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

If your home’s air conditioning is getting old, high repair costs and energy bills may be a reason to consider a new unit. A residential HVAC professional can assist you to choose the best option for your needs.

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

Evaporator

An Evaporator coil is the component of your air conditioner that cools your home. The evaporator is within a box attached to your gas furnace or within it (if you own one). If you don’t have one, the coil is located in an air handler. The evaporator is 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 which are tightly packed. The refrigerant is at low pressure as it reaches the coils, making it easier to transfer heat.

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 changes the refrigerant’s temperature and lowers the temperature of your home’s air. The cool air is circulated through the ductwork of your home, and then to each room.

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

The metering device of the evaporator assists to ensure that the refrigerant has the same amount of liquid in it. The low-side floating is designed to open if there is no liquid in the evaporator, and close when liquid gets into the coils.

There are two kinds of evaporators: cased and noncased. The most popular type of evaporator that you will find in your home is a cased model. It is housed inside the metal casing that surrounds the air conditioning unit. A non-cased evaporator is the same however it doesn’t come with the protective outer shell.

Both evaporators have the same purpose, however it is important to choose one that is able to meet the specific requirements of your home. Some models are better suited for more harsh environments, while others may be more appropriate for more moderate conditions. Think about how easy it would be to clean and maintain your evaporator. This can save you time, money and effort.

Condenser

Condensers are one of the three primary components of your home’s cooling system. They help it work efficiently. The condenser is situated outside the house and connected to the evaporator via refrigerant pipes. It is comprised of metal fins and fans that work to remove the heat from the refrigerant that was transported from the evaporator. The heat that is removed from the refrigerant gas allows it to cool before turning back into liquid form.

A compressor is connected to the condenser unit. It is used to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that is pumped out of the evaporator coil. The squeeze action of the compressor increases the temperature of the coolant which then flows into the condenser coils to absorb latent heat from the air surrounding it. After 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 roofing shingles, can cause damage to the condenser. Adding a universal HVAC condenser cover to your cooling and heating system can help protect the equipment from damage even when it’s not in use.

It is also essential to ensure that the condenser is not shaded. This can impede air flow and make the compressor work harder to cool your home. This could result in higher energy bills as well as a loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is operating efficiently. Having a professional service technician examine every major component of your system regularly can aid in preventing major issues from arising. In addition, having an expert service team monitor your refrigerant levels frequently can help prevent any problems from developing. 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 conditioner. It circulates refrigerant through the system, keeping everything cool. It’s similar to the blood in your body, pumping the coolant between the evaporator coils and condenser. If the compressor fails, the evaporator will not be able to perform its job and your house will get extremely hot.

There are a variety of HVAC compressors, and each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. For instance the reciprocating compressor is comprised of a piston that moves upwards and downwards within a cylinder, and this motion creates suction that draws in the refrigerant. As the piston is moved down it reduces the volume of gas, and then a discharge valve is opened to expels the pressurized refrigerant 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 is equipped with blades that are inside the cylinder, which help compress the air. This type 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 refrigerant’s liquid while it is compressed, ensuring that the vapor that exits the compressor is high-temperature and high-pressure. The heat naturally flows from high-temperature materials down to lower-temperature substances, so the hot vapor will move into the evaporator, and then return to its liquid state.

While you can’t avoid the chance of having problems with the compressor, you can prevent the majority of AC issues by keeping track of your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your AC will last for many years and provide you with peace of mind knowing that your home will remain comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you determine the best repair options if you are experiencing a problem with your compressor.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the brain of your heating and cooling system, which allows it to decide the time and frequency at which it turns on and off. It measures the temperature of the air and compares it to the desired temperature set by a preset. If it is off by one or two degrees the thermostat will send an electronic signal that changes it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats measure temperature by using a digital sensor known as a thermistor. The thermistor is composed of two different metals that expand at different rates as they get hot, causing them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches its set temperature it sends a signal to the circuit board to start your heating or AC system.

The touchscreens on newer models make it easier to program and operate. They are usually programmed to automatically cool or heat your house at specific times, which saves you the headache of manually setting the temperature each day. In addition, they provide reports on energy usage so you can learn how to reduce expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model, it’s somewhat more complicated. It consists of a bimetallic piece that is bonded to a vial by mercury. When the temperature fluctuates it causes the mercury in the vial to shift in a way, interrupting or completing an electrical circuit. When the vial is tipped, it triggers the thermostat to start the heating or cooling system.

You should regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. Also, you should ensure that it is not loose or bent. In some instances the thermostat could be experiencing issues with its readings due to an unclean evaporator coil or the thermistor being damaged. In this instance you’ll have to call in a professional to fix the issue. If you’re experiencing other issue, like an unresponsive display Try changing your batteries or checking whether your breaker has not in a state of being tripped. This is a great example of how you can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system more efficient by learning about it and maximizing its use.