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

If the air conditioning in your home is in its senior years the high repair costs and energy bills could make it worth investing in the purchase of a new unit. A residential HVAC professional can help you determine the best solution for your needs.

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

Evaporator

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

The evaporator has one or more copper coils that are tightly packed. The refrigerant is at low pressure when it reaches the coils, making it easier to transfer heat.

A fan blows warm air that is escaping your home over the evaporator coil. This air is cooled as heat is taken away from the evaporator. This reduces the temperature of the air inside. The cooled air is then moved through your home’s ductwork to each room and circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system through return ducts.

The evaporator, unlike the compressor, requires to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a lower temperature to ensure effective air cooling. The evaporator has its own fans in order to accomplish this objective.

The evaporator metering device ensures that the liquid refrigerant remains at the same level. The low-side floating is designed to be open when there is no liquid in the evaporator. It will close when liquid gets into the coils.

There are two types of evaporators: Cased and uncased. The most commonly used kind of evaporator you can find in your home is the one that is cased. It is enclosed within the casing made of metal that covers the air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are similar to cases, but they do not have a protective outer shell.

Both evaporators share the same purpose, however it is important to choose one that is able to satisfy your home’s particular needs. For instance, some models are more suited to more harsh working environments, whereas others are more suitable for milder conditions. Think about how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This could save you money, time and hassle.

Condenser

The condenser is one of three main components of your home’s air conditioning system that helps keep it operating efficiently. The condenser is outside the house and connected to the evaporator by refrigerant pipes. It is comprised of metal fins and fans which help to remove heat from the refrigerant which was transported from the evaporator. The heat that is removed helps the refrigerant to reduce in temperature and then transform into a liquid state.

A compressor is connected to a condenser unit. It works to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that is pumped out of the evaporator coil. The squeezing action of the compressor raises the temperature of the coolant which then flows into the condenser coils, which absorb the heat that is not being absorbed by the air surrounding it. Once the cooling cycle is completed the refrigerant will be pushed into the compressor, where it will be pressurized prior to being pumped back to the evaporator coil.

The condenser unit is exposed elements since it is outside. Leaves and twigs, grass clippings, or roofing shingles, can cause damage to the condenser. A universal HVAC condenser can protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage when it is not in use.

Beware of shading the condenser. This could reduce the flow of air, causing the compressor to work harder in order to cool your home. This could lead to increased energy costs and possibility of losing refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will help to ensure that the condenser works correctly. Regularly having a professional technician examine the major components of your HVAC system can aid in preventing major issues. In addition, having an expert service team monitor the refrigerant levels on a regular basis can help avoid any issues from arising. By following these easy steps, you can help to prolong the lifespan of your cooling and heating system and lower the cost of energy.

Compressor

The compressor is the main component of your air conditioner. It circulates refrigerant through the system, which keeps everything cool. It’s similar to the blood that flows through your body, pumping the coolant between the evaporator coils and condenser. If the compressor fails and the evaporator fails, it will not be able to perform its job, and your home will get extremely hot.

There are a myriad of different kinds of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own benefits and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, as an example is one that has a piston moving upwards and downwards in a piston. This motion creates a suction which draws in the refrigerant. As the piston moves down, it reduces the volume of gas, and then a discharge valve is opened to let the refrigerant that is pressurized out into the condenser coil.

This type of compressor is also equipped with a clutch, and a crankshaft which helps the piston compress air. A rotary compressor, on the other side, has blades within the cylinder that help to compress the air. This type of compressor is very quiet, which makes it a popular option for residential applications.

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

While you can’t prevent the occasional problem with the compressor, you can prevent the majority of AC issues by keeping track of your maintenance schedule. This will allow your equipment to last for many years, and it will give you peace of mind knowing your home is always at ease. Griffith Energy Services can help you decide on the best repair options should you experience a compressor problem.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain and it decides the frequency and manner in which the system turns on and off. It determines the temperature of the air and compares it to a preset desired level. The thermostat will send an indication to alter the temperature if it’s off a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats utilize the digital sensor, also known as a thermistor to measure the temperature. The thermistor consists of two different metals that expand at different rates as they heat up and cause them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches its temperature, it signals the circuit board to turn on your heating or AC system.

Modern thermostats come with touchscreens that make them simple to operate and program. They can be programmed to automatically heat or cool your home at specific times, which saves you the effort of having to manually set it each day. Additionally, they offer reports on energy usage to help you figure out how to reduce costs.

If you have an older electromechanical model, the way it operates is a little more complex. It is comprised of a bimetallic ring that is bonded with mercury to a vial. When the temperature changes the mercury in the vial tilts, completing or breaking a circuit. When the vial is tipped it triggers the thermostat to activate the cooling or heating system.

To keep your thermostat in good working order, you must clean it frequently to get rid of any dust that has built up. You must also ensure that it isn’t sagging or unbalanced. In some cases the thermostat may be experiencing issues in its readings due to an unclean evaporator coil or a damaged thermistor. In this case, you’ll need to get an expert to resolve the issue. If the problem is something else, such as an unresponsive screen it is possible to try changing the batteries or checking that your breaker hasn’t been activated. This is a good illustration of how you can make your HVAC system more efficient by gaining knowledge about it and optimizing its use.