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

If the air conditioning in your home is getting old, high repair costs and energy bills may make it worth investing in a new unit. A residential HVAC professional can help you determine the best option for your needs.

Gas-powered air conditioners, also known as propane air conditioners make use of natural gas for heating and running condensers.

Evaporator

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

The evaporator consists of a few copper coils which are tightly packed. The refrigerant enters the coils with low pressure, making it easier to transfer heat as it evaporates into gaseous state.

A fan blows warm air through the evaporator coil. The air is then cooled through the removal of heat from the evaporator, which alters the refrigerant’s temperatures and reduces your indoor air temperature. The cooled air is then circulated through the ductwork in your home to each of the rooms.

In contrast to the compressor, which needs to create refrigerant gas at extremely high temperatures for efficient cooling, the evaporator only requires it to bring its boiling point to a lower temperature for effective air cooling. The evaporator uses its own fan in order to achieve this final goal.

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

There are two primary kinds of evaporators: cases and uncased. A cased evaporator will be the one you’ll most likely to find in your home, since it is enclosed inside the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble cased evaporators, but they do not have a protective outer shell.

While both evaporators serve the same purpose, it’s crucial to select one that is able to meet the requirements of your house. For instance, certain models are better suited to more harsh working environments, whereas others are better suited for more moderate conditions. Also, you should take into consideration how easy it would be to clean and maintain the evaporator since this can save you time, money, and hassle in the long run.

Condenser

Condensers are one of the three major components of your cooling system. They help it work efficiently. The condenser is outside the house and is connected to the evaporator via refrigerant pipes. It has metal fins and fans which work to remove the heat from the refrigerant that is being transferred from the evaporator. The heat removed from the refrigerant gas aids it cool and turn back into liquid form.

A compressor is connected to an condenser unit. It works to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that is pumped out of the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeezing action increases the temperature, which is carried into the condenser to absorb the heat that is trapped in the air. After the cooling cycle is completed, the refrigerant will be 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 like twigs, leaves, grass clippings and roofing shingles too can get into the condenser unit and cause damage to it. A universal HVAC condenser can shield your heating and cooling equipment from damage while not in use.

It is also crucial to ensure that the condenser is not shaded. This could reduce the flow of air, causing the compressor to work harder in order to cool your home. This could result in higher energy bills and a potential loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is running properly. Having a professional service technician look over all of the major components of your system on a regular basis will aid in preventing major problems from occurring. A professional service team can avoid problems by checking regularly the refrigerant level. By following these steps, you’ll be able to extend the longevity of your heating and cooling system and reduce your energy costs.

Compressor

A compressor is the core of your air conditioning unit, and it circulates refrigerant through the system to keep it cool. It’s like the blood that flows through your body as it pumps 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 several different kinds of HVAC compressors and each has its own pros and cons. A reciprocating compressor, as an example is one that has a piston moving up and down in the piston. This movement creates a suction which draws in the refrigerant. As the piston moves down it decreases the volume of gas, and then a 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 the air. A rotary compressor has blades that are within the cylinder to aid in compressing the air. This type of compressor is extremely quiet, which makes it a popular option for residential use.

Both kinds of HVAC compressors are designed to raise the temperature of the liquid refrigerant when it is compressed, so that the vapor that leaves the compressor is high-pressure and high-temperature. Since heat naturally flows from higher-temperature substances to those with lower temperatures the hot vapor will flow into the evaporator coils and change back to its original liquid state.

While you can’t prevent 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 a long time and provide peace of mind that your home will always be comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you choose the best repair option if you experience a compressor problem.

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 level. If it is off by a few degrees it will send an electronic signal to bring it to bring it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats monitor temperature using a digital sensor known as the thermistor. The thermistor is made up of two metals which expand differently when heated up and cause the metals to bend in an opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches its temperature it sends a signal to the circuit board to turn on your heating or AC system.

The latest models of thermostats feature touchscreens that make them easy to operate and program. They can be programmed to automatically heat or cool your home at certain times, which saves you the hassle of having to manually set it every day. They also provide reports on energy consumption so you can learn ways to reduce costs.

If you have an older electromechanical model, the way that it works is a bit more complicated. It is comprised 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 rupturing an electrical circuit. When the vial tilts the thermostat, it activates the heating and cooling system.

To keep your thermostat in good working condition You must be sure to clean it on a regular basis to remove any dust that has accumulated. Also, you should ensure that it’s not tangled or crooked. In some instances, the thermostat’s readings may be inaccurate due to a damaged or dirty evaporator coil. In this situation, you’ll need to call in a professional to fix the issue. If you’re experiencing different issue, for instance an unresponsive display Try changing your batteries or checking that your breaker is not connected. This is a good example of how your HVAC system can be more efficient when you make the effort to learn about it and improve its use.