What Are the Main Parts of Your Heating Air Conditioning Unit?
It could be worthwhile to invest in a replacement unit if your home’s air conditioner is old and in need of repairs. A residential HVAC professional can assist you to choose the best option for your needs.
Most cooling systems rely upon electricity to cool and heat homes, but some, called propane or gas-powered air conditioners, utilize natural gas to fuel furnaces and operate condensers within a split system.
Evaporator
The evaporator coil inside your air conditioner is what cools your house. The evaporator can be found inside a box that is connected to your gas furnace or within it (if you have one). If you don’t have one, the coil can be found inside an air handler. The evaporator is where the refrigerant liquid transforms into a gas and absorbs heat from the home’s indoor air.
The evaporator is comprised of a few coils of copper that are tightly packed together. The refrigerant has a low pressure when it reaches the coils, making it easier to transfer heat.
A fan blows the warm air from your home over the evaporator coil. This air is cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator which alters the refrigerant’s temperature and reduces your indoor air temperature. The cooled air is circulated through the ductwork of your home to each of the rooms.
The evaporator, unlike the compressor, requires to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a lower temperature to achieve efficient air cooling. The evaporator is also equipped with its own fans to help to achieve this objective.
The evaporator metering device ensures that the liquid refrigerant remains at an unchanging level. The low-side floating is designed to open when there is no liquid in the evaporator. It will close when liquid enters the coils.
There are two kinds of evaporators, cased and noncased. A cased evaporator will be the one you’ll likely to see in your home since it is enclosed inside the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. An uncased evaporator is similar, except it doesn’t have the outer shell that protects it.
While both evaporators have the same purpose, it’s important to select one that is able to meet the specific requirements of your home. Some models are more suited to extreme environments, while others may be more suitable in more moderate conditions. It is also important to 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 run.
Condenser
The condenser is among the three major components of your air conditioning system which helps to keep it running efficiently. The condenser is situated outside the home and is connected to the evaporator through refrigerant pipes. It has metal fins and fans that work to remove the heat from the refrigerant that was transferred from the evaporator. The heat that is removed helps the refrigerant to reduce in temperature and then transform to a liquid state.
A compressor is attached to a condenser unit. It works to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped out of the evaporator coil. The squeezing action of the compressor increases the temperature of the coolant, which is then pumped into condenser coils, which absorb the latent heat from the air surrounding it. When the cooling process is complete the refrigerant will be pushed into the compressor to be pumped under pressure before being sent back to the evaporator coil.
The condenser unit is exposed the elements because it is outside. Debris such as leaves or twigs grass clippings, grass clippings, or even roofing shingles, can cause damage to the condenser. A universal HVAC condenser can shield your heating and cooling equipment from damage when not in use.
Beware of shading the condenser. This can reduce the flow of air, causing the compressor to work harder in order to cool your home. This could result in higher energy bills and a possible loss of refrigerant.
Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is working efficiently. Regularly having a professional technician examine every major component of your HVAC system can assist in avoiding major problems. A professional service team can keep your system in good working order by regularly checking the refrigerant level. Follow these easy steps to extend the life of your heating/cooling system and lower your energy costs.
Compressor
The compressor is the core of your air conditioning. It circulates refrigerant throughout the system, ensuring that everything stays cool. It is like the blood that flows through your body as it pumps the coolant between your evaporator coils as well as the condenser. If something goes wrong with your compressor, it will stop the condenser and evaporator from performing their jobs and will make your home feeling uncomfortable warm.
There are many different types of HVAC compressors and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. For instance the reciprocating compressor is comprised of a piston that moves up and down within a cylinder, and this movement creates suction that draws in refrigerant. As the piston moves downwards it reduces the gas volume. A discharge valve then opens to release the pressurized refrigeration to the condenser.
This type of compressor also comes with a clutch and a crankshaft that helps the piston in compressing the air. A rotary compressor, on the other hand, has blades inside the cylinder that help to compress the air. This type of compressor is extremely quiet, which makes it a popular choice for residential applications.
The HVAC compressors of both kinds are designed to increase the temperatures of the liquid when it is compressed. This results in the formation of a high-temperature, high pressure liquid. Since heat naturally flows from higher-temperature substances to lower-temperature ones the hot vapor will move into the evaporator coils, and change back to its original liquid state.
While you can’t avoid the occasional problem with the compressor, you can avoid the majority of AC problems by keeping track of your maintenance schedule. This will allow your equipment to last for a long time and it will give you peace of mind knowing your home is always comfortable. If you do encounter an issue with the compressor then your Griffith Energy Services technician can assist you in determining what repair options are most suitable for you.
Thermostat
The thermostat is the brains of your heating and cooling system, enabling it to decide when and how it is turned on and off. It determines the temperature of the air and compares it with the desired temperature set by a preset. The thermostat will send a signal to adjust the temperature if it is off a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats gauge temperature by using a digital sensor known as a thermosistor. The thermistor consists of two different metals that expand at different rates as they warm up and cause them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches the temperature it was set to it sends a signal to the circuit board that heating or AC should be turned on.
Modern thermostats come with touchscreens that make them easy to operate and program. They are often programmed to automatically cool or heat your home at specific times, which saves you the headache of having to manually set it each day. They also provide reports on energy consumption so you can learn ways to reduce expenses.
If you have an older electromechanical model the way that it works is a bit more complicated. It is made up of a bimetallic piece that is attached to a vial by mercury. When the temperature fluctuates it causes the mercury inside the vial to move in a way, interrupting or completing an electrical circuit. When the vial is tipped, it triggers the thermostat to activate the heating or cooling system.
To keep your thermostat in good working condition, you must clean it frequently to get rid of any dust that may have accumulated. Also, you should ensure that it isn’t sagging or bent. In some cases, the thermostat may be having issues in its readings due to a dirty evaporator coil or the thermistor being damaged. In this case, you’ll need to get a professional to fix the issue. If you are experiencing a other issue, like an unresponsive display Try changing your batteries or checking that your breaker is not tripped. This is a good illustration of how you can make your HVAC system more efficient by gaining knowledge about it and maximizing its use.