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 a bit old and in need of repairs. A residential HVAC expert can help you choose the right solution for your home.
Gas-powered air conditioners, also referred to as propane air conditioners, make use of natural gas to heat and condensers that run.
Evaporator
An evaporator coil is a component of your air conditioner that cools your home. The evaporator coil can be found 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 the place where the refrigerant liquid is transformed into gas and absorbs heat from your home’s indoor air.
The evaporator is comprised of a few copper coils that are tightly packed. The refrigerant reaches the coils at a low pressure, making it easier to transfer heat as it evaporates into gaseous state.
A fan blows your home’s warm indoor air over the coil of the evaporator. The air is cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator, which changes the refrigerant’s temperature and lowers the temperature of your indoor air. The cooled air then moves through your home’s ductwork system to each room and circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system through return ducts.
The evaporator, unlike the compressor, requires to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a lower temperature to allow for efficient air cooling. The evaporator makes use of its own fans in order to achieve this final goal.
The metering device of the evaporator assists to ensure that the refrigerant maintains a constant level of liquid in it. The low-side float is designed to be open when there’s no liquid in the evaporator, and it closes when it sees liquid enter the coils.
There are two kinds of evaporators: cased and noncased. The most commonly used kind of evaporator you can find in your home is the one that is cased. It is enclosed within the casing made of metal that covers your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are similar to cases, but they do not have an outer shell with protection.
Although both evaporators serve the same purpose, it’s important to select a model suitable for the requirements of your house. Some models are better suited to extreme environments, whereas others might be better suited to milder conditions. It is also important to take into consideration how easy it would be to clean and maintain the evaporator, as this could save you time, money and effort in the long time.
Condenser
Condensers are among the three major components of your cooling system. They aid in the operation of the system efficiently. The condenser is outside the house and is connected to the evaporator through refrigerant pipes. It is comprised of metal fins and fans that help to remove heat from the refrigerant which is being transported from the evaporator. The heat that is removed allows the refrigerant to be cooled and transform to a liquid state.
A compressor is connected to the condenser unit. It helps to pressurize the low pressure liquid refrigerant that was pumped from the evaporator coil. The squeeze action of the compressor raises the temperature of the coolant, which then passes into the condenser coils to take in latent heat from the surrounding air. After it has completed its cooling process 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 starts all over again.
The condenser unit is exposed to elements due to its location outside. Debris such as leaves or twigs grass clippings or even roofing shingles could cause damage to the condenser. A universal HVAC condenser can protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage while not in use.
Avoid shading the condenser. This can reduce air flow, which can force 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 efficiently. A professional service technician look over all of the major components of your system regularly can help to prevent any major issues from arising. Additionally having an expert service team monitor the refrigerant levels on a regular basis will also help prevent any problems from developing. By following these simple steps, you will be able to prolong the life of your heating and cooling system as well as reduce your energy bills.
Compressor
The compressor is the heart of your air conditioning. It circulates refrigerant through the system, keeping everything cool. It’s like the blood in your body, since it circulates coolant between your evaporator and condenser coils. If the compressor fails, the evaporator will not be able perform its job and your house will get extremely hot.
There are many different types of HVAC compressors, and each one has distinct advantages and disadvantages. For instance, a reciprocating compressor has an engine that moves upwards and downwards within the cylinder. This movement creates suction that draws in the refrigerant. When the piston moves downwards, it reduces the gas volume, and then a discharge valve is opened to let the refrigerant that is pressurized out into the condenser coil.
This type of compressor comes with a clutch and a crankshaft that helps the piston to compress air. A rotary compressor, on the other side, has blades within the cylinder that assist in helping compress the air. This type of compressor is quiet, making it an ideal option for homes with a small space.
The HVAC compressors of both types are designed to increase the temperature of the liquid while 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 will move into the evaporator coils, and transform back to its original liquid state.
While you can’t avoid the possibility of having a problem with your compressor, you can avoid the majority of AC issues by keeping track of your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your AC will last for years and give you peace-of-mind knowing that your home will always be comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you determine the best repair options should you experience a compressor problem.
Thermostat
The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it controls the frequency and manner in which the system turns on and off. It compares the air temperature to a pre-set level. The thermostat will send an alert to adjust the temperature if it is off a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats monitor temperature using a digital sensor known as a thermistor. The thermistor is made up of two different metals that expand at different rates when they warm up and cause them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor is at its set temperature, it signals the circuit board to start your heating or AC system.
Modern thermostats come with touchscreens that make them simple to use and program. They are usually programmed to automatically heat or cool your home at specific times, which saves you the headache of manually setting it every day. Additionally, they offer information on energy usage to help you figure out how to cut back on expenses.
If you have an older electromechanical model, the method of operation is a little more complex. It is comprised of a bimetallic band that is bonded to mercury the vial. When the temperature changes in the vial, it causes the mercury in the vial to shift in a way, interrupting or completing an electrical circuit. When the vial is tilted, it triggers the thermostat to turn on the cooling or heating system.
You should regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. Also, make sure it isn’t bent or loose. In some cases the thermostat may be having trouble with its readings because of an evaporator coil that is dirty or a damaged thermistor. If that is the case, you will have to contact a professional to fix the problem for you. If you’re experiencing a other issue, like blank displays, try changing your batteries or checking that your breaker isn’t in a state of being tripped. This is an illustration of how your HVAC system will be more efficient if you take the time to understand it and optimize its use.