What Are the Main Parts of Your Heating Air Conditioning Unit?
If your home’s HVAC is at its peak cost of repair and energy bills can make it worthwhile to invest in the purchase of a new unit. A residential HVAC expert can help you choose the best option 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
The evaporator coil inside your air conditioner is the one that cools your house. The evaporator can be found inside a box that is attached to your gas furnace or within it (if you have one). If you don’t have one, the coil can be found inside an air handler. The evaporator is where the refrigerant is transformed into a liquid, and absorbs heat from the air in your home.
The evaporator consists of a few copper coils that are tightly packed together. The refrigerant has a low pressure when it gets to the coils, making it easier to transfer heat.
A fan blows the warm air from your home to the evaporator coil. 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 then moved through your home’s ductwork system to each room, where it circulates until it returns to the air conditioning system via return ducts.
The evaporator, unlike the compressor, needs to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a lower temperature to allow for effective air cooling. The evaporator also uses its own fans to help to achieve this goal.
The evaporator metering device ensures that the refrigerant used in the liquid remains at the same level. The low-side floating is designed to open when there is no liquid in the evaporator, and close when liquid is introduced into the coils.
There are two kinds of evaporators, cased and noncased. A cased evaporator will be the one you’ll most likely to see in your home since it’s contained within the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble the cased evaporators, however they do not have a protective outer shell.
While both evaporators have the identical purpose, it’s vital to select a model able to meet the specific requirements of your home. For instance, some models are better suited for more harsh working environments, whereas others are more suitable for milder conditions. It is also important to think about how easy it will be to clean and maintain the evaporator, as this can save you time, money and effort in the long time.
Condenser
The condenser is among the three main components of the air conditioning system in your home which helps to keep it running efficiently. The condenser is situated outside the home and is connected to the evaporator through refrigerant pipes. It has fans and metal fins which help remove heat from the refrigerant which has been transferred from the evaporator. The heat that is removed allows the refrigerant to be cooled and transform to a liquid state.
A compressor is connected to the condenser unit. It is used to pressurize the low-pressure liquid refrigerant that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The squeeze action of the compressor raises the temperature of the coolant which is then pumped into condenser coils to take in latent heat from the air around it. After the cooling cycle is complete the refrigerant will be pushed into the compressor, where it will be pumped under pressure before being sent back to the evaporator coil.
The condenser unit is exposed elements due to its location outside. Debris, such as twigs grass clippings, leaves and even roofing shingles can fall into the condenser unit and damage it. The addition of a universal HVAC condenser cover to your heating and cooling system can help safeguard the equipment from damage when it isn’t in use.
Do not shade the condenser. Doing so can restrict air flow and force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This can result in higher energy bills as well as a loss of refrigerant.
Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is working properly. Having a professional service technician look over every major component of your system on a regular basis can aid in preventing major problems from occurring. A professional service team can keep your system in good working order by regularly checking the refrigerant level. Follow these simple steps to prolong the life of your cooling and heating system and reduce energy bills.
Compressor
A compressor is the core 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, pumping the coolant between your evaporator coils as well as the condenser. If something is wrong with the compressor, it will prevent the condenser and evaporator from performing their jobs and leave your home feeling uncomfortable warm.
There are several different kinds of HVAC compressors and each has its own pros and cons. For example, a reciprocating compressor has a piston that moves upwards and downwards within a cylinder, and this motion creates suction that draws in the refrigerant. When the piston moves downwards it reduces the gas volume, and 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 which helps the piston compress the air. A Rotary compressor, on other hand, has blades inside the cylinder that assist in helping compress the air. This kind of compressor is very quiet, making it a popular option for residential use.
Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to raise the temperature of the refrigerant’s liquid as it is being compressed, ensuring that the vapor that exits 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 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 will give you peace of mind knowing that your home is always comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you determine the best repair option if you are experiencing a problem with your compressor.
Thermostat
The thermostat is the brains of your heating and cooling system, enabling it to regulate the timing and manner in which it turns off and on. It compared the temperature of the air to a set desired temperature. The thermostat will send a signal to adjust the temperature if off by a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats monitor temperature by using a digital sensor known as a thermistor. The thermistor is made up of two different metals that expand at different rates as they heat up, causing them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor is at the temperature set it sends a signal to the circuit board that heating or AC should be switched on.
The touchscreens on the latest models make it easier 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 it every day. In addition, they provide information on energy usage so you can learn how to cut back on expenses.
If you have an older electromechanical model, it is slightly more complex. It is made up of a bimetallic band which is joined to mercury in a vial. When the temperature fluctuates it causes the mercury inside the vial to tilt and complete or interrupt an electrical circuit. When the vial tips the thermostat, it turns on the heating and cooling system.
To ensure that your thermostat is in good working order You must be sure to clean it on a regular basis to remove any dust that may have accumulated. Also, ensure that it isn’t bent or loose. In some cases the thermostat’s readings might be inaccurate due to a dirty or damaged evaporator coil. In this case you’ll have to get an expert to fix the issue. If the issue is something else, such as a blank screen it is possible to try changing the batteries or ensuring that your breaker has not been activated. This is a good example of how your HVAC system can be more efficient if you take the time to understand it and make the most of its use.