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

If the air conditioning in your home is at its peak the high repair costs and energy bills can be a reason to consider a new unit. A residential HVAC expert can help you choose the best option for your needs.

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

Evaporator

The evaporator coil of your air conditioner is what cools your home. The evaporator coil is in a box that is attached to or within 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 a gas and absorbs heat from your home’s indoor air.

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

A fan blows your home’s warm indoor air over the evaporator coil. The air is cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator which alters the refrigerant’s temperatures and reduces the temperature of your indoor air. The cooled air is then moved through your home’s ductwork system to every room which is where it circulates until it returns to the air conditioning system through return ducts.

Unlike the compressor, which has to create refrigerant gas at extremely high temperatures to ensure efficient cooling, the evaporator only needs to bring its boiling point to a lower temperature to allow for efficient air cooling. The evaporator also uses its own fans to help achieve this objective.

The evaporator metering device makes sure that the refrigerant in the liquid remains at a constant level. The float on the low-side is designed to be open when there’s no liquid in the evaporator, and closes when it sees liquid enter the coils.

There are two primary types of evaporators: Cased and uncased. The most common kind of evaporator you can find in your home is the one that is cased. It is enclosed within the metal casing that protects the air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble cased evaporators, but they don’t have an outer shell with protection.

Both evaporators serve the same purpose, however it’s important to select one that is able to meet the specific requirements of your home. For instance, certain models are better suited to more harsh working environments, whereas others are better suited to milder conditions. It is also important to think about how easy it will be to clean and maintain the evaporator since this can save you time, money, and hassle in the long in the long.

Condenser

The condenser is among the three main components of your air conditioning system that helps keep it operating efficiently. It is situated outside of the house, connected to the evaporator coil via refrigerant lines and contains several metal fins and fans that remove heat from the refrigerant gas that has been transported from the evaporator. The heat that is removed allows the refrigerant to reduce in temperature and then transform to liquid form.

A compressor is attached to the condenser unit. It works to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped out of the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeezing action raises the temperature, which is then transferred to the condenser unit to absorb heat trapped in the air. When the cooling process is completed the refrigerant is pushed into the compressor, where it will be pressurized prior to being pumped back to the evaporator coil.

Since the condenser is outdoors, it is vulnerable to the elements. Debris, such as twigs leaves, grass clippings and even roofing shingles can get into the condenser unit, causing damage to it. A universal HVAC condenser can protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage when not in use.

Beware of shading the condenser. This can impede air flow and make the compressor work harder to cool your home. This can result in increased energy costs as well as a loss of refrigerant.

Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will ensure that the condenser is working properly. A professional service technician inspect all of the major components of your system on a regular basis will assist in preventing any major issues from occurring. A professional service team can also prevent problems by regularly checking the refrigerant level. Follow these steps to extend the life of your cooling and heating system and cut down on energy costs.

Compressor

The compressor is the core of your air conditioner. It pumps refrigerant through the system, which keeps everything cool. You can think of it as the blood that circulates through your body, as it moves the coolant back and forth between your condenser and evaporator coils. If something goes wrong with your compressor, it will stop the condenser and evaporator from completing their tasks and will leave your home feeling uncomfortable warm.

There are many different types of HVAC compressors, and each one has distinct advantages and disadvantages. For instance the reciprocating compressor features an engine that moves up and down within the cylinder. This action creates suction which draws in the refrigerant. As the piston is moved down it reduces the gas volume, and the discharge valve opens to expels the pressurized refrigerant into the condenser coil.

This kind of compressor also comes with a clutch and crankshaft, which assists the piston in compressing the air. A Rotary compressor, on other hand, has blades inside the cylinder that help to compress the air. This kind of compressor is very quiet, which makes it a popular choice for residential use.

The HVAC compressors of both kinds are designed to increase the temperatures of the liquid when it is compressed. This results in an extremely high-temperature, high-pressure liquid. Heat naturally flows from high-temperature materials down to lower temperatures and the hot vapor will move to the evaporator before returning to its liquid state.

You can avoid most AC issues by staying on top with your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your AC will last for many years and give you peace-of-mind knowing that your home will remain comfortable. Griffith Energy Services can help you determine the best repair option if you experience a compressor problem.

Thermostat

The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it controls when and how the system turns on and off. It measures the temperature of the air and compares it with a preset desired level. If it is off by a few degrees the thermostat will send an electronic signal to bring it to bring it closer to the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats utilize a digital sensor called a thermistor to gauge the temperature. The thermistor is made up of two different metals that expand at different rates as they get hot, causing them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor is at its temperature set it sends a signal to the circuit board to start your heating or AC system.

The latest models of thermostats feature touchscreens that make them simple to operate and program. They are usually programmed to automatically heat or cool your home at certain times, which eliminates the effort of having to manually set the temperature each day. Additionally, they offer information on energy usage so you can learn how to cut back on expenses.

If you have an older electromechanical model, it’s slightly more complex. It is made up of a bimetallic strip which is bonded to a vial with mercury. When the temperature changes it causes the mercury in the vial to tilt and complete or interrupt an electrical circuit. When the vial tips the thermostat, it activates the cooling and heating system.

It is essential to regularly clean your thermostat in order to eliminate dust. Also, make sure it isn’t bent or loose. In some cases the thermostat may be having issues with its readings due to an unclean evaporator coil or the thermistor being damaged. In that situation, you’ll require an expert to fix it. If the problem is something else, like a blank screen or a blank screen, you can try replacing the batteries or making sure that your breaker hasn’t been tripped. This is a great example of how you can make your HVAC system more efficient by understanding it and maximizing its use.