What Are the Main Parts of Your Heating Air Conditioning Unit?
If your home’s air conditioning is getting old the high repair costs and energy bills may make it worth investing in an upgrade. A residential HVAC professional can assist you to select the right option for your needs.
Gas-powered air conditioners, also referred to as propane air conditioners, make use of natural gas to heat and running condensers.
Evaporator
An Evaporator coil is the component of your air conditioner that cools your home. The evaporator can be found in a box connected to your gas furnace or within it (if you have one). If you don’t, the coil can be found in an air handler. The evaporator is where the refrigerant liquid is transformed into a gas and absorbs heat from the home’s indoor air.
The evaporator has one or more copper coils that are packed tightly together. The refrigerant is at low pressure as it reaches the coils, which makes it easier to transfer heat.
A fan blows your home’s warm air through the coil of the evaporator. This air is cooled as heat is removed from the evaporator. This reduces the temperature of the air inside. The cool air is circulated through the ductwork in your home to each room.
The evaporator, unlike the compressor, requires to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a lower temperature to allow for effective air cooling. The evaporator uses its own fan in order to accomplish this goal.
The evaporator metering device makes sure that the refrigerant in the liquid is always at a constant level. The low-side floating is designed to be open when there is no liquid in the evaporator, and close when liquid enters the coils.
There are two types of evaporators: noncased and cases-based. A cased evaporator will be the one you’re most likely to find in your home because it’s contained within the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble the cased evaporators, however they don’t have an outer shell that is protected.
While both evaporators have the identical purpose, it’s vital to choose a model that’s capable of meeting the specific requirements of your home. For instance, certain models are more suited to harsher working environments, while others are better suited to more moderate conditions. Consider how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This can save you money, time and effort.
Condenser
The condenser is among the three major components of your home’s air conditioning system that helps keep it operating efficiently. It is located outside of the home, and is connected to the evaporator’s coil by refrigerant lines. It is also home to several metal fins and fans which work to eliminate heat from the refrigerant gas which has been transferred from the evaporator. The heat removed from refrigerant gas helps it cool before turning back into liquid form.
A compressor is connected to the condenser unit. It operates 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 then flows into the condenser coils to absorb latent heat from the surrounding air. When the cooling process is completed the refrigerant will be pushed into the compressor to be pressurized before being pumped back to the evaporator coil.
The condenser unit is exposed elements due to its location outside. Debris, such as twigs grass clippings, leaves, and even roofing shingles can get into the condenser unit and damage it. Adding an universal HVAC condenser cover to your heating and cooling system can help protect the equipment from accidental damage even when it’s not in use.
It is also essential to avoid shading the condenser. This can decrease air flow, which can force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This could result in increased energy costs as well as a loss of refrigerant.
Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is running properly. Regularly having a professional technician inspect every major component of your HVAC system will assist in avoiding major problems. A professional service team can keep your system in good working order by regularly checking the refrigerant level. By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to prolong the longevity of your cooling and heating system and reduce the cost of energy.
Compressor
A compressor is the heart of your air conditioning unit and it circulates refrigerant throughout the system to keep it cool. It’s similar to the blood of your body when it pumps the coolant between the evaporator coils and condenser. If something goes wrong with your compressor, it will stop the condenser and evaporator from doing their job and will leave your home uncomfortably warm.
There are a myriad of different kinds of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own benefits and drawbacks. A reciprocating compressor, for example is one that has a piston moving up and down in a cylinder. This motion creates a suction that draws in refrigerant. As the piston moves downward, it reduces gas volume. A discharge valve opens to let the pressurized refrigeration into the condenser.
This type of compressor is equipped with a clutch, and a crankshaft which helps the piston to compress air. A rotary compressor, on the other side, has blades within the cylinder which help compress the air. This type of compressor is extremely quiet, which makes it a popular option for residential applications.
Both kinds of HVAC compressors are designed to increase the temperature of the refrigerant liquid while it is compressed, ensuring that the vapor which exits the compressor is high-temperature and high-pressure. It is normal for heat to flow from high-temperature substances down to lower-temperature substances and the hot vapor will travel to the evaporator and return to its liquid state.
You can avoid most AC problems by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment 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 should you have a compressor issue.
Thermostat
The thermostat is the brain of your heating and cooling system, enabling it to control the time and frequency at which it is turned on and off. It compared the temperature of the air to a set desired temperature. If it is off by just a few degrees it will send an electronic signal to alter it towards the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats utilize an electronic sensor known as a thermistor to gauge the temperature. 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 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. Many thermostats can be programmed to automatically cool and heat your home at specific times. This means you don’t have to worry about having to set them manually each day. They also provide information on energy usage so that you can discover ways to reduce costs.
If you have an older electromechanical model the way that it works is a bit more complicated. It is made up of a bimetallic strip that is bonded to a vial with mercury. When the temperature changes it causes the mercury in the vial to tilt, completing or interrupting an electrical circuit. When the vial tipping the thermostat, it turns on the heating and cooling system.
To keep your thermostat in good working order You must clean it frequently to get rid of any dust that may have accumulated. Also, ensure that it isn’t crooked or loose. In certain cases, the thermostat’s readings could be inaccurate due to a dirty or damaged evaporator coil. If that is the situation, you’ll require an expert to fix it for you. If the problem is something else, such as a blank screen or a blank screen, you can try changing the batteries or making sure that your breaker hasn’t been activated. This is an illustration of how your HVAC system can be more efficient when you make the effort to research it and improve its use.