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

If your home’s HVAC is in its senior years cost of repair and energy bills could make it worthwhile to invest in a new unit. A residential HVAC professional can assist you to choose the best option for your needs.

Gas-powered air conditioners, also referred to as propane air conditioners make use of natural gas to heat and running condensers.

Evaporator

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

The evaporator is comprised of a few copper coils that are tightly packed together. The refrigerant is at low pressure when it reaches the coils, making it easier to transfer heat.

A fan blows warm air from your home over the coil that is used to evaporate. This air is cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator which alters the refrigerant’s temperatures and lowers your indoor air temperature. The cool air is circulated through the ductwork in your home to each room.

The evaporator, in contrast to the compressor, requires to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a lower temperature to allow for effective air cooling. The evaporator has its own fan in order to accomplish this final goal.

The evaporator metering system ensures that the refrigerant used in the liquid remains at a constant level. 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: cased and noncased. A cased evaporator is the one you’re most likely to find in your home since it’s contained within the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. An uncased evaporator is similar, except it doesn’t have the protective outer shell.

Both evaporators share the same purpose but it’s important to select one that is able to meet the specific requirements of your home. Certain models are better suited to harsher environments, while others may be more suitable in milder conditions. You should also think about how easy it will be to clean and maintain the evaporator as this could save you time, money and hassle in the long time.

Condenser

Condensers are one of the three main components of the cooling system in your home. They assist in making it operate efficiently. It is located outside of the house, connected to the evaporator’s coil by refrigerant lines. It is also home to several metal fins and fans that remove heat from the refrigerant gas which has been transported from the evaporator. The heat that is emitted helps the refrigerant to cool down and transform back into a liquid state.

A compressor is attached to the condenser unit. It operates to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeezing action raises the temperature, which is then carried into the condenser to absorb heat trapped in the air. Once the cooling cycle is completed, the refrigerant will be pushed into the compressor to be pressurized before being pumped back to the evaporator coil.

Since the condenser is situated outside, it is exposed to the elements. Debris such as twigs, leaves, grass clippings and roofing shingles too can be thrown into the condenser unit and cause damage to it. A universal HVAC condenser will protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage while not in use.

It is also important to avoid shading the condenser. Shades can limit air flow and force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This can result in increased energy costs as well as a possible loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will ensure that the condenser works properly. Having a professional service technician look over all of the major components of your system regularly can aid in preventing major issues from occurring. A professional service team can keep your system in good working order by regularly checking the refrigerant level. Follow these easy steps to extend the life of your heating/cooling system and reduce energy bills.

Compressor

The compressor is the core of your air conditioning. It circulates refrigerant through the system, ensuring that everything stays cool. It’s like the blood in 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 doing their job and will leave your home uncomfortably warm.

There are many different types of HVAC compressors, and each one has its own pros and cons. For instance the reciprocating compressor features pistons that move between up and down inside a cylinder, and this motion creates suction that draws in the refrigerant. As the piston moves downward it decreases the volume of gas. A discharge valve then opens to let the pressurized refrigeration into the condenser.

This type of compressor is equipped with a clutch and a crankshaft that aids the piston to compress air. A rotary compressor is equipped with blades that are inside the cylinder, which help compress the air. This type of compressor is extremely quiet, making it a popular option for residential applications.

Both kinds of HVAC compressors are designed to increase the temperature of the liquid refrigerant as it is being compressed, ensuring that the vapor which exits the compressor is high-pressure and high-temperature. The heat naturally flows from high-temperature materials down to lower temperatures which is why the hot vapor will move to the evaporator before returning to its liquid state.

You can avoid most AC problems by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for a long time and will provide you with peace of mind knowing that your home is always in good condition. Griffith Energy Services can help you determine the best repair options if you are experiencing a problem with your compressor.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it decides the time and frequency at which the system is turned on and off. It measures the temperature of the air and compares it with the desired temperature set by a preset. The thermostat will send an indication to alter the temperature if it is off a few degrees. Most modern thermostats use the digital sensor, also known as a thermistor to measure the temperature. The thermistor consists of two different metals that expand at different rates as they heat up and cause them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches the temperature set it informs the circuit board that your heating or AC should be switched on.

Modern thermostats come with touchscreens that make them simple to operate and program. A lot of thermostats are 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 every day. Additionally, they offer reports on energy consumption so that you can figure out how to cut back on costs.

If you have an old electromechanical model, it is somewhat more complicated. It is comprised of a bimetallic piece that is attached to a vial with mercury. If the temperature changes in the vial, it causes the mercury inside the vial to move and complete or interrupt an electrical circuit. When the vial tipping the thermostat, it activates the heating and cooling system.

You must regularly clean your thermostat in order to eliminate dust. You must also ensure that it is not loose or unbalanced. In certain cases the thermostat could be experiencing issues with its readings because of a dirty evaporator coil or the thermistor being damaged. In this case you’ll have to call in an expert to fix the issue. If the issue is something else, such as blank screens it is possible to try changing the batteries or checking that your breaker hasn’t been activated. This is a great example of how you can make your HVAC system more efficient by gaining knowledge about it and optimizing its use.