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

If your home’s air conditioning is in its senior years the high repair costs and energy bills could be a reason to consider a new unit. A residential HVAC professional can assist you to determine the best solution for your needs.

Most cooling systems rely on electricity to cool and heat homes, but some, such as gas-powered or propane air conditioners, utilize natural gas to power furnaces and run condensers within a split system.

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 within your gas furnace (if you have one) or inside an air handler in the event that you don’t have. The evaporator is where the refrigerant is transformed into a liquid and absorbs heat from the air inside your home.

The evaporator consists of one or more copper coils that are packed tightly together. The refrigerant reaches the coils at a low pressure, making it easier for it to transfer heat as it evaporates into gaseous form.

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

The evaporator, unlike the compressor, requires to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a lower temperature to achieve effective air cooling. The evaporator also uses its own fans to help to achieve this goal.

The evaporator metering system ensures that the liquid refrigerant remains at the same level. The low-side floating is designed to open if there is no liquid in the evaporator, and close when liquid is introduced into the coils.

There are two types of evaporators: cased and uncased. A cased evaporator will be the one you’ll likely to find in your home because it is enclosed inside the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble cased evaporators, but they don’t have an outer shell that is protected.

Both evaporators have the same function, but it’s important to select a model that can meet the specific requirements of your home. 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 one of the three main components of the cooling system in your home. They aid in the operation of the system efficiently. It is located outside of the home, and is connected to the evaporator coil by refrigerant lines and contains a series of fans and metal fins that work to remove heat from the refrigerant gas that was transported here from the evaporator. The heat removed helps the refrigerant cool down and transform back to a liquid state.

A compressor is connected to the condenser unit. It works to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that is pumped out of the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeeze action increases the temperature, and it is passed into the condenser to absorb the heat that is trapped in the air. After the cooling cycle is completed the refrigerant is moved into the compressor, where it will be pumped under pressure before being sent back to the evaporator coil.

The condenser unit is exposed to the elements because it is outside. Debris such as twigs, grass clippings, leaves and even roofing shingles can fall into the condenser unit, causing damage to it. A universal HVAC condenser will protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage when not in use.

Avoid shading the condenser. This can decrease air flow, which can force the compressor to work harder in order to cool your home. This can result in increased energy costs and potential loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is working correctly. Having a professional service technician examine every major component of your system regularly can assist in preventing any major issues from arising. A professional service team can also keep your system in good working order by regularly checking the refrigerant level. Follow these easy steps to help extend the life of your cooling and heating system and reduce energy bills.

Compressor

A compressor is the center of your air conditioning unit, and it circulates refrigerant through the system to keep it cool. It’s as the blood that circulates through your body, in that it moves coolant between your evaporator and condenser coils. If something goes wrong with the compressor, it can stop the evaporator and condenser from performing their jobs and will make your home warm and uncomfortable.

There are many different types of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, as an example is one that has a piston moving upwards and downwards within the piston. This motion creates a suction which draws in the refrigerant. As the piston is moved down it decreases the volume of gas, the discharge valve opens to expels the pressurized refrigerant into the condenser coil.

This type of compressor has a clutch as well as a crankshaft that helps the piston to compress the air. A Rotary compressor, on the other hand, has blades inside the cylinder that assist in helping compress the air. This type of compressor is very quiet, making it a popular option for residential use.

Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to increase the temperature of the refrigerant’s 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 those with lower temperatures the hot vapor will move into the evaporator coils and change back to its liquid state.

You can avoid the majority of AC problems by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will allow your equipment to last for many years, and will provide you with peace of mind knowing that your home is always in good condition. Griffith Energy Services can help you choose the best repair options should you have a compressor issue.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the brain of your cooling and heating system, allowing it to control the time and frequency at which it turns on and off. It compares the temperature of the air to a set desired temperature. If it is off by one or two degrees the thermostat will send an electronic signal to bring it towards the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats measure temperature using an electronic sensor referred to as the thermistor. The thermistor is composed of two different metals that expand at different rates when they heat up, causing them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor is at its set temperature, it signals the circuit board to turn on your heating or AC system.

The touchscreens on the newer models make it simple to program and operate. Many thermostats are programmed to automatically heat and cool your home at specific times. This will save you from having to set them manually each day. In addition, they provide information on energy usage so you can learn how to cut back on expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model the way that it works is a bit more complex. It is comprised of a bimetallic band that is joined to mercury in the vial. When temperatures change and the mercury inside a vial tilts, completing or rupturing an electrical circuit. When the vial tipping the thermostat, it activates the heating and cooling system.

It is essential to regularly clean your thermostat to get rid of dust. Also, ensure that it isn’t bent or loose. In some instances, the thermostat’s readings may be incorrect due to a damaged or dirty evaporator coil. In this case, you will need to call an expert to fix it. If you are experiencing a different problem, such as blank displays Try changing your batteries or making sure that your breaker is not in a state of being tripped. This is a good illustration of how your HVAC system will be more efficient if you spend the time to research it and make the most of its use.