What Are the Main Parts of Your Heating Air Conditioning Unit?
If your home’s HVAC is getting old, high repair costs and energy bills may be a reason to consider a new unit. A residential HVAC expert can help you select the right solution for your needs.
Most cooling systems rely on electricity to cool and heat homes, however some, called gas-powered or propane air conditioners, use natural gas to power furnaces and run condensers in a split system.
Evaporator
The evaporator coil of your air conditioner is the one that cools your house. The evaporator coil is in a container that is attached to or inside your gas furnace (if you have one) or in an air handler, if you don’t. The evaporator is the place where the refrigerant liquid is transformed into gas and absorbs heat from the home’s indoor air.
The evaporator is comprised of one or more coils of copper that are tightly packed. The refrigerant is in low pressure when it reaches the coils, making it easier to transfer heat.
A fan blows warm air through the coil that is used to evaporate the air. The air is then cooled through the removal of heat from the evaporator which alters the refrigerant’s temperature and lowers your indoor air temperature. The cooled air is circulated through the ductwork in your home to each of the rooms.
Unlike the compressor, which needs to produce refrigerant gas at extremely high temperatures for efficient cooling, the evaporator only needs to raise its boiling point to a low temperature for effective air cooling. The evaporator also uses its own fans to help it achieve this objective.
The evaporator’s metering device helps to ensure that the refrigerant maintains a constant level of liquid inside it. The float on the low-side is designed to open when there is 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’s enclosed inside the metal casing that protects your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are similar but it doesn’t have the protective outer shell.
Both evaporators have the same purpose, however it is important to choose a model that can meet the specific requirements of your home. Some models are more suited to extreme environments, while others could be better suited to milder conditions. You should also think about how easy it will be to clean and maintain the evaporator since this can save you time, money and hassle in the long time.
Condenser
The condenser is among the three major components of your home’s air conditioning system which helps to keep it running efficiently. It is located outside of the house, connected to the evaporator coil by refrigerant lines. It is also home to a series of metal fins and fans which work to eliminate heat from the refrigerant gas that has been transferred from the evaporator. The heat that is removed from the refrigerant gas helps it to cool and turn back into liquid form.
A compressor is attached to the condenser unit and works to pressurize the low-pressure liquid refrigerant that was taken from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeeze action increases the temperature, which is passed into the condenser to absorb latent heat in the air. Once it has completed its cooling process the refrigerant is then pushed back into the compressor, where it is pressurized again before being pumped into the evaporator coil where the process begins all over again.
The condenser unit is exposed to the elements because it is outside. Leaves and twigs grass clippings, grass clippings, or even roofing shingles could cause damage to the condenser. A universal HVAC condenser can shield your heating and cooling equipment from damage when it is not in use.
It is also crucial to ensure that the condenser is not shaded. This can decrease air flow, forcing the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This could result in higher energy bills and a potential loss of refrigerant.
Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will ensure that the condenser is operating effectively. Having a professional service technician examine all the major components of your system on a regular basis will assist in preventing any major problems from occurring. In addition, having an expert service team monitor your refrigerant levels regularly can help prevent any problems from developing. By following these steps, you’ll be able to prolong the longevity of your heating and cooling system and lower the cost of energy.
Compressor
A compressor is the heart of your air conditioning unit, and it circulates refrigerant through the system to keep everything cool. It’s similar to the blood that flows through your body when it pumps the coolant between your evaporator coils and condenser. If something goes wrong with the compressor, it will prevent the evaporator and condenser from doing their job and leave your home warm and uncomfortable.
There are many different types of HVAC compressors and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, a reciprocating compressor has a piston that moves upwards and downwards within a cylinder, and this action creates suction which draws in the refrigerant. As the piston moves downward, it reduces gas volume. A discharge valve then opens to let the pressurized refrigeration into the condenser.
This type of compressor also comes with a clutch and crankshaft, which assists the piston to compress air. A rotary compressor is equipped with blades that are inside the cylinder to assist in compressing the air. This kind 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 liquid refrigerant when it is compressed, so that the vapor that exits the compressor is high-pressure and high-temperature. The heat naturally flows from high-temperature substances down to lower temperatures, so the hot vapor moves to the evaporator before returning to its liquid state.
You can prevent most AC problems by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will allow your equipment to last for a long time and it will give you peace of mind knowing that your home is always in good condition. If you do experience a problem with the compressor, your Griffith Energy Services technician can assist you in determining which repairs are the best for you.
Thermostat
The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it determines when and how the system is turned on and off. It reads the air temperature and compares it with a preset desired level. If it is off by just a few degrees, the thermostat will send an electronic signal to alter it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats monitor temperature using the digital sensor, also known as the thermistor. The thermistor is made up of two different metals that expand at different rates when they get hot and cause them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches its temperature it tells the circuit board to start your heating or AC system.
Modern thermostats come with touchscreens that make them easy to use and program. They can be programmed to automatically heat or cool your home at certain times, which saves you the headache of having to manually set it each day. Additionally, they offer reports on energy usage to help you figure out how to cut back on expenses.
If you have an older electromechanical model, it’s slightly more complex. It is made up of a bimetallic band that is bonded with mercury to a vial. When temperatures change the mercury in the vial shifts, either completing or breaking a circuit. When the vial tilts, the thermostat turns on the heating and cooling system.
You must regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. You must also ensure that it is not loose or crooked. In some instances, the thermostat’s readings could be incorrect due to a damaged or dirty evaporator coil. In this instance, you’ll need to contact an expert to fix the problem. If the issue is something else, like a blank screen it is possible to try changing the batteries or ensuring that your breaker hasn’t been tripped. This is a good illustration of how you can make your HVAC system more efficient by gaining knowledge about it and optimizing its use.