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

It could be worthwhile to invest in a replacement unit if your home’s air conditioner is old and in need of repairs. A residential HVAC expert can assist you in choosing the right option for your home.

Most cooling systems rely upon electricity to cool and heat homes, however some, called propane or gas-powered air conditioners use natural gas to power furnaces and run condensers within a split system.

Evaporator

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

The evaporator is comprised of one or more copper coils that are tightly packed. The refrigerant reaches the coils with low pressure, making it easier for it to transfer heat when 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 temperature and reduces your indoor air temperature. The cooled air is then moved through your home’s ductwork system to each room which is where it circulates until it returns to the air conditioning system through return ducts.

The evaporator, in contrast to the compressor, only needs to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant down to a low temperature to ensure efficient air cooling. The evaporator has its own fan in order to accomplish this objective.

The metering device in the evaporator helps to ensure that the refrigerant maintains the same amount of liquid inside it. The low-side float is designed to open when there is no liquid in the evaporator and it closes when detects liquid entering the coils.

There are two main types of evaporators: cased and uncased. The most popular type of evaporator that you will find in your home is the one that is cased. It is enclosed within the metal casing that surrounds the air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are similar but it doesn’t have the protective outer shell.

While both evaporators serve the identical purpose, it’s vital to select one that is capable of meeting the specific requirements of your home. For example, some models are more suited to harsher working environments, while others are better suited to milder conditions. Consider how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This could help you save time, money and hassle.

Condenser

Condensers are one of the three main components of your cooling system. They help it work efficiently. The condenser is outside the house and connected to the evaporator by refrigerant pipes. It is comprised of fans and metal fins which help remove heat from the refrigerant that has been transported from the evaporator. The heat that is removed allows the refrigerant to cool down and transform back into a liquid state.

A compressor is attached to the condenser unit and is used to pressurize the low-pressure refrigerant liquid that has been transferred from the evaporator. The squeeze action of the compressor increases the temperature of the coolant, which then flows into the condenser coils to absorb latent heat from the air around it. Once the cooling cycle is completed the refrigerant will be moved into the compressor to be pressurized before being pumped back to the evaporator coil.

The condenser unit is exposed to elements due to its location outside. Leaves and twigs grass clippings, grass clippings, or roofing shingles, can damage the condenser. A universal HVAC condenser can protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage while not in use.

Avoid shading the condenser. This can decrease the flow of air, causing the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This can result in higher energy bills and a potential loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is operating efficiently. Regularly having a professional technician check all major components of your HVAC system will help prevent major problems. Additionally having an expert service team examine the refrigerant levels on a regular basis will also help keep any problems from developing. Follow these simple steps to help extend the life of your cooling and heating system and cut down on energy costs.

Compressor

The compressor is the main component of your air conditioning. It circulates refrigerant throughout the system, ensuring that everything stays cool. It is like the blood in your body, in that it circulates coolant back and forth between the condenser and evaporator coils. If the compressor fails then the evaporator won’t be able perform its job, and your home will get extremely hot.

There are many different types of HVAC compressors, and each one has distinct advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, as an example, has a piston moving upwards and downwards within the piston. This creates a suction that draws in refrigerant. As the piston moves downwards it decreases the volume of gas. A discharge valve then opens to let the pressurized refrigeration from the condenser.

This kind of compressor also comes with a clutch and a crankshaft that helps the piston to 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, which makes it an ideal choice for residential applications.

Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to increase the temperature of the refrigerant liquid while it is compressed, so that the vapor which exits the compressor is high-temperature and high-pressure. Since heat naturally flows from higher temperature substances to lower temperature ones, the hot vapor will flow into the evaporator coils, and change back to its liquid state.

You can avoid the majority of AC issues by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will help your equipment last for many years, and will give you peace of mind knowing that your home is always at ease. Griffith Energy Services can help you choose the best repair options should you are experiencing a problem with your compressor.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the brain of your heating and cooling system, enabling it to control the timing and manner in which it is turned on and off. It determines the temperature of the air and compares it to an established desired level. If it is off by one or two degrees, the thermostat will send an electronic signal to bring it to bring it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats utilize an electronic sensor known as a thermistor to gauge the temperature. The thermistor is comprised of two metals that expand in different ways when heated and cause the metals to bend in an opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches its set temperature, it signals the circuit board to switch on your heating or AC system.

The touchscreens on the newer models make it easier to program and operate. A lot of thermostats are programmed to automatically cool and heat your home at specific times. This saves you from having to manually set them each day. Additionally, they offer reports on energy usage to help you figure out how to cut down on costs.

If you have an older electromechanical model, the method of operation is a little more complex. It is made up of a bimetallic ring that is bonded to mercury a vial. When the temperature changes, it causes the mercury in the vial to shift in a way, interrupting or completing an electrical circuit. When the vial is tilted it triggers the thermostat to turn on the cooling or heating system.

You should regularly clean your thermostat in order to eliminate dust. Also, ensure that it isn’t bent or loose. In certain cases the thermostat may be having issues with its readings because of an evaporator coil that is dirty or the thermistor being damaged. In that scenario, you’ll require an expert to fix the problem for you. If you’re experiencing different issue, for instance blank displays Try changing your batteries or ensuring whether your breaker has not connected. This is a good example of how you can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system more efficient by understanding it and maximizing its use.