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

If the air conditioning in your home is getting old cost of repair and energy bills may make it worth investing in a new unit. A residential HVAC expert can assist you in selecting the best solution for your home.

Gas-powered air conditioners, also known as propane air conditioners, make use of natural gas to heat and condensers that run.

Evaporator

The evaporator coil of your air conditioner is what cools your house. The evaporator can be found inside a box that is connected to your gas furnace or inside it (if you have one). If you don’t, the evaporator can be found inside an air handler. The evaporator is the place where the refrigerant liquid transforms 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 together. The refrigerant has a low pressure as it reaches the coils, which makes it easier to transfer heat.

A fan blows your home’s warm air through the coil of the evaporator. The air is cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator, which alters the refrigerant’s temperatures and reduces the temperature of your home’s air. The cool air is circulated through the ductwork of your home to each of the rooms.

Unlike the compressor, which requires to create refrigerant gas at high temperatures for efficient cooling, the evaporator requires it to raise its boiling point to a lower temperature to allow for efficient air cooling. The evaporator makes use of its own fan in order to achieve this final goal.

The evaporator metering system ensures that the liquid refrigerant is always at the same level. The float on the low-side is designed to be open when there’s no liquid in the evaporator, and it closes when detects liquid entering the coils.

There are two primary types of evaporators: Cased and uncased. The most commonly used type of evaporator in your home is a cased model. It is housed inside the casing made of metal that covers the air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are similar however it doesn’t come with the outer shell that protects it.

Both evaporators have the same function, but it’s crucial to select the one that will satisfy your home’s particular needs. Certain models are better suited for harsher environments, while others may be more suitable in milder conditions. You should also take into consideration how easy it would be to clean and maintain the evaporator as this can save you time, money, and hassle in the long time.

Condenser

The condenser is among the three main components of your home’s air conditioning system that helps keep it operating efficiently. The condenser is situated outside the house and is connected to the evaporator by refrigerant pipes. It contains metal fins and fans which work to remove the heat from the refrigerant which is being transported from the evaporator. The heat that is removed helps the refrigerant reduce in temperature and then transform to a liquid state.

A compressor is attached to the condenser unit. It is used to pressurize the low-pressure refrigerant liquid that has been transferred from the evaporator. The compressor’s squeezing action increases the temperature, and it is passed into the condenser to absorb latent heat in the air. After the cooling cycle the refrigerant is then pushed back into the compressor where it is pressurized again before being pumped to the evaporator coil, where the process begins again.

Since the condenser is situated outdoors, it is vulnerable to the elements. Debris, such as twigs grass clippings, leaves and roofing shingles too can fall into the condenser unit, causing damage to it. By adding an universal HVAC condenser cover to your cooling and heating system can help safeguard the equipment from damage even when it’s not in use.

Avoid shading the condenser. This can decrease the flow of air, causing the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This can result in increased energy costs as well as a possible loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will help to ensure that the condenser is working properly. Regularly having a professional technician inspect the major components of your HVAC system will assist in avoiding major problems. A professional service team can prevent problems by regularly checking the refrigerant levels. Follow these simple steps to extend the life of your cooling and heating system and reduce energy bills.

Compressor

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

There are a myriad of different kinds of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own benefits and drawbacks. For example the reciprocating compressor is comprised of a piston that moves between up and down inside a cylinder, and this action creates suction which draws in refrigerant. As the piston moves downward, it reduces gas volume. A discharge valve then opens to release the pressurized refrigeration from the condenser.

This kind of compressor also includes a clutch and a crankshaft that helps the piston in compressing the air. A Rotary compressor, on other hand, has blades inside the cylinder that help to compress the air. This kind of compressor is quiet, making it a popular choice for residential applications.

The HVAC compressors of both kinds are designed to raise temperatures of the liquid when it is compressed. This results in an extremely high-temperature, high-pressure liquid. Since heat naturally flows from higher temperature substances to lower-temperature ones the hot vapor is able to move into the evaporator coils and change back to its liquid state.

While you cannot avoid the chance of having problems with the compressor, you can avoid the majority of AC issues by keeping track of your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for a long time and provide peace of mind that your home will remain comfortable. If you do encounter problems with your compressor, your Griffith Energy Services technician can assist you in determining which repair options are best for you.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it decides when and how the system turns on and off. It determines the temperature of the air and compares it to a preset desired level. If it is off by a few degrees it will send an electronic signal to alter it to bring it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats utilize the digital sensor, also known as the thermistor, which measures the temperature. The thermistor consists of two different metals that expand at different rates when they heat up and bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches its set temperature it tells the circuit board to switch on your heating or AC system.

The touchscreens on the latest models make it easy to program and operate. They are usually programmed to automatically heat or cool your home at specific time frames, which avoids the effort of having to manually set the temperature each day. They also provide reports on energy consumption so that you can find ways to cut costs.

If you have an older electromechanical model, the method of operation is a little more complex. It is comprised of a bimetallic strip that is attached to a vial with mercury. When the temperature fluctuates it causes the mercury in the vial to tilt, completing or interrupting an electrical circuit. When the vial is tilted, it triggers the thermostat to activate the cooling or heating system.

It is essential to regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. Also, ensure that it is not crooked or loose. In some instances the thermostat could be experiencing issues with its readings due to a dirty evaporator coil or a damaged thermistor. In this instance you’ll have to contact an expert to fix the issue. If the problem is something else, such as an unresponsive screen it is possible to try replacing the batteries or ensuring that the breaker hasn’t been tripped. This is an illustration of how your HVAC system can be more efficient if you take the time to learn about it and improve its use.