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

If your home’s HVAC is in its senior years the high repair costs and energy bills may make it worthwhile to invest in a new unit. A residential HVAC expert can help you choose the best solution for your home.

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

Evaporator

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

The evaporator is comprised of a few copper coils which are tightly packed. The refrigerant is able to reach the coils at low pressure, making it easier for it to transfer heat as it evaporates into gaseous state.

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

The evaporator, unlike the compressor, only needs to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant down to a low temperature to allow for efficient air cooling. The evaporator uses its own fans in order to achieve this objective.

The metering device in the evaporator helps to ensure that the refrigerant maintains the same amount of liquid inside it. The low-side floating is designed to be open when there is no liquid in the evaporator, and close when liquid is introduced into the coils.

There are two kinds of evaporators: cased and noncased. A cased evaporator will be the one you’re most likely to see in your home because it’s enclosed within the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble cased evaporators, but they do not have a protective outer shell.

Both evaporators serve the same purpose, however it’s important to select a model that can satisfy your home’s particular needs. For instance, some models are more suited to extreme working environments, while others are better suited to more moderate conditions. Think about how easy it would be to clean and maintain your evaporator. This can save you money, time and hassle.

Condenser

The condenser is among the three major components of the air conditioning system in your home that helps keep it operating efficiently. It is located outside of the home, and is connected to the evaporator coil by refrigerant lines. It also houses an array of metal fins and fans which work to eliminate heat from the refrigerant gas which has been transported from the evaporator. The heat removed allows the refrigerant to be cooled and transform to liquid form.

A compressor is attached to a condenser unit. It operates to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The squeeze action of the compressor increases the temperature of the coolant, which is then pumped into condenser coils to take in heat that is not being absorbed by the air around it. When the cooling process is completed the refrigerant is moved into the compressor to 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, grass clippings, leaves, and roofing shingles too can get into the condenser unit and damage it. The addition of the universal HVAC condenser cover to your heating and cooling system can help to protect the equipment from accidental damage when it’s not in use.

Avoid shading the condenser. Doing so can restrict air flow and force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This can result in more expensive energy bills as well as a loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will ensure that the condenser is operating properly. A professional service technician look over every major component of your system on a regular basis will help to prevent any major issues from occurring. A professional service team can keep your system in good working order by regularly checking the refrigerant level. Follow these simple steps to help extend the life of your heating and cooling system and reduce energy bills.

Compressor

The compressor is the heart of your air conditioning. It pumps refrigerant through the system, keeping everything cool. It’s as the blood that circulates through your body, since it moves coolant back and forth between your condenser and evaporator coils. If something goes wrong with the compressor, it can stop the condenser and evaporator from completing their tasks and leave your home warm and uncomfortable.

There are many different types of HVAC compressors and each has distinct advantages and disadvantages. For instance the reciprocating compressor features a piston that moves between up and down inside the cylinder. This motion creates suction that draws in the refrigerant. As the piston moves down it reduces the gas volume, and the discharge valve opens to release the refrigerant pressurized into the condenser coil.

This type of compressor also 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 help to compress the air. This type of compressor is 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, so that the vapor that exits the compressor is high-temperature and high-pressure. Heat naturally flows from high-temperature substances down to lower-temperature substances and the hot vapor will travel to the evaporator before returning to its liquid state.

While you can’t avoid the possibility of having a problem with your compressor, you can stop the majority of AC problems by being on top of your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for years and provide peace of mind that your home will always be comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you determine the best repair option if you have a compressor issue.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the brain of your heating and cooling system, allowing it to decide the time and frequency at which it turns off and on. It determines the temperature of the air and compares it with an established desired level. The thermostat will send an alert to adjust the temperature if it’s off a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats monitor temperature with a digital sensor known as the thermosistor. The thermistor consists of two different metals that expand at different rates as they warm up, causing them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor is at its temperature it tells the circuit board to start your heating or AC system.

The latest models of thermostats feature touchscreens that make them simple to operate and program. They can be programmed to automatically cool or heat your home at certain time frames, which avoids the hassle of having to manually set it every day. In addition, they provide information on energy usage so that you can figure out how to reduce costs.

If you have an old electromechanical model, it is somewhat more complicated. It is composed of a bimetallic ring that is joined to mercury in a vial. When the temperature changes the mercury in the vial shifts, either completing or breaking a circuit. When the vial is tipped, it triggers the thermostat to start the cooling or heating system.

To ensure that your thermostat is in good working order It is essential to be sure to clean it on a regular basis to remove any dust that has built up. Also, make sure that it isn’t bent or loose. In some instances the thermostat may be experiencing issues in its readings due to an evaporator coil that is dirty or a damaged thermistor. In this instance you’ll have to call in a professional to fix the problem. If you’re experiencing different problem, such as an unresponsive display Try changing your batteries or checking that your breaker is not in a state of being tripped. This is a good example of how your HVAC system can be more efficient if you make the effort to learn about it and improve its use.