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 could be a reason to consider an upgrade. A residential HVAC expert can assist you in choosing the best option for your home.

Most cooling systems rely upon electricity to cool and heat homes, but certain gas-powered or propane air conditioners, utilize natural gas to fuel furnaces and operate condensers in split systems.

Evaporator

An evaporator coil is a component of your air conditioner that cools your home. The evaporator coil is located in a box attached to or inside your gas furnace (if you have one) or in an air handler if you don’t. The evaporator is where the refrigerant liquid turns into a gas and absorbs heat from the home’s indoor air.

The evaporator is comprised of a few copper coils that are tightly packed. The refrigerant is at low pressure when it gets to 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 cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator which alters the refrigerant’s temperatures and reduces your indoor air temperature. The cooled air then moves through your home’s ductwork to every room, where it circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system through return ducts.

The evaporator, in contrast to the compressor, requires to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant down to a low temperature to achieve effective air cooling. The evaporator uses its own fans to accomplish this final goal.

The evaporator metering device makes sure that the refrigerant used in the liquid is always at a constant level. The low-side float is designed to open when there’s no liquid in the evaporator and it closes when detects liquid entering the coils.

There are two primary types of evaporators: Cased and uncased. A cased evaporator is one you’ll likely to see 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.

Although both evaporators serve the same purpose, it’s crucial to choose a model that’s capable of meeting the specific requirements of your home. Certain models are better suited to harsher environments, whereas others might be better suited to milder conditions. You should also consider how easy it will be to clean and maintain the evaporator as this could save you time, money and hassle in the long run.

Condenser

Condensers are one of the three main components of your home’s cooling system. They aid in the operation of the system efficiently. The condenser is situated outside the house and connected to the evaporator through refrigerant pipes. It is comprised of fans and metal fins which help remove heat from the refrigerant which is being transferred from the evaporator. The heat removed from the refrigerant gas helps it cool and turn back into liquid form.

A compressor is attached to a condenser unit. It operates to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeezing action increases the temperature, and it is transferred to the condenser unit to absorb heat trapped in the air. When the cooling process is completed the refrigerant is pushed into the compressor to be pressurized prior to being pumped back to the evaporator coil.

Because the condenser is located outdoors, it is vulnerable to the elements. Debris like twigs, grass clippings, leaves and roofing shingles may get into the condenser unit and damage it. A universal HVAC condenser can shield your heating and cooling equipment from damage when it is not in use.

Avoid shading the condenser. This can reduce air flow, which can force the compressor to work harder in order to cool your home. This could result in more expensive energy bills as well as a possible 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 aid in preventing major issues. A professional service team can avoid problems by checking regularly the refrigerant levels. By following these steps, you’ll be able to extend the lifespan of your heating and cooling system and reduce your energy costs.

Compressor

The compressor is the heart of your air conditioning. It circulates refrigerant through the system, ensuring that everything stays cool. It’s like the blood of your body, pumping the coolant between your evaporator coils as well as the condenser. If the compressor fails, the evaporator will not be able perform its job and your home will get extremely hot.

There are a variety of types of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, for example it has a piston that moves upwards and downwards within the piston. This creates a suction that draws in refrigerant. As the piston is moved down it reduces the gas volume, and then a discharge valve opens to release the refrigerant pressurized 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, which aid in compressing the air. This type of compressor is very quiet, which makes it a popular option for residential use.

Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to raise the temperature of the liquid refrigerant when 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 before it can return to its original liquid state.

You can prevent most AC issues by keeping up with 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 options if you have a compressor issue.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it decides when and how the system is turned on and off. It reads the air temperature and compares it with an established desired level. If it is off by just a few degrees, the thermostat will send an electronic signal to alter it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats monitor temperature with the digital sensor, also known as the thermosistor. The thermistor is composed of two different metals that expand at different rates when they get hot and bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches the temperature that it is set, it signals to the circuit board that your heating or AC should be turned on.

The touchscreens on newer models make it simple to program and operate. A lot of thermostats are programmed to automatically heat and cool your home at specific times. This means you don’t have to worry about having to set them manually every day. They also provide reports on energy usage so that you can find ways to cut expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model, the method of operation is a bit more complicated. It is composed of a bimetallic ring that is joined to mercury in a vial. If the temperature changes the mercury in the vial shifts, either completing or rupturing an electrical circuit. When the vial is tipped it triggers the thermostat to activate the heating or cooling system.

You should regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. Also, ensure that it is not crooked or loose. In some cases the thermostat’s readings might be incorrect due to a dirty or damaged evaporator coil. In this situation, you’ll need to call an expert to fix it for you. If the issue is something else, such as an unresponsive screen, you can try changing the batteries or checking that the breaker hasn’t been tripped. This is a good illustration of how you can make your HVAC system more efficient by learning about it and maximizing its use.