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

If your home’s air conditioning is in its senior years cost of repair and energy bills could make it worthwhile to invest in an upgrade. A residential HVAC professional can assist you to determine the best option for your needs.

The majority of cooling systems rely on electricity to cool and heat homes, but some, such as propane or gas-powered air conditioners use natural gas to fuel furnaces and operate condensers in split systems.

Evaporator

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

The evaporator is made up of a few copper coils that are tightly packed together. The refrigerant has a low pressure as it reaches the coils, which makes it easier to transfer heat.

A fan blows your home’s warm indoor air over the evaporator coil. This air is cooled when heat is taken away from the evaporator. This reduces the temperature of your indoor air. The cool air then flows through your home’s ductwork system to each room, where it circulates until it returns to the air conditioning system through return ducts.

The evaporator, unlike the compressor, requires to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant down to a low temperature to ensure effective air cooling. The evaporator also uses its own fans to help it to achieve this goal.

The evaporator metering device ensures that the liquid refrigerant is always at an unchanging level. The low-side float is designed to open when there’s no liquid in the evaporator, and closes when it detects liquid entering the coils.

There are two kinds of evaporators: noncased and cases-based. The most popular type of evaporator that you will find in your home is the cased one. It is enclosed within the metal casing that surrounds your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble cases, but they do not have a protective outer shell.

Although both evaporators serve the same purpose, it’s crucial to choose a model that’s suitable for your home’s unique requirements. For instance, certain models are better suited for more harsh working environments, whereas others are more suitable for more moderate conditions. Consider how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This can help you save time, money and effort.

Condenser

The condenser is one of three main components of your air conditioning system that help keep it working efficiently. The condenser is located outside the home and is connected to the evaporator through refrigerant pipes. It is comprised of metal fins and fans that work to remove the heat from the refrigerant that has been transported from the evaporator. The heat removed from the refrigerant gas helps it cool before turning back into liquid form.

A compressor is connected to the condenser unit. It operates to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that is pumped out of the evaporator coil. The squeeze action of the compressor increases the temperature of the coolant which is then pumped into condenser coils, which absorb the heat that is not being absorbed by the surrounding air. Once it has completed its cooling process and the refrigerant is pumped back into the compressor, where it is pressed again prior to being pumped into the evaporator coil. There, the process starts all over again.

Since the condenser is outdoors, it is susceptible to the elements. Leaves and twigs grass clippings or roofing shingles, can cause damage to the condenser. By adding the universal HVAC condenser cover to your cooling and heating system can help protect the equipment from accidental damage when it’s not in use.

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

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will ensure that the condenser is working effectively. Regularly having a professional technician check every major component of your HVAC system can help prevent major problems. In addition, having an expert service team examine your refrigerant levels regularly will also help avoid any issues from arising. Follow these simple steps to prolong the life of your heating and cooling system and reduce energy bills.

Compressor

The compressor is the core of your air conditioning. It pumps refrigerant through the system, keeping everything cool. It’s like the blood in your body, pumping coolant between your evaporator coils as well as the condenser. If something goes wrong with your compressor, it will prevent the condenser and evaporator from doing their job and leave your home feeling uncomfortable warm.

There are many different types of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example the reciprocating compressor is comprised of pistons that move up and down within a cylinder, and this movement creates suction that draws in the refrigerant. As the piston is moved down it decreases the volume of gas, and the discharge valve opens to expels the pressurized refrigerant into the condenser coil.

This type of compressor includes a clutch and crankshaft, which assists the piston to compress the air. A rotary compressor, on the other hand, has blades inside the cylinder which help compress the air. This type of compressor is extremely quiet, which makes it a popular option for homes.

Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to raise the temperature of the refrigerant’s liquid while it is compressed, ensuring that the vapor that leaves the compressor is high-temperature and high pressure. Since heat naturally flows from higher-temperature substances to lower temperature ones, the hot vapor is able to move into the evaporator coils, and transform back to its liquid state.

While you cannot avoid the occasional problem with the compressor, you can avoid 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 give you peace of mind knowing your home is always comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you determine the best repair option if you experience a compressor problem.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the brain of your heating and cooling system, which allows it to regulate the timing and manner in which it turns off and on. It reads the air temperature and compares it to the desired temperature set by a preset. The thermostat will send an indication to alter the temperature if it is off a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats employ an electronic sensor known as a thermistor to measure the temperature. The thermistor consists of two different metals that expand at different rates when they heat up and cause them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches the temperature that it is set it sends a signal to the circuit board that your heating or AC should be turned on.

The touchscreens on the latest models make it easier to program and operate. Many thermostats are programmed to automatically heat and cool your home at specific times. This will save you from having to manually set them every day. Additionally, they offer reports on energy consumption so you can learn how to cut down on expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model, the method of operation is a bit more complex. It is comprised of a bimetallic strip which is bonded to a vial with mercury. If the temperature changes it causes the mercury inside the vial to tilt in a way, interrupting or completing an electrical circuit. When the vial tips the thermostat, it activates the heating and cooling system.

You must regularly clean your thermostat in order to eliminate dust. Also, ensure that it is not crooked or loose. In some instances the thermostat could be experiencing issues in its readings due to a dirty evaporator coil or the thermistor being damaged. In this situation, you’ll need to contact a professional to fix the issue. If you are experiencing a different problem, such as a blank display try replacing your batteries or checking that your breaker is not connected. This is an example of how your HVAC system can be more efficient when you take the time to learn about it and optimize its use.