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

If your home’s air conditioning is at its peak the high repair costs and energy bills may make it worthwhile to invest in a new unit. A residential HVAC expert can help you choose the best option for your needs.

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

Evaporator

The evaporator coil inside your air conditioner is what cools your house. The evaporator coil can be found 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 the refrigerant liquid is transformed into gas and absorbs heat from your home’s indoor air.

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

A fan blows your home’s warm air through the coil of the evaporator. The air is then cooled through the removal of heat from the evaporator, which alters the refrigerant’s temperatures and reduces the temperature of your indoor air. The cool air then flows through your home’s ductwork system to each room and circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system via return ducts.

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

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

There are two types of evaporators, noncased and cased. The most popular type of evaporator in your home is a cased model. It is housed inside the casing made of metal that covers the air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble the cased evaporators, however they do not have a protective outer shell.

Both evaporators serve the same function, but it’s important to select one that is able to meet the specific requirements of your home. For example, some models are more suited to harsher working environments, while others are better suited for more moderate conditions. Also, you should consider how easy it will be to clean and maintain the evaporator, as this could save you time, money and hassle in the long in the long.

Condenser

The condenser is one of three main components of the air conditioning system in your home which helps to keep it running efficiently. The condenser is situated outside the home and is connected to the evaporator via refrigerant pipes. It contains metal fins and fans that help to remove heat from the refrigerant which has been transported from the evaporator. The heat that is removed from the refrigerant gas allows it cool before turning back into liquid form.

A compressor is attached to an condenser unit. It is used to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The squeezing action of the compressor increases the temperature of the coolant, which then passes into the condenser coils, which absorb the heat that is not being absorbed by the surrounding air. Once the cooling cycle is complete, the refrigerant will be pushed into the compressor, where it will be pumped under pressure before being sent back to the evaporator coil.

Since the condenser is outdoors, it is susceptible to the elements. Debris such as twigs, grass clippings, leaves, and roofing shingles too can be thrown into the condenser unit and cause damage to it. The addition of an universal HVAC condenser cover to your heating and cooling system can help safeguard the equipment from accidental damage when it’s not in use.

Do not shade the condenser. This can impede air flow and force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This can result in higher energy bills as well as a loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system can help ensure that the condenser works correctly. Regularly having a professional technician examine the major components of your HVAC system will assist in avoiding major problems. A professional service team can avoid problems by checking regularly the refrigerant level. Follow these simple steps to help extend the life of your heating and cooling system and lower your energy costs.

Compressor

The compressor is the core of your air conditioner. It pumps refrigerant through the system, ensuring that everything stays cool. You can think of it as the blood that circulates through your body, as it circulates coolant back and forth between your condenser and evaporator coils. If the compressor fails, the evaporator will not be able to do its job, and your home will be extremely hot.

There are several different kinds of HVAC compressors and each has distinct advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, for example, has a piston moving up and down in the piston. This creates a suction that draws in the refrigerant. As the piston moves down it reduces the volume of gas, the discharge valve opens to let the refrigerant that is pressurized out into the condenser coil.

This type of compressor is equipped with a clutch and a crankshaft that aids the piston compress air. A rotary compressor has blades that are within the cylinder to assist in compressing the air. This type 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’s liquid as it is being compressed, so 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 will flow into the evaporator coils and return to its original liquid state.

You can avoid the majority of 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 at ease. Griffith Energy Services can help you determine the best repair options if you have a compressor issue.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain and it controls when and how the system is turned on and off. It determines the temperature of the air and compares it to a preset desired level. If it is off by one or two degrees the thermostat will send an electronic signal that changes it to bring it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats monitor temperature using an electronic sensor referred to as the thermistor. The thermistor is composed of two different metals that expand at different rates as they get hot and cause them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches the temperature set it sends a signal to the circuit board that heating or AC should be switched on.

The touchscreens on the newer models make it simple to program and operate. They can be programmed to automatically heat or cool your home at specific time frames, which avoids the headache of having to manually set the temperature each day. Additionally, they offer reports on energy consumption so that you can figure out how to reduce costs.

If you have an older electromechanical model, the way it operates is a little more complex. It is made up of a bimetallic strip which is attached to a vial by mercury. When the temperature changes, the mercury in a vial shifts, either completing or breaking a circuit. When the vial is tilted, it triggers the thermostat to start the cooling or heating system.

You must regularly clean your thermostat to get rid of dust. Also, make sure it isn’t bent or loose. In certain cases, the thermostat may be having issues with its readings because of an unclean evaporator coil or the thermistor being damaged. In this situation, you’ll need to call a professional to fix it. If you’re experiencing a different issue, for instance an unresponsive display, try changing your batteries or ensuring that your breaker isn’t tripped. This is a good example of how you can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system more efficient by learning about it and optimizing its use.