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

If your home’s air conditioning is getting old cost of repair and energy bills can be a reason to consider an upgrade. A residential HVAC professional can help you select the right option for your needs.

The majority of cooling systems rely on electricity to cool and heat homes. However, some, such as gas-powered or propane air conditioners use natural gas to fuel furnaces and operate condensers in split systems.

Evaporator

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

The evaporator is comprised of one or more copper coils packed tightly together. The refrigerant enters the coils at a low pressure, making it easier for it to transfer heat as it evaporates to gaseous state.

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

Contrary to the compressor, which needs to produce refrigerant gas at extremely high temperatures for efficient cooling, the evaporator only has to raise its boiling point to a lower temperature for effective air cooling. The evaporator uses its own fans to achieve this final goal.

The evaporator metering system ensures that the liquid refrigerant is always at an unchanging level. The float on the low-side is designed to open when there is no liquid in the evaporator, and it closes when it sees liquid enter the coils.

There are two primary types of evaporators: Cased and uncased. A cased evaporator is the one you’ll most likely to find in your home since it’s contained within the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are similar, 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 meet the specific requirements of your home. For instance, certain models are better suited to more harsh working environments, whereas others are better suited for more moderate conditions. Consider how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This could save you money, time and hassle.

Condenser

Condensers are among the three main components of the cooling system in your home. They help it work efficiently. The condenser is situated outside the house and connected to the evaporator via refrigerant pipes. It has fans and metal fins which work to remove the heat from the refrigerant that has been transferred from the evaporator. The heat removed helps the refrigerant be cooled and transform into a liquid state.

A compressor is connected to the condenser unit. It is used to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped out of the evaporator coil. The squeezing action of the compressor increases the temperature of the coolant which then passes into the condenser coils, which absorb the latent heat from the air surrounding it. After it has completed its cooling process and the refrigerant is pumped back into the compressor where it is again pressurized before being pumped to the evaporator coil, where the process begins all over again.

Since the condenser is outdoors, it is susceptible to the elements. Debris such as twigs, leaves, grass clippings and even roofing shingles can be thrown into the condenser unit and damage it. A universal HVAC condenser can shield your heating and cooling equipment from damage while not in use.

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

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will help to ensure that the condenser works effectively. A professional service technician inspect all of the major components of your system regularly can help to prevent any major problems from occurring. A professional service team can also avoid problems by checking regularly the refrigerant levels. By following these steps, you’ll be able to prolong the lifespan of your heating and cooling system and reduce your energy bills.

Compressor

A compressor is the heart of your air conditioning unit, and it circulates refrigerant through the system to keep everything cool. You can think of it as the blood flowing through your body, in that it circulates coolant back and forth between the condenser and evaporator coils. If the compressor fails then the evaporator won’t be able to do its job and your home will get extremely hot.

There are a myriad of different kinds of HVAC compressors. Each has its own advantages and drawbacks. A reciprocating compressor, for instance, has a piston moving up and down in a piston. This movement creates a suction that draws in refrigerant. As the piston moves down, it reduces the volume of gas, and 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 that aids the piston to compress air. A rotary compressor has blades inside the cylinder to assist in compressing the air. This type of compressor is quiet, which makes it a popular option for residential use.

The HVAC compressors of both types are designed to increase the temperatures of the liquid when it is compressed. This results in a high-pressure, high-temperature liquid. It is normal for heat to flow from high-temperature substances down to lower temperatures, so the hot vapor moves into the evaporator, and then return to its liquid state.

You can avoid the majority of AC problems by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your AC will last for years and provide you with peace of mind knowing that your home will always be comfortable. If you do experience an issue with the compressor or the compressor itself, your Griffith Energy Services technician can help you decide what repairs are the best for you.

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 measures the temperature of the air and compares it to a preset desired level. The thermostat will send a signal to adjust the temperature if it’s off a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats gauge temperature with an electronic sensor referred to as the thermistor. The thermistor is made up of two different metals that expand at different rates as they warm up and bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches the temperature that it is set, it signals to the circuit board that your heating or AC should be switched on.

The latest models of thermostats feature touchscreens that make them easy to use and program. Many thermostats are programmed to automatically cool and heat your home at specific times. This saves you from having to set them manually each day. In addition, they provide information on energy usage so you can learn how to reduce expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model, the way that it works is a bit more complex. It consists of a bimetallic strip that is bonded to a vial with mercury. If the temperature changes and the mercury inside a vial shifts, either completing or breaking an electrical circuit. When the vial tipping the thermostat, it turns on the heating and cooling system.

You should regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. Also, ensure that it isn’t crooked or loose. In some instances, the thermostat’s readings might be incorrect due to a dirty or damaged evaporator coil. If that is the situation, you’ll have to contact an expert to fix it. If the issue is something else, such as an unresponsive screen it is possible to try changing the batteries or making sure that your breaker hasn’t been tripped. This is a good example of how you can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system more efficient by learning about it and maximizing its use.

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