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

If your home’s air conditioning is at its peak cost of repair and energy bills may make it worthwhile to invest in an upgrade. A residential HVAC professional can help you choose the best option for your needs.

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

Evaporator

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

The evaporator consists of one or more copper coils tightly bonded. The refrigerant is able to reach the coils at a low pressure, making it easier to transfer heat as it evaporates into gaseous state.

A fan blows your home’s warm indoor air over the evaporator coil. This air is cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator, which alters the refrigerant’s temperatures and lowers your indoor air temperature. The cool air then flows through your home’s ductwork system to each room which is where it circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system through return ducts.

Unlike the compressor, which needs to produce refrigerant gas in high temperatures to allow efficient cooling, the evaporator needs to bring its boiling point to a low temperature to ensure that it is cooling effectively. The evaporator also uses its own fans to help to achieve this objective.

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

There are two types of evaporators: noncased and cases-based. A cased evaporator is one you’ll most likely to see in your home, since it is enclosed inside the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. An uncased evaporator is similar, except it doesn’t have the protective outer shell.

Both evaporators share the same purpose, however it’s crucial to select a model that can meet the specific requirements of your home. Some models are better suited for extreme environments, while others may be better suited to milder conditions. You should also take into consideration how easy it would be to clean and maintain the evaporator as this can save you time, money and hassle in the long in the long.

Condenser

Condensers are one of the three primary components of the cooling system in your home. They assist in making it operate efficiently. The condenser is outside the house and is connected to the evaporator through refrigerant pipes. It contains metal fins and fans which help to remove heat from the refrigerant which has been transported from the evaporator. The heat removed helps the refrigerant be cooled and transform to a liquid state.

A compressor is attached to a condenser unit. It operates 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 passes into the condenser coils to take in latent heat from the air surrounding it. Once the cooling cycle is complete 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 the elements because it is outside. Debris like twigs or leaves grass clippings or even roofing shingles, can damage the condenser. Adding the universal HVAC condenser cover to your cooling and heating system can help protect the equipment from damage when it’s not in use.

Beware of shading the condenser. Shades can limit air flow and make the compressor work harder to cool your home. This can result in more energy costs and a possible loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will help to ensure that the condenser works correctly. Having a professional service technician inspect all the major components of your system on a regular basis will help to prevent any major problems from occurring. A professional service team can also avoid problems by checking regularly the refrigerant levels. By following these easy steps, you can help to extend the longevity of your cooling and heating system and reduce the cost of energy.

Compressor

The compressor is the heart of your air conditioning. It pumps refrigerant through the system, which keeps everything cool. It’s like the blood of your body as it pumps coolant between your evaporator coils as well as the condenser. If something goes wrong with the compressor, it will prevent the condenser and evaporator from doing their job and will make your home feeling uncomfortable warm.

There are a variety of HVAC compressors, and each one has distinct advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, for example is one that has a piston moving up and down in the piston. This motion creates a suction that draws in the refrigerant. As the piston moves downward, it reduces gas volume. A discharge valve then opens to let the pressurized refrigeration to the condenser.

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

Both kinds of HVAC compressors are designed to raise the temperature of the refrigerant liquid as it is being compressed, so that the vapor which exits the compressor is high-temperature and high pressure. Since heat naturally flows from higher temperature substances to those with lower temperatures, the hot vapor is able to move into the evaporator coils before it can change back to its liquid state.

While you can’t prevent the chance of having problems with the compressor, you can stop the majority of AC problems by staying 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 remain comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you decide on the best repair options if you experience a compressor problem.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the brains of your cooling and heating system, enabling it to control when and how it is turned on and off. It compares the air temperature to a pre-set level. The thermostat will send a signal to adjust the temperature if it’s off a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats monitor temperature using the digital sensor, also known as a thermistor. The thermistor is comprised of two metals that expand in different ways when heated which causes the metals to bend in opposite direction. When the thermistor reaches its temperature set, it signals the circuit board to start your heating or AC system.

The touchscreens on the latest 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 saves you from having to manually set them each day. They also provide information on energy usage so that you can find ways to cut costs.

If you have an older electromechanical model, the way it operates is a bit more complicated. It is made up of a bimetallic strip which is bonded to a vial with mercury. When temperatures change the mercury in the vial moves, either complete or breaking a circuit. When the vial tipping the thermostat, it activates the heating and cooling system.

To ensure that your thermostat is in good condition You must be sure to clean it on a regular basis to remove any dust that may have accumulated. You must also ensure that it is not loose or crooked. In some instances, the thermostat may be having issues in its readings due to an evaporator coil that is dirty or a damaged thermistor. If that is the scenario, you’ll have to contact a professional to fix it for you. If the problem is something else, such as an unresponsive screen, you can try replacing the batteries or making sure that your breaker hasn’t been tripped. This is an illustration of how your HVAC system can be more efficient when you take the time to learn about it and improve its use.