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

If the air conditioning in your home is at its peak cost of repair and energy bills can be a reason to consider an upgrade. A residential HVAC expert can assist you in selecting the right solution for your home.

Gas-powered air conditioners, also referred to as propane air conditioners, make use of natural gas for heating and condensers that run.

Evaporator

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

The evaporator is comprised of one or more copper coils that are tightly bonded. The refrigerant enters the coils with low pressure, which makes it easier for it to transfer heat when it evaporates into a gaseous state.

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

The evaporator, in contrast to the compressor, needs to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a lower temperature to achieve efficient air cooling. The evaporator is also equipped with its own fans to help it in achieving this goal.

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

There are two types of evaporators: noncased and cases-based. The most common kind of evaporator you can find in your home is the cased one. It is housed inside the casing made of metal that covers your air conditioning unit. A non-cased evaporator is the same however it doesn’t come with the outer shell that protects it.

Both evaporators have the same purpose, however it is important to choose a model that can satisfy your home’s particular needs. Some models are better suited for harsher environments, while others could be better suited to milder conditions. Also, you should take into consideration how easy it would be to clean and maintain the evaporator since this could save you time, money, and hassle in the long in the long.

Condenser

Condensers are among the three primary components of the cooling system in your home. They help it work efficiently. The condenser is outside the house and is connected to the evaporator by refrigerant pipes. It contains metal fins and fans that help to remove heat from the refrigerant that has been transferred from the evaporator. The heat that is removed helps the refrigerant be cooled and transform to a liquid state.

A compressor is attached to the condenser unit. It is used to pressurize the low-pressure refrigerant liquid that has been transferred from the evaporator. The squeeze action of the compressor raises the temperature of the coolant which then passes into the condenser coils to take in heat that is not being absorbed by the air around it. Once the cooling cycle is complete the refrigerant will be introduced into the compressor to be pumped under pressure before being sent back to the evaporator coil.

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

It is also essential to avoid shading the condenser. Doing so can restrict air flow and force the compressor to work harder 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 properly. A professional service technician look over all of the major components of your system on a regular basis will help to prevent any major issues from occurring. In addition having an expert service team examine your refrigerant levels frequently can also help to avoid any issues from arising. Follow these steps 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 conditioner. It pumps refrigerant through the system, keeping everything cool. You can think of it as the blood flowing through your body, as it moves coolant between your condenser and evaporator coils. If the compressor fails then the evaporator won’t be able perform its job, and your home will be extremely hot.

There are many different types of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own benefits and disadvantages. For example the reciprocating compressor features pistons that move upwards and downwards within a cylinder, and this motion creates suction that draws in refrigerant. When the piston moves downwards it decreases the gas volume, and then a discharge valve is opened to expels the pressurized refrigerant into the condenser coil.

This kind of compressor also has a clutch as well as a crankshaft, which helps the piston to compress the air. A Rotary compressor, on the other side, has blades within the cylinder that assist in helping compress the air. This kind of compressor is very quiet, which makes it a popular option for homes.

Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to raise the temperature of the liquid refrigerant as it is being compressed, ensuring that the vapor that leaves the compressor is high-temperature and high pressure. Heat naturally flows from high-temperature substances down to lower temperature substances, so the hot vapor will move to the evaporator before returning to its liquid state.

While you can’t avoid the occasional problem with the compressor, you can prevent the majority of AC problems by keeping track of your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for a long time and will provide you with peace of mind knowing your home is always at ease. If you do have problems with your compressor or the compressor itself, your Griffith Energy Services technician can assist you in determining which repair options are best for you.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the brain of your heating and cooling system, allowing it to regulate the timing and manner in which it turns on and off. It determines the temperature of the air and compares it with an established desired level. If it is off by a few degrees, the thermostat will send an electronic signal to bring it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats employ an electronic sensor known as a thermistor to measure the temperature. The thermistor is comprised of two metals that expand in different ways when heated which causes the metals to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor is at its set temperature it tells the circuit board to turn on your heating or AC system.

The touchscreens on the latest models make it simple to program and operate. They are usually programmed to automatically cool or heat your home at specific times, which eliminates the effort of having to set the temperature each day. They also provide information on energy consumption so you can find ways to cut costs.

If you have an older electromechanical model the way it operates is a little more complex. It consists of a bimetallic strip that is attached to a vial by mercury. When the temperature fluctuates in the vial, it causes the mercury in the vial to shift and complete or interrupt an electrical circuit. When the vial tips the thermostat, it activates the cooling and heating system.

You must regularly clean your thermostat to get rid of dust. Also, make sure that it isn’t bent or loose. In certain cases, the thermostat’s readings could be incorrect due to a damaged or dirty evaporator coil. In this situation you’ll need to get an expert to resolve the issue. If the problem is something else, like blank screens it is possible to try changing the batteries or checking that your breaker has not been activated. This is a good example of how your HVAC system will be more efficient if you spend the time to research it and optimize its use.