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

If your home’s air conditioning is getting old cost of repair and energy bills can be a reason to consider the purchase of a new unit. A residential HVAC professional can help you choose the best option for your needs.

The majority of cooling systems rely on electricity to cool and heat homes, however certain propane or gas-powered air conditioners, utilize natural gas to fuel furnaces and operate condensers in split systems.

Evaporator

An evaporator coil is the part of your air conditioner that 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 the place where the refrigerant is transformed into a liquid and absorbs heat from the air inside your home.

The evaporator has one or more copper coils tightly bonded. The refrigerant enters the coils with low pressure, making it easier for it to transfer heat when it evaporates into gaseous state.

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 your indoor air temperature. The cooled air then moves through your home’s ductwork to each room and circulates until it returns to the air conditioning system via return ducts.

Contrary to the compressor, which has to make the refrigerant gas at high temperatures to allow efficient cooling, the evaporator only needs to raise its boiling point to a low temperature for effective air cooling. The evaporator also has its own fans to help it to achieve this goal.

The evaporator metering system ensures that the refrigerant used in the liquid remains at a constant level. The low-side floating is designed to be open when there is no liquid in the evaporator and close when liquid gets into the coils.

There are two primary kinds of evaporators: cases and uncased. A cased evaporator is the one you’re most likely to find in your home because it’s enclosed within the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble the cased evaporators, however they don’t have an outer shell that is protected.

Both evaporators serve the same purpose, however it’s important to select one that is able to meet the specific requirements of your home. Some models are better suited to harsher environments, while others could be better suited to milder conditions. Also, you should consider how easy it will be to clean and maintain the evaporator since this could save you time, money and hassle in the long run.

Condenser

The condenser is among the three main components of your air conditioning system which helps to keep it running efficiently. It is located outside the home, and is connected to the evaporator’s coil by refrigerant lines. It is also home to a series of fans and metal fins that work to remove heat from the refrigerant gas that was transported from the evaporator. The heat that is emitted allows the refrigerant to be cooled and transform to a liquid state.

A compressor is attached to the condenser unit. It operates to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that is pumped out of the evaporator coil. The squeezing action of the compressor raises the temperature of the coolant which then flows into the condenser coils, which absorb the heat that is not being released from the air around it. After it has completed its cooling cycle, the refrigerant is pushed back into the compressor, where it is pressed again prior to being pumped to the evaporator coil. There, the process begins all over again.

Because the condenser is located outside, it is exposed to the elements. Debris such as twigs, grass clippings, leaves and roofing shingles too can be thrown into the condenser unit, causing damage to it. A universal HVAC condenser will protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage while not in use.

It is also important to not shade the condenser. Doing so can restrict air flow and force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This can lead to increased energy costs and a potential 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 the major components of your HVAC system can assist in avoiding major problems. A professional service team can avoid problems by checking regularly the refrigerant level. Follow these steps to extend the life of your cooling and heating system and reduce energy bills.

Compressor

A compressor is the heart of your air conditioning unit, and it circulates refrigerant throughout the system to keep it cool. You can think of it as the blood that circulates through your body, in that it moves the coolant between the condenser and evaporator coils. If the compressor fails and the evaporator fails, it will not be able to do its job and your house will be extremely hot.

There are many different types of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own benefits and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, as an example, has a piston moving upwards and downwards in the cylindrical. This creates a suction that draws in the 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 comes with a clutch and crankshaft, which assists the piston in compressing the air. A Rotary compressor, on the other hand, has blades inside the cylinder that assist in helping compress the air. This type of compressor is very quiet, making it a popular option for homes.

Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to raise the temperature of the refrigerant liquid as it is being compressed, ensuring that the vapor which exits the compressor is high-pressure and high-temperature. Since heat naturally flows from high-temperature substances to those with lower temperatures the hot vapor will move into the evaporator coils, and return to its original liquid state.

You can avoid most AC problems by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for a long time and will give you peace of mind knowing that your home is always at ease. If you do experience an issue with the compressor then your Griffith Energy Services technician can assist you in determining which repair options are best for you.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it controls the time and frequency at which the system is turned on and off. It reads the air temperature and compares it to the desired temperature set by a preset. The thermostat will send an alert to adjust the temperature if it is off by a few degrees. Most modern thermostats use the digital sensor, also known as a thermistor to measure the temperature. The thermistor is composed of two different metals that expand at different rates when they warm up and bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor is at the temperature it was set to it informs the circuit board that heating or AC should be turned on.

Modern thermostats come with touchscreens that make them easy to use and program. Many thermostats are programmed to automatically heat and cool your home at certain times. This will save you from having to set them manually every day. Additionally, they offer information on energy usage to help you figure out how to cut down on expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model the method of operation is a bit more complex. It is made up of a bimetallic band that is bonded to mercury a vial. If the temperature changes the mercury in the vial moves, either complete or breaking an electrical circuit. When the vial tipping, the thermostat turns on the heating and cooling system.

You should regularly clean your thermostat to get rid of dust. You must also ensure that it’s not tangled or crooked. In certain cases, the thermostat’s readings might be inaccurate due to a damaged or dirty evaporator coil. In this situation you’ll need to contact an expert to fix the issue. If you’re experiencing other issue, like a blank display try replacing your batteries or ensuring whether your breaker has not tripped. This is a good illustration of how you can make your HVAC system more efficient by gaining knowledge about it and optimizing its use.