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

If your home’s HVAC is getting old the 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.

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

Evaporator

An Evaporator coil is the component of your air conditioner that cools your home. The evaporator is in a box connected to your gas furnace or within it (if you own one). If you don’t, the evaporator can be found inside an air handler. The evaporator is the place where the refrigerant is transformed into a liquid and then absorbs heat from the air inside your home.

The evaporator has one or more copper coils that are tightly packed. The refrigerant is in low pressure as it reaches the coils, making it easier to transfer heat.

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

The evaporator, unlike the compressor, only needs to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a low temperature to achieve effective air cooling. The evaporator uses its own fans to achieve this final goal.

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

There are two kinds of evaporators: noncased and cased. The most common type of evaporator in your home is a cased model. It is enclosed within the metal casing that surrounds your air conditioning unit. An uncased evaporator is similar but it doesn’t have the protective outer shell.

Both evaporators have the same function, but it’s crucial to select the one that will satisfy your home’s particular needs. For example, some models are more suited to harsher working environments, while others are better suited for more moderate conditions. You should also think about how easy it will be to clean and maintain the evaporator as this can save you time, money and hassle in the long run.

Condenser

The condenser is among the three main components of the air conditioning system in your home that helps keep it operating efficiently. The condenser is situated outside the house and is connected to the evaporator by refrigerant pipes. It has metal fins and fans that work to remove the heat from the refrigerant that has been transferred from the evaporator. The heat that is removed from the refrigerant gas aids it to cool before turning back into liquid form.

A compressor is connected to the condenser unit and works to pressurize the low-pressure refrigerant liquid that has been taken from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeezing action increases the temperature, which is transferred to the condenser unit to absorb heat trapped in the air. After it has completed its cooling cycle and the refrigerant is pumped back into the compressor where it is pressurized again before being pumped into the evaporator coil. There, the process begins again.

The condenser unit is exposed the elements because it is outside. Debris, such as twigs leaves, grass clippings and roofing shingles may get into the condenser unit and cause damage to it. By adding the universal HVAC condenser cover to your heating and cooling system can help safeguard the equipment from damage when it’s not in use.

It is also important to avoid shading the condenser. This can reduce air flow, which can force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This could result in more expensive energy bills as well as a possible loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is operating correctly. Having a professional service technician inspect all the major components of your system on a regular basis will assist in preventing any major issues from occurring. Additionally having an expert service team monitor your refrigerant levels regularly will also help prevent any problems from developing. Follow these simple steps to prolong the life of your heating/cooling system and cut down on energy costs.

Compressor

The compressor is the core of your air conditioning. It circulates refrigerant throughout the system, keeping everything cool. It’s similar to the blood that flows through your body, pumping the coolant between your evaporator coils and condenser. If something goes wrong with the compressor, it will prevent the evaporator and condenser from doing their job and leave your home uncomfortably warm.

There are a variety of types of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, as an example, has a piston moving upwards and downwards within the cylinder. This motion produces a suction that draws in refrigerant. As the piston is moved down it decreases the volume of gas, then a discharge valve opens to let the refrigerant that is pressurized out 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 the other side, has blades within the cylinder that help to compress the air. This type of compressor is quiet, making it an ideal option for residential use.

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

While you cannot avoid the occasional problem with the compressor, you can avoid the majority of AC problems by being on top of your maintenance schedule. This will help your equipment last for a long time and will provide you with peace of mind knowing your home is always in good condition. If you do have a problem with the compressor or the compressor itself, your Griffith Energy Services technician can assist you in determining what repair options are best for you.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it decides when and how the system turns on and off. It compares the temperature of the air to a set desired temperature. The thermostat will send an alert to adjust the temperature if it’s off by a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats utilize an electronic sensor known as the thermistor, which measures the temperature. The thermistor is composed of two different metals that expand at different rates as they warm up and cause them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches its set temperature, it signals the circuit board to turn on your heating or AC system.

The latest models of thermostats feature touchscreens that make them simple to use and program. They can be programmed to automatically cool or heat your home at certain time frames, which avoids the headache of having to set the temperature each day. They also provide information on energy consumption so you can learn ways to reduce expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model, it’s slightly more complex. It consists of a bimetallic strip which is bonded to a vial with mercury. When the temperature changes the mercury in the vial moves, either complete or breaking an electrical circuit. When the vial tilts the thermostat, it activates the cooling and heating system.

You should regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. You should also make sure that it’s not tangled or crooked. In some instances, the thermostat’s readings may be incorrect due to a dirty or damaged evaporator coil. In that case, you will need to call an expert 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 has not been tripped. This is a good example of how you can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system more efficient by learning about it and maximizing its use.