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

If your home’s HVAC is at its peak cost of repair and energy bills could be a reason to consider an upgrade. A residential HVAC expert can help you select the right option for your needs.

Gas-powered air conditioners, also known as propane air conditioners make use of natural gas for heating and running condensers.

Evaporator

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

The evaporator is comprised of one or more coils of copper that are tightly packed. The refrigerant is able to reach the coils at low pressure, which makes it easier to transfer heat as it evaporates to a gaseous state.

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

The evaporator, in contrast to the compressor, needs to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a low temperature to ensure efficient air cooling. The evaporator also uses its own fans to help achieve this objective.

The evaporator metering device makes sure that the refrigerant in the liquid is always at the same level. The low-side float is designed to be open when there’s no liquid in the evaporator and closes when it sees liquid enter the coils.

There are two types of evaporators: cased and uncased. The most common kind of evaporator you can find in your home is the one that is cased. It is enclosed within the metal casing that protects the air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are similar but it doesn’t have the outer shell that protects it.

Both evaporators serve the same function, but it’s crucial to select the one that will meet your home’s specific needs. Certain models are better suited to more harsh environments, whereas others might be more appropriate for more moderate conditions. Think about how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This could help you save time, money and effort.

Condenser

The condenser is among the three main components of the air conditioning system in your home that helps keep it operating efficiently. It is located outside the house, connected to the evaporator coil via refrigerant lines. It is also home to a series of metal fins and fans that work to remove heat from the refrigerant gas which has been transferred from the evaporator. The heat removed from the refrigerant gas allows it to cool before turning back into liquid form.

A compressor is attached to the condenser unit and helps to pressurize the low pressure refrigerant liquid that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeeze action increases the temperature, and it is carried into the condenser to absorb the heat that is trapped in the air. After the cooling process, the refrigerant is pushed back into the compressor where it is pressed again prior to being pumped to the evaporator coil. There, the process begins all over again.

Since the condenser is situated outdoors, it is susceptible to the elements. Debris such as twigs, grass clippings, leaves, and roofing shingles may get into the condenser unit and cause damage to it. The addition of the universal HVAC condenser cover to your heating and cooling system can help protect the equipment from accidental damage even when it’s not in use.

Do not shade the condenser. This can decrease air flow, which can force the compressor to work harder 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 will ensure that the condenser is operating correctly. Regularly having a professional technician inspect all major components of your HVAC system will help prevent major problems. A professional service team can also avoid problems by checking regularly the refrigerant level. By following these steps, you’ll be able to prolong the lifespan of your heating and cooling system as well as reduce the cost of energy.

Compressor

The compressor is the core of your air conditioning. It pumps refrigerant through the system, keeping everything cool. It’s like the blood in your body, pumping the coolant between your evaporator coils and condenser. If something goes wrong with the compressor, it will stop the condenser and evaporator from performing their jobs and leave your home warm and uncomfortable.

There are a variety of types of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own benefits and drawbacks. A reciprocating compressor, as an example it has a piston that moves upwards and downwards within the piston. This movement creates a suction that draws in the refrigerant. As the piston moves down it reduces the volume of gas, then a discharge valve opens 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 the air. A rotary compressor comes with blades inside the cylinder to help compress the air. This kind of compressor is quiet, which makes it a popular choice for residential applications.

The HVAC compressors of both kinds are designed to raise temperature of the liquid as it is compressed. This creates an extremely high-temperature, high-pressure vapor. 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 problems by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for many years and give you peace-of-mind knowing that your home will always be comfortable. 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 controls the time and frequency at which the system turns on and off. It compares the air temperature to a pre-set desired level. If it is off by just a few degrees it will send an electronic signal to alter it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats gauge temperature using an electronic sensor referred to as the thermosistor. The thermistor is composed of two different metals that expand at different rates when they heat up and cause them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches the temperature it was set to it informs the circuit board that your heating or AC should be turned on.

The latest models of thermostats feature touchscreens that make them simple to operate and program. Many thermostats can be programmed to automatically heat and cool your home at certain times. This will save you from having to manually set them every day. Additionally, they offer information on energy usage so you can learn how to reduce expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model, it’s slightly more complex. It is made up of a bimetallic strip that is bonded to a vial using mercury. If the temperature changes and the mercury inside a vial shifts, either completing or breaking an electrical circuit. When the vial is tilted 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 may have accumulated. You should also make sure that it is not loose or unbalanced. In some cases the thermostat may be having issues in its readings due to an evaporator coil that is dirty or a damaged thermistor. In this situation you’ll have to get a professional to fix the issue. If you’re experiencing other issue, like an unresponsive display, try changing your batteries or ensuring that your breaker is not tripped. This is an example of how your HVAC system will be more efficient if you make the effort to research it and improve its use.