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

It might be worth investing in a new unit in the event that your home’s air conditioner is a bit old and in need of repairs. A residential HVAC professional can assist you to select the right solution for your needs.

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

Evaporator

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

The evaporator consists of one or more copper coils packed tightly together. The refrigerant is at low pressure when it gets to the coils, making it easier to transfer heat.

A fan blows your home’s warm indoor air over the evaporator coil. This air is cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator which changes the refrigerant’s temperature and lowers the temperature of your indoor air. The cooled air then moves through your home’s ductwork system to each room and circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system through return ducts.

The evaporator, in contrast to the compressor, only needs to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a low temperature to ensure efficient air cooling. The evaporator is also equipped with its own fans to help to achieve this objective.

The evaporator’s metering device helps to ensure that the refrigerant has a constant level of liquid within it. The low-side floating is designed to open if there is no liquid in the evaporator. It will close when liquid gets into the coils.

There are two types of evaporators: cased and noncased. The most popular type of evaporator in your home is the one that is cased. It is housed inside the metal casing that protects your air conditioning unit. An uncased evaporator is similar, except it doesn’t have the protective outer shell.

Although both evaporators serve the identical purpose, it’s vital to select a model capable of meeting the specific requirements of your home. For example, some models are better suited to harsher working environments, while others are more suitable for more moderate conditions. Think about how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This could save you time, money and hassle.

Condenser

The condenser is one of three main components of your home’s air conditioning system that help keep it working efficiently. The condenser is located outside the house and connected to the evaporator via refrigerant pipes. It contains metal fins and fans which help to remove heat from the refrigerant which is being transferred from the evaporator. The heat that is removed helps the refrigerant to cool down and transform back to liquid form.

A compressor is attached to the condenser unit. It helps to pressurize the low pressure refrigerant liquid that has been taken from the evaporator coil. The squeeze action of the compressor raises the temperature of the coolant, which then passes into the condenser coils to absorb latent heat from the air surrounding it. After the cooling cycle is completed, the refrigerant will be introduced into the compressor to be pressurized before being pumped back to the evaporator coil.

Since the condenser is outside, it is exposed to the elements. Debris, such as twigs grass clippings, leaves and roofing shingles too can fall into the condenser unit and damage it. Adding an universal HVAC condenser cover to your heating and cooling system can help to protect the equipment from damage when it isn’t in use.

Avoid shading the condenser. Shades can limit air flow and make the compressor work harder to cool your home. This can result in higher energy bills as well as a possible loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will help to ensure that the condenser is working correctly. Regularly having a professional technician check every major component of your HVAC system can help prevent major problems. In addition having a professional service team check the refrigerant levels on a regular basis will also help avoid any issues from arising. Follow these steps to extend the life of your heating and cooling system and lower your energy costs.

Compressor

A compressor is the center of your air conditioning unit, and it pumps refrigerant throughout the system to keep it cool. It is like the blood that flows through your body as it pumps coolant between the evaporator coils and condenser. If the compressor fails and the evaporator fails, it will not be able perform its job and your house will be extremely hot.

There are a myriad of different kinds of HVAC compressors. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, for instance it has a piston that moves upwards and downwards within a cylindrical. This movement creates a suction which draws in refrigerant. As the piston moves down, it reduces the volume of gas, then a discharge valve is opened to let the refrigerant that is pressurized out into the condenser coil.

This type of compressor is also equipped with a clutch and a crankshaft which helps the piston compress the air. A Rotary compressor, on the other side, has blades within the cylinder that help to compress the air. This type of compressor is very quiet, which makes it a popular choice for residential applications.

Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to increase the temperature of the liquid refrigerant as it is being compressed, ensuring that the vapor that exits the compressor is high-temperature and high pressure. It is normal for heat to flow from high-temperature substances down to lower temperatures and the hot vapor will travel to the evaporator and return to its liquid state.

You can avoid the majority of AC issues by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will help your equipment last for a long time, and it will provide you with peace of mind knowing that your home is always in good condition. Griffith Energy Services can help you choose the best repair option if you have a compressor issue.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain and it controls when and how the system is turned on and off. It measures the temperature of the air and compares it to an established desired level. The thermostat will send an indication to alter the temperature if it is off by a few degrees. Most modern thermostats use the digital sensor, also known as the thermistor, which measures the temperature. The thermistor is made up of two different metals that expand at different rates as they get hot and cause them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor is at the temperature it was set to, it signals to the circuit board that your heating or AC should be turned on.

The touchscreens on the newer models make it simple to program and operate. Many thermostats are programmed to automatically cool and heat your home at specific times. This will save you from having to manually set them each day. They also provide information on energy consumption so that you can find ways to cut costs.

If you have an older electromechanical model, it’s a little more complicated. It is comprised of a bimetallic piece that is attached to a vial with mercury. If the temperature changes the mercury in the vial tilts, completing or rupturing an electrical circuit. When the vial tipping the thermostat, it activates the cooling and heating system.

It is essential to regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. Also, make sure it is not crooked or loose. In some instances, the thermostat’s readings might be incorrect due to a damaged or dirty evaporator coil. If that is the case, you will require a professional to fix it. If the problem is something else, such as an unresponsive screen, you can try changing the batteries or making sure that the breaker hasn’t been activated. This is an example of how your HVAC system can be more efficient when you take the time to research it and optimize its use.