What Are the Main Parts of Your Heating Air Conditioning Unit?
It may be worth investing in a replacement unit in the event that your home’s air conditioner is a bit old and in need of repair. A residential HVAC professional can help you select the right solution 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
The evaporator coil of your air conditioner is what cools your home. The evaporator is inside a box that is connected to your gas furnace or within it (if you own one). If you don’t, the coil can be found inside an air handler. The evaporator is 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 which are tightly packed. The refrigerant is in low pressure when it reaches the coils, which makes it easier to transfer heat.
A fan blows your home’s warm air through the coil that is used to evaporate the air. This air is cooled as heat is removed from the evaporator. This lowers the temperature of your indoor air. The cool air is circulated through the ductwork in your home, and then to each room.
In contrast to the compressor, which requires to make the refrigerant gas at extremely high temperatures to ensure efficient cooling, the evaporator requires it to raise its boiling point to a lower temperature to ensure that it is cooling effectively. The evaporator also uses its own fans to help it to achieve this goal.
The metering device of the evaporator assists to ensure that the refrigerant maintains the same amount of liquid in it. The low-side floating is designed to be open when there is no liquid in the evaporator, and close when liquid is introduced into the coils.
There are two kinds of evaporators: cases and uncased. A cased evaporator will be the one you’ll likely to see in your home because it is enclosed inside the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are similar to cases, but they do not have a protective outer shell.
Although both evaporators serve the identical purpose, it’s vital to choose a model that’s capable of meeting the requirements of your house. For instance, some models are better suited for harsher working environments, while others are more suitable for milder conditions. Think about how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This could save you time, money and hassle.
Condenser
The condenser is among the three major components of your air conditioning system that helps keep it operating efficiently. The condenser is outside the home and is connected to the evaporator through refrigerant pipes. It has fans and metal fins which help to remove heat from the refrigerant which is being transferred from the evaporator. The heat that is removed allows the refrigerant to be cooled and transform into a liquid state.
A compressor is attached to a condenser unit. It operates to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeezing action raises the temperature, and it is passed into the condenser to absorb latent heat in the air. After the cooling process, the refrigerant is pushed back into the compressor where it is pressurized again before being pumped to the evaporator coil. There, the process begins again.
The condenser unit is exposed elements due to its location outside. Debris, such as twigs grass clippings, leaves and roofing shingles may be thrown into the condenser unit and cause damage to it. Adding the universal HVAC condenser cover to your cooling and heating system can help to protect the equipment from damage when it’s not in use.
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 and possible 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. Additionally having a professional service team check the refrigerant levels on a regular basis can help prevent any problems from developing. By following these easy steps, you will be able to extend the lifespan of your cooling and heating system and reduce your energy bills.
Compressor
The compressor is the main component of your air conditioning. It circulates refrigerant through the system, keeping everything cool. It’s like the blood in your body when it pumps coolant between the evaporator coils and condenser. If something goes wrong with your compressor, it will stop the evaporator and condenser from completing their tasks and will make your home warm and uncomfortable.
There are several different kinds of HVAC compressors and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, as an example is one that has a piston moving upwards and downwards in a piston. This creates a suction that draws in the refrigerant. As the piston moves down it decreases the gas volume, and then a discharge valve is opened to release the refrigerant pressurized into the condenser coil.
This kind of compressor also comes with a clutch and a crankshaft, which helps the piston to compress air. A rotary compressor, on the 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.
Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to increase the temperature of the refrigerant liquid as it is being compressed, ensuring that the vapor that leaves the compressor is high-temperature and high pressure. The heat naturally flows from high-temperature materials down to lower temperature substances which is why the hot vapor will move to the evaporator before returning to its liquid state.
You can avoid most AC issues by keeping up with your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your equipment will last for a long time and it will give you peace of mind knowing your home is always at ease. Griffith Energy Services can help you choose the best repair options if you have a compressor issue.
Thermostat
The thermostat is the brain of your cooling and heating system, enabling it to regulate the time and frequency at which it is turned on and off. It measures the temperature of the air and compares it with an established desired level. The thermostat will send an alert to adjust the temperature if off by a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats employ the digital sensor, also known as a thermistor to measure the temperature. The thermistor is comprised of two metals which expand differently when heated up and cause the metals to bend in an opposite direction. When the thermistor is at its set temperature it tells the circuit board to turn on your heating or AC system.
Newer models of thermostats have touchscreens that make them simple to operate and program. They are usually programmed to automatically cool or heat your home at specific time frames, which avoids the effort of manually setting the temperature each day. They also provide reports on energy consumption so that you can learn ways to reduce expenses.
If you have an older electromechanical model the method of operation is a bit more complicated. It is comprised of a bimetallic ring that is bonded to mercury a vial. When the temperature changes, it causes the mercury inside the vial to shift and complete or interrupt an electrical circuit. When the vial is tipped it triggers the thermostat to turn on the heating or cooling system.
It is essential to regularly clean your thermostat to get rid of dust. You should also make sure that it isn’t sagging or unbalanced. In some cases the thermostat’s readings might be inaccurate due to a damaged or dirty evaporator coil. In this situation, you’ll have to contact an expert to fix it for you. If you’re experiencing a different problem, such as an unresponsive display try replacing your batteries or making sure that your breaker isn’t in a state of being tripped. This is a great example of how you can make your HVAC system more efficient by learning about it and optimizing its use.