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 help you choose the best solution for your needs.

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

Evaporator

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

The evaporator is comprised of one or more copper coils that are tightly packed together. The refrigerant is able to reach the coils at low pressure, which makes it easier for it to transfer heat as it evaporates into gaseous form.

A fan blows the warm air from your home to 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 home’s air. The cooled air is circulated through the ductwork in your home to each of the rooms.

Contrary to the compressor, which needs to produce refrigerant gas at high temperatures for efficient cooling, the evaporator only needs to bring its boiling point to a low temperature to allow for efficient air cooling. The evaporator has its own fans to achieve this final goal.

The evaporator’s metering device helps to ensure that the refrigerant has an even amount of liquid within it. The low-side floating is designed to be open when there is no liquid in the evaporator and close when liquid enters the coils.

There are two main types of evaporators: cased and uncased. 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 are similar to the cased evaporators, however they do not have an outer shell that is protected.

While both evaporators serve the same purpose, it’s important to choose a model that’s suitable for the requirements of your house. For instance, certain models are better suited for extreme working environments, while others are better suited for more moderate conditions. Think about how easy it would be to clean and maintain your evaporator. This could save you money, time and hassle.

Condenser

Condensers are among the three primary components of your home’s cooling system. They aid in the operation of the system efficiently. It is located outside of the house, connected to the evaporator coil by refrigerant lines and contains an array of metal fins and fans which work to eliminate heat from the refrigerant gas which has been transported from the evaporator. The heat that is removed helps the refrigerant reduce in temperature and then transform to a liquid state.

A compressor is attached 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 then passed into the condenser to absorb heat trapped in the air. Once the cooling cycle is completed the refrigerant is introduced into the compressor, where it will be pressurized before being pumped back to the evaporator coil.

Since the condenser is outdoors, it is vulnerable to the elements. Debris, such as twigs leaves, grass clippings and roofing shingles may get into the condenser unit and cause damage to it. A universal HVAC condenser can shield your heating and cooling equipment from damage when not in use.

Avoid shading the condenser. This can reduce the flow of air, causing the compressor to work harder in order to cool your home. This could result in more energy costs and a possibility of losing refrigerant.

Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is operating properly. A professional service technician examine all of the major components of your system regularly can help to prevent any major issues from occurring. In addition, having an expert service team examine your refrigerant levels frequently can help keep any problems from developing. By following these simple steps, you can help to extend the longevity of your cooling and heating system as well as reduce your energy costs.

Compressor

A compressor is the core of your air conditioning unit and it circulates refrigerant through the system to keep it cool. It’s as the blood that circulates through your body, in that it moves coolant back and forth between the condenser and evaporator coils. If the compressor fails then the evaporator won’t be able to perform its job, and your home will become uncomfortably hot.

There are several different kinds of HVAC compressors, and each one has its own pros and cons. For instance, a reciprocating compressor has a piston that moves up and down within a cylinder, and this movement creates suction that draws in refrigerant. As the piston moves down it decreases the volume of gas, and 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 air. A Rotary compressor, on the other hand, has blades inside the cylinder that help to compress the air. This kind of compressor is quiet, making it a popular choice for residential applications.

Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to increase the temperature of the refrigerant liquid when it is compressed, so that the vapor which exits the compressor is high-temperature and high-pressure. It is normal for heat to flow from high-temperature substances down to lower-temperature substances, so the hot vapor will move to the evaporator before returning to its liquid state.

You can avoid the majority of AC issues by staying on top with your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for many years, and it will give you peace of mind knowing that your home is always in good condition. If you do experience an issue with the compressor or the compressor itself, your Griffith Energy Services technician can assist you in determining what repairs are the 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 compares the temperature of the air to a set desired temperature. The thermostat will send an alert to adjust the temperature if off a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats utilize an electronic sensor known as a thermistor to gauge the temperature. The thermistor is comprised of two metals which expand differently when heated up which causes the metals to flex in an opposite direction. When the thermistor is at its set temperature it tells the circuit board to turn on your heating or AC system.

The latest models of thermostats feature touchscreens that make them easy to operate and program. Many thermostats can be programmed to automatically heat and cool your home at certain times. This means you don’t have to worry about having to set them manually each day. Additionally, they offer reports on energy consumption so that you can figure out how to reduce costs.

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 joined to mercury in the vial. When temperatures change, the mercury in a vial moves, either complete or breaking an electrical circuit. When the vial is tilted, it triggers the thermostat to turn on the heating or cooling system.

You must regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. Also, ensure that it isn’t bent or loose. In certain cases the thermostat could be having issues with its readings due to an evaporator coil that is dirty or a damaged thermistor. In this case, you will need to call a professional to fix it. If the issue is something else, such as a blank screen it is possible to try changing the batteries or checking that your breaker hasn’t been tripped. This is a good illustration of how your HVAC system can be more efficient when you make the effort to understand it and improve its use.