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 could be a reason to consider an upgrade. A residential HVAC professional can help you determine the best solution for your needs.
Most cooling systems rely on electricity to cool and heat homes, however certain gas-powered or propane air conditioners use natural gas to power furnaces and run condensers in a split system.
Evaporator
An evaporator coil is the part of your air conditioner that cools your home. The evaporator is located within a box attached to your gas furnace, or inside it (if you own one). If you don’t, the evaporator is located in an air handler. The evaporator is where refrigerant transforms into a liquid and absorbs heat from the air inside your home.
The evaporator has one or more copper coils tightly packed. The refrigerant enters the coils with low pressure, making it easier to transfer heat as it evaporates to a gaseous state.
A fan blows warm air that is escaping your home over the coil that is used to evaporate. The air is cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator which changes the refrigerant’s temperature and reduces the temperature of your indoor air. The cooled air is circulated through the ductwork in your home to each room.
Unlike the compressor, which has to create refrigerant gas in high temperatures to ensure efficient cooling, the evaporator only needs to bring its boiling point to a lower temperature to ensure that it is cooling effectively. The evaporator is also equipped with its own fans to help it in achieving this objective.
The evaporator’s metering device helps to ensure that the refrigerant has the same amount of liquid in it. The float on the low-side is designed to be open when there’s no liquid in the evaporator, and closes when it detects liquid entering the coils.
There are two kinds of evaporators, cased and noncased. A cased evaporator is the one you’ll most likely to see in your home since it’s enclosed within the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble the cased evaporators, however they do not have an outer shell with protection.
Both evaporators have the same function, but it is important to choose the one that will meet your home’s specific needs. Certain models are better suited to extreme environments, whereas others might be more suitable in more moderate conditions. Think about how easy it would be to clean and maintain your evaporator. This can save you time, money and hassle.
Condenser
The condenser is among the three main components of the air conditioning system in your home that helps keep it operating efficiently. The condenser is located outside the house and is connected to the evaporator by refrigerant pipes. It contains metal fins and fans which help to remove heat from the refrigerant which was transferred from the evaporator. The heat that is emitted helps the refrigerant cool down and transform back to liquid form.
A compressor is attached to the condenser unit. It helps to pressurize the low pressure liquid refrigerant that has been transferred from the evaporator. The compressor’s squeezing action increases the temperature, which is carried into the condenser to absorb latent heat in the air. After the cooling cycle is completed, the refrigerant will be moved into the compressor, where it will be pumped under pressure before being sent back to the evaporator coil.
Because the condenser is located outdoors, it is vulnerable to the elements. Debris like twigs, grass clippings, leaves, and roofing shingles may fall into the condenser unit and cause damage to it. A universal HVAC condenser can protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage while not in use.
Do not shade the condenser. This can reduce air flow, forcing the compressor to work harder in order to cool your home. This could lead to increased energy costs and possible loss of refrigerant.
Regular maintenance of your HVAC system will help to ensure that the condenser works effectively. Regularly having a professional technician examine every major component of your HVAC system can aid in preventing major issues. A professional service team can avoid problems by checking regularly the refrigerant level. Follow these simple steps to extend the life of your heating/cooling system and cut down on energy costs.
Compressor
A compressor is the heart of your air conditioning unit, and it circulates refrigerant throughout the system to keep everything cool. It’s as the blood that circulates through your body, in that it moves the coolant between your condenser and evaporator coils. If the compressor fails and the evaporator fails, it will not be able to perform its job and your home will get extremely hot.
There are many different types of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own benefits and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, for instance, has a piston moving up and down in a cylinder. This movement creates a suction that draws in the refrigerant. As the piston moves downwards it decreases the volume of gas. A discharge valve then opens to let the pressurized refrigeration to the condenser.
This type of compressor is equipped with a clutch, and a crankshaft that helps the piston compress air. A rotary compressor comes with blades that are within the cylinder to aid in compressing the air. This type of compressor is quiet, making it a popular option for residential use.
Both kinds of HVAC compressors are designed to raise the temperature of the refrigerant liquid when it is compressed, so that the vapor that exits the compressor is high-pressure and high-temperature. The heat naturally flows from high-temperature materials down to lower-temperature substances and the hot vapor moves into the evaporator, and then return to its liquid state.
While you can’t prevent the chance of having problems with the compressor, you can avoid the majority of AC problems by staying on top of your maintenance schedule. This will ensure that your AC will last for a long time 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 your heating and cooling system’s brain, and it controls the time and frequency at which the system is turned on and off. It compares the air temperature to a set desired temperature. The thermostat will send an indication to alter the temperature if it is off by a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats monitor temperature by using a digital sensor known as the thermistor. The thermistor consists of two metals which expand differently when heated which causes the metals to bend in an opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches its set temperature, it signals the circuit board to turn on your heating or AC system.
Modern thermostats come with touchscreens that make them easy to use and program. They are usually programmed to automatically heat or cool your house at specific times, which eliminates the effort of having to manually set it every day. Additionally, they offer information on energy usage so that you can figure out how to cut down on costs.
If you have an older electromechanical model, it’s slightly more complex. It is made up of a bimetallic strip which is attached to a vial with mercury. When temperatures change, the mercury in a vial tilts, completing or rupturing an electrical circuit. When the vial tipping, the thermostat turns on the heating and 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, make sure that it isn’t bent or loose. In some instances, the thermostat’s readings might be incorrect due to a dirty or damaged evaporator coil. In that situation, you’ll have to contact an expert to fix the problem for you. If the issue is something else, like blank screens it is possible to try replacing the batteries or making sure that your breaker has not been tripped. This is an illustration of how your HVAC system can be more efficient if you take the time to research it and improve its use.