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

It might be worth investing in a replacement unit if your home’s air conditioner is old and in need of repairs. A residential HVAC expert can help you choose the right option for your home.

Most cooling systems rely on electricity to cool and heat homes. However, some, such as gas-powered or propane air conditioners, utilize natural gas to power furnaces and run condensers in a split system.

Evaporator

The evaporator coil in your air conditioner is what cools your house. The evaporator coil is located in a box attached to or within your gas furnace (if you have one) or in an air handler, in the absence of. The evaporator is where refrigerant transforms into a liquid and absorbs heat in your home’s air.

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

A fan blows the warm air from your home to the evaporator coil. This air is cooled when heat is taken away from the evaporator. This lowers the temperature of your indoor air. The cooled air is circulated through the ductwork in your home, and then to each room.

Unlike the compressor, which requires to produce refrigerant gas in high temperatures to ensure efficient cooling, the evaporator only needs to raise its boiling point to a low temperature for effective air cooling. The evaporator has its own fan in order to achieve this goal.

The evaporator’s metering device helps to ensure that the refrigerant is at a constant level of liquid inside it. 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 types of evaporators, noncased and cased. The most common type of evaporator that you will find in your home is a cased model. It’s enclosed inside the casing made of metal that covers the air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble cased evaporators, but they don’t have an outer shell with protection.

Both evaporators share the same purpose but it is important to choose one that is able to satisfy your home’s particular needs. Some models are better suited to more harsh environments, whereas others might be more suitable in more moderate conditions. Think about how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This can save you time, money and hassle.

Condenser

The condenser is among the three main components of your home’s air conditioning system which helps to keep it running efficiently. The condenser is situated outside the home and is connected to the evaporator via refrigerant pipes. It has metal fins and fans which work to remove the heat from the refrigerant that has been transferred from the evaporator. The heat removed allows the refrigerant to reduce in temperature and then transform into a liquid state.

A compressor is connected to the condenser unit. It operates to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The squeezing action of the compressor raises the temperature of the coolant which then passes into the condenser coils to absorb latent heat from the air around it. After it has completed its cooling process and the refrigerant is pumped back into the compressor, where it is again pressurized before being pumped into the evaporator coil. There, the process starts all over again.

The condenser unit is exposed elements since it is outside. Debris, such as twigs leaves, grass clippings and roofing shingles may fall into the condenser unit and cause damage to it. By adding the universal HVAC condenser cover to your cooling and heating system can help to protect the equipment from accidental damage when it’s not in use.

It is also essential to ensure that the condenser is not shaded. This can decrease air flow, forcing the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This can lead to higher energy bills as well as a loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is operating properly. Having a professional service technician look over every major component of your system on a regular basis can aid in preventing major issues from arising. A professional service team can also keep your system in good working order by regularly checking the refrigerant level. By following these simple steps, you can help to extend the lifespan of your cooling and heating system as well as reduce your energy costs.

Compressor

A compressor is the center of your air conditioning unit, and it circulates refrigerant throughout the system to keep it cool. It is like the blood that flows through your body when it pumps coolant between your evaporator coils as well as the condenser. If something goes wrong with your compressor, it will stop the condenser and evaporator from completing their tasks and will make your home uncomfortably warm.

There are many different types of HVAC compressors. Each one comes with its own advantages and drawbacks. A reciprocating compressor, for example is one that has a piston moving up and down in the cylinder. This motion produces a suction that draws in the refrigerant. When the piston is moving downwards it reduces the gas volume. A discharge valve opens to let the pressurized refrigeration into the condenser.

This type of compressor is also equipped with a clutch, and a crankshaft that aids the piston compress the air. A Rotary compressor, on the other hand, has blades inside the cylinder that help to compress the air. This kind of compressor is very quiet, making it a popular option for residential applications.

The HVAC compressors of both kinds are designed to raise temperatures of the liquid when it is compressed. This creates an extremely high-temperature, high-pressure vapor. Heat naturally flows from high-temperature materials down to lower temperature substances and the hot vapor will travel to the evaporator and return to its liquid state.

You can prevent most AC issues by staying on top with your maintenance schedule. This will help your equipment last for many years, and will give you peace of mind knowing your home is always comfortable. If you do experience a problem with the compressor, your Griffith Energy Services technician can help you decide what repairs are the best for you.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the brain of your cooling and heating system, enabling it to decide the timing and manner in which it turns on and off. It measures the temperature of the air and compares it to a preset desired level. The thermostat will send an alert to adjust the temperature if it is off a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats monitor temperature using an electronic sensor referred to as the thermosistor. The thermistor is composed of two different metals that expand at different rates as they get hot and bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor is at the temperature it was set to, it signals to the circuit board that your heating or AC should be turned on.

The touchscreens on newer models make it simple to program and operate. Many thermostats can be 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 to help you figure out how to cut down on expenses.

If you have an old electromechanical model, it’s somewhat more complicated. It is made up of a bimetallic band which is joined to mercury in a vial. When the temperature changes, the mercury in a vial tilts, completing or rupturing an electrical circuit. When the vial tipping the thermostat, it activates the cooling and heating 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 has accumulated. Also, make sure it is not crooked or loose. In some instances, the thermostat may be having issues with its readings due to an evaporator coil that is dirty or a damaged thermistor. In that situation, you’ll have to contact an expert to fix it. If the issue is something else, like an unresponsive screen it is possible to try replacing the batteries or ensuring that your breaker has not been tripped. This is an illustration of how your HVAC system can be more efficient if you spend the time to understand it and optimize its use.