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

It might be worth investing in a new unit when your home’s HVAC is old and in need of repairs. A residential HVAC professional can help you 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 that run.

Evaporator

An Evaporator coil is the component of your air conditioner that cools your home. The evaporator coil is in a box attached to or inside your gas furnace (if you have one) or in an air handler, if you don’t. The evaporator is where the refrigerant liquid turns into gas and absorbs heat from your home’s indoor air.

The evaporator is comprised of one or more coils of copper that are tightly packed. The refrigerant is at low pressure when it gets to the coils, which makes it easier to transfer heat.

A fan blows warm air from your home over 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 temperature and lowers the temperature of your indoor air. The cool air is circulated through the ductwork of your home, and then to each room.

Unlike the compressor, which has to make the refrigerant gas in high temperatures for efficient cooling, the evaporator requires it to raise its boiling point to a low temperature to allow for efficient air cooling. The evaporator has its own fan in order to achieve this goal.

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

There are two types of evaporators: Cased and uncased. The most popular type of evaporator that you will find in your home is the cased one. It’s enclosed inside the metal casing that surrounds your air conditioning unit. An uncased evaporator is similar but it doesn’t have the outer shell that protects it.

While both evaporators serve the same purpose, it’s important to select one that is capable of meeting the requirements of your house. Certain models are better suited to more harsh environments, whereas others might be more appropriate for more moderate conditions. Think about how easy it would be to clean and maintain your evaporator. This could save you time, money and hassle.

Condenser

The condenser is one of three main components of your air conditioning system which helps to keep it running efficiently. It is located outside the home, and is connected to the evaporator’s coil by refrigerant lines. It is also home to several metal fins and fans that remove heat from the refrigerant gas that was transferred from the evaporator. The heat removed from the refrigerant gas helps it cool and then return to liquid form.

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

The condenser unit is exposed the elements because it is outside. Debris, such as twigs grass clippings, leaves and even roofing shingles can fall into the condenser unit, causing damage to it. The addition of 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.

It is also essential to not shade the condenser. This can impede air flow and force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This can result in increased energy costs and possible loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is working correctly. Regularly having a professional technician examine every major component of your HVAC system can assist in avoiding major problems. A professional service team can also prevent problems by regularly checking the refrigerant levels. By following these easy steps, you will be able to prolong the lifespan of your cooling and heating system as well as reduce the cost of energy.

Compressor

A compressor is the center of your air conditioning unit and it pumps refrigerant throughout the system to keep everything cool. It’s as the blood flowing through your body, in that it moves coolant between the condenser and evaporator coils. If something goes wrong with the compressor, it can stop the evaporator and condenser from doing their job and will leave your home feeling uncomfortable warm.

There are many different types of HVAC compressors and each has distinct advantages and disadvantages. For instance, a reciprocating compressor has an engine that moves between up and down inside the cylinder. This action creates suction which draws in 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 also has a clutch as well as a crankshaft that helps the piston to compress the air. A rotary compressor is equipped with blades that are inside the cylinder, which assist in compressing the air. This type of compressor is very quiet, making it a popular option for residential applications.

The HVAC compressors of both kinds are designed to raise temperature of the liquid while it is compressed. This creates the formation of a high-temperature, high pressure vapor. Since heat naturally flows from higher-temperature substances to lower temperature ones the hot vapor will flow into the evaporator coils, and return to its original liquid state.

While you can’t prevent the chance of having problems with the compressor, you can stop the majority of AC issues by being on top of your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for years and give you peace-of-mind knowing that your home will remain comfortable. If you do experience a problem with the compressor or the compressor itself, 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 the frequency and manner in which the system is turned on and off. It reads the air temperature and compares it with the desired temperature set by a preset. If it is off by one or two degrees the thermostat will send an electronic signal to alter it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats monitor temperature with an electronic sensor referred to as a thermosistor. The thermistor is comprised of two metals that expand differently when heated, causing the metals to bend in opposite direction. When the thermistor is at the temperature set it sends a signal to the circuit board that heating or AC should be turned on.

The touchscreens on the latest models make it simple to program and operate. They can be programmed to automatically cool or heat your home at specific time frames, which avoids the hassle of manually setting the temperature each day. They also provide reports on energy usage so that you can discover ways to reduce costs.

If you have an older electromechanical model the way it operates is a bit more complex. It consists of a bimetallic piece that is bonded to a vial with mercury. When temperatures change the mercury in the vial moves, either complete or rupturing an electrical circuit. When the vial tips the thermostat, it activates the heating and cooling system.

It is essential to regularly clean your thermostat in order to eliminate dust. Also, make sure it isn’t bent or loose. In certain cases the thermostat may be having issues with its readings because of a dirty evaporator coil or a damaged thermistor. If that is the situation, you’ll need to call a professional to fix it for you. If the issue is something else, such as an unresponsive screen, you can try changing the batteries or making sure that your breaker has not been activated. This is a good example of how your HVAC system can be more efficient when you spend the time to research it and improve its use.