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

If your home’s HVAC is in its senior years the high repair costs and energy bills can make it worth investing in an upgrade. A residential HVAC professional can assist you to select the right solution for your needs.

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

Evaporator

The evaporator coil in your air conditioner is the one that cools your house. The evaporator coil is located in a container that is attached to or inside your gas furnace (if you have one) or in an air handler, in the absence of. The evaporator is where the refrigerant turns into a liquid and then absorbs heat from the air inside your home.

The evaporator consists of one or more copper coils that are packed tightly together. The refrigerant is at low pressure when it reaches the coils, which makes it easier to transfer heat.

A fan blows warm indoor air over the coil that is used to evaporate the air. The air is then cooled as heat is removed from the evaporator. This lowers the temperature of your indoor air. The cooled air is then circulated through the ductwork in your home, and then to each room.

Unlike the compressor, which requires to make the refrigerant gas at high temperatures to allow efficient cooling, the evaporator only requires it to raise its boiling point to a low temperature to allow for efficient air cooling. The evaporator also uses its own fans to help it to achieve this objective.

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

There are two kinds of evaporators: noncased and cases-based. The most commonly used type of evaporator in your home is the cased one. It’s enclosed inside the casing made of metal that covers the air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are similar to the cased evaporators, however they do not have an outer shell that is protected.

Although both evaporators serve the identical purpose, it’s vital to select one that is capable of meeting the specific requirements of your home. Some models are more suited to harsher environments, while others may be more suitable in milder conditions. Think about how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This can help you save time, money and effort.

Condenser

Condensers are among the three main components of the cooling system in your home. They assist in making it operate efficiently. It is situated outside of the home, and is connected to the evaporator coil by refrigerant lines. It is also home to several metal fins and fans that work to remove heat from the refrigerant gas that has been transferred from the evaporator. The heat removed from the refrigerant gas allows it to cool and then return to liquid form.

A compressor is attached to an condenser unit. It operates to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeeze action increases the temperature, and it is transferred to the condenser unit to absorb heat trapped in the air. Once the cooling cycle is completed the refrigerant is introduced into the compressor to be pressurized before being pumped back to the evaporator coil.

The condenser unit is exposed the elements because it is outside. Debris like twigs or leaves grass clippings or even roofing shingles can damage the condenser. A universal HVAC condenser will protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage when not in use.

Beware of shading the condenser. Doing so can restrict air flow and make the compressor work harder to cool your home. This can lead to increased energy costs as well as a possible loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will ensure that the condenser works correctly. Regularly having a professional technician examine the major components of your HVAC system will help prevent major problems. Additionally, having a professional service team check your refrigerant levels regularly can help avoid any issues from arising. By following these steps, you can help to prolong the longevity of your heating and cooling system and reduce the cost of energy.

Compressor

A compressor is the core of your air conditioning unit, and it pumps refrigerant throughout the system to keep everything cool. You can think of it as the blood that circulates through your body, as it moves coolant between your evaporator and condenser coils. If something is wrong with the compressor, it will stop the evaporator and condenser from performing their jobs and leave your home warm and uncomfortable.

There are a variety of HVAC compressors, and each one has distinct advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, for example, has a piston moving up and down in the cylinder. This movement creates a suction that draws in refrigerant. As the piston is moved down it decreases the volume of gas, then a discharge valve opens to let the refrigerant that is pressurized out into the condenser coil.

This type of compressor has a clutch as well as a crankshaft, which helps the piston in compressing the air. A rotary compressor has blades that are inside the cylinder to assist in compressing the air. This kind of compressor is quiet, which makes it a popular option for homes with a small space.

The HVAC compressors of both kinds are designed to raise temperature of the liquid as it is compressed. This results in the formation of a high-temperature, high pressure liquid. Since heat naturally flows from higher-temperature substances to lower temperature ones the hot vapor will move into the evaporator coils and return to its liquid state.

While you can’t prevent the occasional problem with the compressor, you can prevent the majority of AC issues by staying on top of your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for many years and give you peace-of-mind knowing that your home will remain comfortable. If you do have a problem with the compressor then your Griffith Energy Services technician can assist you in determining what repairs are the best for you.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it decides when and how the system turns on and off. It compares the air temperature to a pre-set level. If it is off by one or two degrees the thermostat will send an electronic signal to alter it to bring it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats employ a digital sensor called a thermistor to measure the temperature. The thermistor is composed of two different metals that expand at different rates as they warm up 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 latest models of thermostats feature touchscreens that make them simple to operate and program. Many thermostats can be programmed to automatically heat and cool your home at specific times. This will save you from having to set them manually every day. They also provide information on energy consumption so that you can learn ways to reduce expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model the way it operates is a little more complex. It is comprised of a bimetallic piece that is bonded to a vial using mercury. If the temperature changes the mercury in the vial moves, either complete or rupturing an electrical circuit. When the vial is tipped it triggers the thermostat to turn on the cooling or heating system.

You should regularly clean your thermostat to get rid of dust. You should also make sure that it is not loose or crooked. In certain cases the thermostat could be experiencing issues with its readings because of an evaporator coil that is dirty or a damaged thermistor. In this situation, you’ll require a professional to fix the problem for you. If you are experiencing a other issue, like an unresponsive display try replacing your batteries or making sure whether your breaker has not connected. 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.