heated and cause the metals to flex in an opposite direction. When the thermistor reaches its temperature set, it signals the circuit board to turn on your heating or AC system.

The touchscreens on the newer models make it easier to program and operate. Many thermostats are programmed to automatically heat and cool your home according to specific times. This means you don’t have to worry about 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 bit more complex. It is made up of a bimetallic piece that is bonded to a vial using mercury. When the temperature changes it causes the mercury in the vial to tilt, completing or interrupting an electrical circuit. When the vial is tilted, it triggers the thermostat to turn on the heating or cooling system.

It is essential to regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. Also, ensure that it is not crooked or loose. In certain cases the thermostat could be experiencing issues with its readings due to an unclean evaporator coil or the thermistor being damaged. If that is the scenario, you’ll have to contact a professional to fix the problem for you. If the problem is something else, such as an unresponsive screen or a blank screen, you can try changing the batteries or ensuring that your breaker hasn’t been activated. This is a great example of how you can make your HVAC system more efficient by understanding it and optimizing its use.