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

If the air conditioning in your home is at its peak cost of repair and energy bills could make it worthwhile to invest in the purchase of a new unit. A residential HVAC expert can assist you in choosing the right option for your home.

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

Evaporator

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

The evaporator has one or more copper coils packed tightly together. The refrigerant reaches the coils at a low pressure, making it easier to transfer heat as it evaporates into a gaseous state.

A fan blows the warm air from your home to the coil that is used to evaporate. This air is cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator which changes the refrigerant’s temperature and reduces the temperature of your home’s air. The cool air then flows through your home’s ductwork to every room, where it circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system via return ducts.

The evaporator, unlike the compressor, requires to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant down to a low temperature to achieve effective air cooling. The evaporator has its own fans in order to achieve this objective.

The evaporator metering system ensures that the liquid refrigerant remains at a constant level. The float on the low-side is designed to open when there’s no liquid in the evaporator and it closes when sees liquid enter the coils.

There are two types of evaporators: cased and noncased. The most commonly used type of evaporator in your home is a cased model. It is enclosed within the casing made of metal that covers the air conditioning unit. A non-cased evaporator is the same, except it doesn’t have the outer shell that protects it.

Both evaporators have the same function, but it’s crucial to select a model that can satisfy your home’s particular needs. For instance, some models are better suited to harsher working environments, while others are better suited for more moderate conditions. Consider how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This can save you time, money and hassle.

Condenser

Condensers are one of the three primary components of the cooling system in your home. They help it work efficiently. The condenser is outside the home and is connected to the evaporator via refrigerant pipes. It has metal fins and fans which help to remove heat from the refrigerant which was transported from the evaporator. The heat that is removed allows the refrigerant to reduce in temperature and then transform to liquid form.

A compressor is connected to the condenser unit. It works 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 then passes into the condenser coils to absorb heat that is not being absorbed by the air surrounding it. After the cooling cycle is complete the refrigerant is moved into the compressor, where it will be pressurized before being pumped back to the evaporator coil.

Because the condenser is located outdoors, it is susceptible to the elements. Debris such as leaves or twigs grass clippings or roofing shingles, can damage the condenser. A universal HVAC condenser can shield your heating and cooling equipment from damage when not in use.

Beware of shading the condenser. This can reduce air flow, forcing the compressor to work harder in order to cool your home. This could result in more expensive energy bills as well as a loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is running correctly. Regularly having a professional technician inspect the major components of your HVAC system can aid in preventing major issues. In addition, having an expert service team examine your refrigerant levels regularly can also help to keep any problems from developing. Follow these simple steps to extend the life of your cooling and heating system and reduce energy bills.

Compressor

A compressor is the center of your air conditioning unit and it circulates refrigerant through the system to keep everything cool. It’s similar to the blood in your body, pumping the coolant between the evaporator coils and condenser. If the compressor fails, the evaporator will not be able perform its job and your home will be extremely hot.

There are a myriad of different kinds of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own advantages and drawbacks. For example the reciprocating compressor is comprised of a piston that moves upwards and downwards within the cylinder. This action creates suction which draws in refrigerant. When the piston moves downwards it decreases the volume of gas, then a discharge valve is opened to release the refrigerant pressurized into the condenser coil.

This type of compressor comes with a clutch and a crankshaft, which helps the piston to compress air. A Rotary compressor, on other side, has blades within the cylinder which help compress the air. This type of compressor is extremely quiet, making it a popular choice for homes.

The HVAC compressors of both kinds are designed to increase the temperature of the liquid as it is compressed. This results in an extremely high-temperature, high-pressure vapor. Heat naturally flows from high-temperature materials down to lower temperature substances which is why the hot vapor moves to the evaporator and return to its liquid state.

While you can’t avoid the chance of having problems with the compressor, you can stop the majority of AC issues by being on top of your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for many years, and it will provide you with peace of mind knowing that your home is always in good condition. Griffith Energy Services can help you choose the best repair options should you are experiencing a problem with your compressor.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain and it controls the time and frequency at which the system turns on and off. It compares the air temperature to a pre-set desired level. If it is off by a few degrees, the thermostat will send an electronic signal that changes it to bring it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats utilize an electronic sensor known as the thermistor, which measures the temperature. The thermistor is made up of two different metals that expand at different rates when they heat up, causing them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor is at its temperature it sends a signal to the circuit board to start your heating or AC system.

Modern thermostats come with touchscreens that make them simple to use and program. They can be programmed to automatically heat or cool your house at specific times, which eliminates the headache of having to set the temperature each day. Additionally, they offer reports on energy usage so you can learn how to cut back on expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model, it’s a little more complicated. It is composed of a bimetallic ring that is bonded with mercury to a vial. If the temperature changes and the mercury inside a vial tilts, completing or breaking a circuit. When the vial tilts, the thermostat turns on the cooling and heating system.

You must regularly clean your thermostat to get rid of dust. Also, make sure that it is not crooked or loose. In some instances the thermostat may be having trouble in its readings due to a dirty evaporator coil or the thermistor being damaged. If that is the case, you will have to contact an expert to fix it. If the problem is something else, like blank screens or a blank screen, you can try replacing the batteries or checking that the breaker hasn’t been activated. This is a great example of how you can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system more efficient by learning about it and maximizing its use.