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

If your home’s HVAC is at its peak, high repair costs and energy bills could make it worthwhile to invest in the purchase of a new unit. A residential HVAC expert can assist you in selecting the right option for your home.

Gas-powered air conditioners, also known as propane air conditioners, use natural gas for heating and condensers to run.

Evaporator

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

The evaporator has one or more copper coils tightly packed. The refrigerant enters the coils at a low pressure, which makes it easier to transfer heat as it evaporates to a gaseous state.

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

The evaporator, in contrast to the compressor, only needs to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a lower temperature to ensure effective air cooling. The evaporator uses its own fan in order to accomplish this final goal.

The evaporator metering system ensures that the liquid refrigerant is always at a constant level. The low-side floating is designed to open if there is no liquid in the evaporator. It will close when liquid enters the coils.

There are two types of evaporators: cased and noncased. A cased evaporator is the one you’ll likely to see in your home since it’s contained within the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. A non-cased evaporator is the same, except it doesn’t have the protective outer shell.

Both evaporators share the same function, but it’s crucial to select a model that can satisfy your home’s particular needs. Certain models are better suited to extreme environments, whereas others might be better suited to milder conditions. It is also important to take into consideration how easy it would be to clean and maintain the evaporator since this can save you time, money, and hassle in the long time.

Condenser

Condensers are among the three main components of the cooling system in your home. They help it work efficiently. It is situated outside of the house, connected to the evaporator coil by refrigerant lines. It also houses a series of metal fins and fans that remove heat from the refrigerant gas that was transported from the evaporator. The heat removed from refrigerant gas aids it cool before turning back into liquid form.

A compressor is attached to the condenser unit and works to pressurize the low-pressure refrigerant liquid that has been transferred from the evaporator. The compressor’s squeeze action increases the temperature, which is then carried into the condenser to absorb heat trapped in the air. When the cooling process is complete the refrigerant will be moved into the compressor, where it will be pressurized prior to being pumped back to the evaporator coil.

The condenser unit is exposed to elements since it is outside. Debris like twigs or leaves grass clippings or roofing shingles, can damage the condenser. By adding the universal HVAC condenser cover to your cooling and heating system can help protect the equipment from damage even when it’s not in use.

It is also crucial to not shade the condenser. Shades can limit air flow and make the compressor work harder to cool your home. This could result in higher energy bills and a possible loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is operating efficiently. Regularly having a professional technician inspect the major components of your HVAC system can help prevent major problems. A professional service team can also avoid problems by checking regularly the refrigerant level. By following these 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 core of your air conditioner. It circulates refrigerant throughout the system, which keeps everything cool. It is as the blood that circulates through your body, as it moves coolant between your condenser and evaporator coils. If something is wrong with the compressor, it will stop the evaporator and condenser from doing their job and will leave your home warm and uncomfortable.

There are a myriad of different kinds of HVAC compressors. Each comes with its own advantages and drawbacks. A reciprocating compressor, for example, has a piston moving up and down in the cylinder. This motion produces a suction that draws in the refrigerant. When the piston moves downwards it decreases the volume of gas, then a discharge valve opens to expels the pressurized refrigerant into the condenser coil.

This kind of compressor also comes with a clutch and crankshaft, which assists the piston to compress air. A rotary compressor comes with blades inside the cylinder, which help compress the air. This kind of compressor is quiet, making it an ideal option for homes with a small space.

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

You can avoid most AC issues by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for a long time and will give you peace of mind knowing that your home is always at ease. Griffith Energy Services can help you choose the best repair options should you experience a compressor problem.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain and it determines the frequency and manner in which the system turns on and off. It compares the air temperature to a pre-set desired level. If it is off by one or two degrees it will send an electronic signal to alter it towards the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats utilize an electronic sensor known as a thermistor to gauge the temperature. The thermistor consists 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 temperature it sends a signal to the circuit board to switch on your heating or AC system.

Newer models of thermostats have touchscreens that make them easy to operate and program. They can be programmed to automatically cool or heat your home at certain times, which eliminates the headache of manually setting the temperature each day. In addition, they provide reports on energy usage so you can learn how to reduce expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model, it is a little more complicated. It is composed of a bimetallic band which is bonded with mercury to the vial. When temperatures change the mercury in the vial shifts, either completing or rupturing an electrical circuit. When the vial is tilted, it triggers the thermostat to turn on the cooling or heating system.

To keep your thermostat in good condition, you must be sure to clean it on a regular basis to remove any dust that may have accumulated. Also, make sure it isn’t bent or loose. In some instances, the thermostat’s readings might be inaccurate due to a dirty or damaged evaporator coil. In this scenario, you’ll need to call an expert to fix the problem for you. If the problem is something else, like an unresponsive screen, you can try replacing the batteries or making sure that your breaker has not been tripped. This is an example of how your HVAC system can be more efficient if you take the time to understand it and make the most of its use.