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

It might be worth investing in a new unit if your home’s air conditioner is a bit old and in need of repair. A residential HVAC expert can assist you in selecting the right solution for your home.

Gas-powered air conditioners, also known as propane air conditioners, make use of natural gas for heating and running condensers.

Evaporator

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

The evaporator is comprised of a few coils of copper that are tightly packed together. The refrigerant is at low pressure when it gets to the coils, making it easier to transfer heat.

A fan blows warm indoor air over 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 the temperature of your indoor air. The cool air is circulated through the ductwork of your home to each of the rooms.

Unlike the compressor, which needs to create refrigerant gas in high temperatures for efficient cooling, the evaporator needs to bring its boiling point to a low temperature to ensure that it is cooling effectively. The evaporator uses its own fan in order to achieve this final goal.

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

There are two types of evaporators, noncased and cases-based. The most common kind of evaporator you can find in your home is the cased one. It is housed inside the metal casing that surrounds your air conditioning unit. An uncased evaporator is similar however it doesn’t come with the protective outer shell.

Both evaporators serve the same function, but it’s important to select one that is able to meet your home’s specific needs. For example, some models are better suited for more harsh working environments, whereas others are better suited to more moderate conditions. Also, you should take into consideration how easy it would be to clean and maintain the evaporator since this could save you time, money and hassle in the long time.

Condenser

The condenser is among the three major components of your air conditioning system which helps to keep it running efficiently. The condenser is outside the house and connected to the evaporator via refrigerant pipes. It has metal fins and fans which help remove heat from the refrigerant which was transported from the evaporator. The heat that is emitted helps the refrigerant to cool down and transform back to a liquid state.

A compressor is attached to the condenser unit. It works to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The squeeze action of the compressor raises the temperature of the coolant, which then flows into the condenser coils to absorb heat that is not being released from the air around 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 again.

The condenser unit is exposed elements due to its location outside. Debris like twigs or leaves grass clippings or even roofing shingles can damage the condenser. A universal HVAC condenser can protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage while not in use.

Beware of shading the condenser. This can reduce air flow, forcing the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This can lead to more expensive energy bills as well as a loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is running correctly. Regularly having a professional technician inspect every major component of your HVAC system can help prevent major problems. A professional service team can also avoid problems by checking regularly the refrigerant level. Follow these easy steps to prolong the life of your cooling and heating system and lower your energy costs.

Compressor

The compressor is the main component of your air conditioner. It circulates refrigerant throughout the system, which keeps everything cool. You can think of it like the blood in your body, in that it circulates coolant back and forth between your condenser and evaporator coils. If something goes wrong with your compressor, it can stop the evaporator and condenser from performing their jobs and leave your home feeling uncomfortable warm.

There are a variety of types of HVAC compressors. Each comes with its own advantages and drawbacks. A reciprocating compressor, for example is one that has a piston moving up and down in a cylindrical. This creates a suction that draws in the refrigerant. As the piston moves down it decreases the volume of gas, and then a discharge valve opens to expels the pressurized refrigerant into the condenser coil.

This type of compressor has a clutch as well as a crankshaft, which helps the piston to compress air. A rotary compressor comes with blades inside 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 increase the temperature of the liquid as it is compressed. This results in an extremely high-temperature, high-pressure liquid. Since heat naturally flows from higher temperature substances to those with lower temperatures the hot vapor will move into the evaporator coils and transform back to its original liquid state.

While you cannot avoid the chance of having problems with the compressor, you can avoid the majority of AC problems by keeping track of your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for a long time and will give you peace of mind knowing that your home is always at ease. Griffith Energy Services can help you decide on the best repair options should you have a compressor issue.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain and it controls when and how the system turns on and off. It compares the temperature of the air to a pre-set desired level. The thermostat will send an indication to alter the temperature if it’s off by a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats measure temperature by using the digital sensor, also known as a thermosistor. The thermistor consists of two metals that expand in different ways when heated up which causes the metals to flex in an opposite directions. When the thermistor is at the temperature it was set to, it signals to the circuit board that your heating or AC should be switched on.

The touchscreens on the latest models make it easy to program and operate. Many thermostats are programmed to automatically heat and cool your home according to specific times. This means you don’t have to worry about having to manually set them each day. In addition, they provide reports on energy consumption to help you figure out how to reduce expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model the way that it works is a bit more complicated. It is comprised of a bimetallic band which is joined to mercury in the vial. If the temperature changes in the vial, it causes the mercury inside the vial to move and complete or interrupt an electrical circuit. When the vial tipping the thermostat, it activates the heating and cooling system.

You should regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. Also, make sure it isn’t crooked or loose. In some cases, the thermostat may be having trouble with its readings due to a dirty evaporator coil or the thermistor being damaged. In this instance you’ll have to call in an expert to fix the problem. If you’re experiencing other issue, like a blank display try replacing your batteries or ensuring that your breaker isn’t in a state of being tripped. This is a great example of how you can make your HVAC system more efficient by understanding it and optimizing its use.