What Are the Main Parts of Your Heating Air Conditioning Unit?
It may be worth investing in a replacement unit when your home’s HVAC is old and in need of repairs. A residential HVAC expert can help you choose the best option for your home.
Most cooling systems rely on electricity to cool and heat homes, however some, such as gas-powered or propane air conditioners, use natural gas to power furnaces and run condensers in split systems.
Evaporator
The evaporator coil in your air conditioner is the one that cools your home. The evaporator coil can be found in a box that is attached to or within your gas furnace (if you have one) or inside 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 consists of one or more copper coils tightly packed. The refrigerant is able to reach the coils at a low pressure, making it easier for it to transfer heat when it evaporates into gaseous state.
A fan blows the warm air from your home to the coil that is used to evaporate. The air is then cooled through the removal of heat from the evaporator, which alters the refrigerant’s temperatures and reduces the temperature of your home’s air. The cooled air then moves through the ductwork of your home to each room which is where it circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system via return ducts.
In contrast to the compressor, which requires to produce refrigerant gas in high temperatures for efficient cooling, the evaporator only has to raise its boiling point to a lower temperature for effective air cooling. The evaporator also uses its own fans to help it in achieving this objective.
The evaporator metering system ensures that the refrigerant in the liquid 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 closes when it detects liquid entering the coils.
There are two primary kinds of evaporators: cases and uncased. A cased evaporator will be the one you’ll most likely to find in your home since it is enclosed inside the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are similar, except it doesn’t have the protective outer shell.
Both evaporators have the same purpose, however it is important to choose the one that will meet your home’s specific needs. For example, some models are better suited for extreme working environments, while others are better suited for milder conditions. Consider how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This can save you money, time and effort.
Condenser
The condenser is among the three major components of your home’s air conditioning system that helps keep it operating efficiently. It is located outside of the house, connected to the evaporator coil by refrigerant lines and contains an array of fans and metal fins that remove heat from the refrigerant gas which has been transported here from the evaporator. The heat that is 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 out of the evaporator coil. The squeezing action of the compressor raises the temperature of the coolant which then flows into the condenser coils to absorb latent heat from the air around it. When the cooling process is complete the refrigerant is moved into the compressor to be pressurized prior to being pumped back to the evaporator coil.
Because the condenser is located outdoors, it is susceptible to the elements. Leaves and twigs grass clippings or even roofing shingles, can cause damage to the condenser. The addition of an universal HVAC condenser cover to your cooling and heating system can help to protect the equipment from accidental damage when it isn’t in use.
It is also essential to avoid shading the condenser. This can reduce air flow, which can force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This could result in higher energy bills and a possible loss of refrigerant.
Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will help to ensure that the condenser is working correctly. Regularly having a professional technician check the major components of your HVAC system can aid in preventing major issues. Additionally, having a professional service team check your refrigerant levels regularly will also help keep any problems from developing. By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to extend the lifespan of your heating and cooling system and lower your energy costs.
Compressor
A compressor is the core of your air conditioning unit, and it circulates refrigerant throughout the system to keep it cool. It’s like the blood in your body, as it moves the coolant between the condenser and evaporator coils. If the compressor fails and the evaporator fails, it will not be able to do its job and your house will get extremely hot.
There are a variety of HVAC compressors, and each one has distinct advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, for instance is one that has a piston moving upwards and downwards within the cylinder. This motion produces a suction that draws in refrigerant. When the piston is moving downwards it decreases the volume of gas. A discharge valve opens to release the pressurized refrigeration to the condenser.
This type of compressor is also equipped with a clutch and a crankshaft that aids the piston compress air. A rotary compressor, on the other side, has blades within the cylinder which help compress the air. This kind of compressor is quiet, making it a popular option for residential use.
The HVAC compressors of both types are designed to raise temperature of the liquid while it is compressed. This creates the formation of a high-temperature, high pressure liquid. It is normal for heat to flow from high-temperature substances down to lower temperatures and the hot vapor will travel to the evaporator and return to its liquid state.
You can avoid most AC issues by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your AC will last for years and provide peace of mind that your home will always be comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you choose the best repair options if you are experiencing a problem with your compressor.
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 reads the air temperature and compares it with a preset desired level. If it is off by a few degrees, the thermostat will send an electronic signal to alter it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats gauge temperature using the digital sensor, also known as the thermosistor. The thermistor is made up of two different metals that expand at different rates when they heat up and bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor is at its set temperature, it signals the circuit board to start your heating or AC system.
Modern thermostats come with touchscreens that make them easy to operate and program. Many thermostats can be programmed to automatically cool and heat your home at certain times. This will save you from having to manually set them each day. In addition, they provide information on energy usage so that you can figure out how to reduce expenses.
If you have an older electromechanical model, it is somewhat more complicated. It consists of a bimetallic piece that is attached to a vial using mercury. When the temperature fluctuates in the vial, it causes the mercury inside the vial to shift and complete or interrupt an electrical circuit. When the vial tips the thermostat, it turns on the heating and cooling system.
It is essential to regularly clean your thermostat in order to eliminate dust. Also, make sure that it isn’t bent or loose. In some cases the thermostat could be having trouble with its readings because of an evaporator coil that is dirty or the thermistor being damaged. In this instance you’ll need to get a professional to fix the issue. If you’re experiencing a different issue, for instance blank displays, try changing your batteries or checking whether your breaker has not tripped. This is a good illustration of how you can make your HVAC system more efficient by understanding it and maximizing its use.