What Are the Main Parts of Your Heating Air Conditioning Unit?
It could be worthwhile to invest in a replacement unit when your home’s HVAC is old and in need of repair. A residential HVAC expert can help you choose the best option for your home.
Gas-powered air conditioners, also known as propane air conditioners use natural gas for heating and running condensers.
Evaporator
An evaporator coil is the part of your air conditioner that cools your home. The evaporator coil is in a box that is attached to or within your gas furnace (if you have one) or inside an air handler in the absence of. The evaporator is where the refrigerant liquid turns into a gas and absorbs heat from the home’s indoor air.
The evaporator consists of one or more copper coils tightly packed. The refrigerant is at low pressure when it reaches the coils, making it easier to transfer heat.
A fan blows the warm air from your home over the coil that is used to evaporate. The air is cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator, which changes the refrigerant’s temperature and lowers the temperature of your home’s air. The cooled air is then moved through your home’s ductwork system to each room, where it circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system via return ducts.
The evaporator, in contrast to the compressor, requires to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a low temperature to allow for effective air cooling. The evaporator also has its own fans to help it achieve this 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 enters the coils.
There are two main types of evaporators: cased and uncased. The most common type of evaporator in your home is the one that is cased. It’s enclosed inside the casing made of metal that covers your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble the cased evaporators, however they don’t have a protective outer shell.
Both evaporators share the same function, but it is important to choose one that is able to satisfy your home’s particular needs. Certain models are more suited to more harsh environments, while others could be more suitable in milder conditions. Consider how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This could help you save time, money and effort.
Condenser
Condensers are among the three main components of the cooling system in your home. They help it work efficiently. It is located outside the home, and is connected to the evaporator coil by refrigerant lines. It also houses several fans and metal fins that remove heat from the refrigerant gas that has been transported here from the evaporator. The heat that is removed from the refrigerant gas helps it to cool and turn back into liquid form.
A compressor is attached to the condenser unit. It 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 is then pumped into condenser coils to take in heat that is not being released from the air surrounding it. When the cooling process is complete, the refrigerant will be introduced into the compressor, where it will be pressurized prior to being pumped 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 fall into the condenser unit and cause damage to it. The addition of an universal HVAC condenser cover to your cooling and heating system can help safeguard the equipment from accidental damage even when it’s not in use.
It is also essential to not shade the condenser. This could reduce the flow of air, causing the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This could result in increased energy costs and possible loss of refrigerant.
Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will ensure that the condenser is operating correctly. Having a professional service technician look over all of the major components of your system on a regular basis can help to prevent any major problems from occurring. In addition having a professional service team check the refrigerant levels on a regular basis will also help keep any problems from developing. By following these steps, you can help to prolong the longevity of your cooling and heating system as well as reduce your energy costs.
Compressor
The compressor is the main component of your air conditioner. It pumps refrigerant through the system, keeping everything cool. It’s like the blood in your body as it pumps the coolant between your evaporator coils as well as the condenser. If something is wrong with the compressor, it can stop the condenser and evaporator from completing their tasks and leave your home feeling uncomfortable warm.
There are a variety of types of HVAC compressors. Each one comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, for example it has a piston that moves up and down in a cylindrical. This motion produces a suction that draws in the refrigerant. As the piston moves down it decreases the volume of gas, and then a discharge valve opens to release the refrigerant pressurized into the condenser coil.
This type of compressor also has a clutch as well as crankshaft, which assists the piston in compressing the air. A rotary compressor is equipped with blades inside the cylinder to help compress the air. This type of compressor is very quiet, which makes it a popular option for residential use.
Both kinds of HVAC compressors are designed to raise the temperature of the refrigerant liquid while it is compressed, ensuring that the vapor that leaves the compressor is high-pressure and high-temperature. Since heat naturally flows from higher-temperature substances to lower-temperature ones the hot vapor is able to move into the evaporator coils before it can return to its liquid state.
While you can’t avoid the occasional problem with the compressor, you can avoid the majority of AC problems by being on top of your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your AC will last for a long time and provide you with peace of mind knowing that your home will always be comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you determine the best repair option if you experience a compressor problem.
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 compares the temperature of the air to a pre-set level. The thermostat will send an alert to adjust the temperature if it’s off a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats measure temperature by using a digital sensor known as a thermosistor. The thermistor is composed of two different metals that expand at different rates when they get hot, causing them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches the temperature that it is set it sends a signal to the circuit board that heating or AC should be switched on.
The touchscreens on newer models make it easier to program and operate. They are often programmed to automatically cool or heat your home at certain time frames, which avoids the hassle of having to manually set it every day. They also provide reports on energy consumption so that you can learn ways to reduce costs.
If you have an older electromechanical model, the method of operation is a little more complex. It is comprised of a bimetallic band that is bonded with mercury to a vial. When temperatures change, the mercury in a vial tilts, completing or rupturing an electrical circuit. When the vial tilts, the thermostat turns on the cooling and heating system.
To keep your thermostat in good condition You must clean it frequently to get rid of any dust that has accumulated. Also, make sure 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. If that is the situation, you’ll need to call a professional to fix the problem for you. If the problem is something else, like an unresponsive screen or a blank screen, you can try replacing the batteries or ensuring that your breaker has not been activated. This is a great example of how you can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system more efficient by gaining knowledge about it and maximizing its use.