What Are the Main Parts of Your Heating Air Conditioning Unit?
It could be worthwhile to invest in a new unit if your home’s air conditioner is old and in need of repair. A residential HVAC expert can help you choose the right option for your home.
Gas-powered air conditioners, also referred to 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 is located inside a box that is connected to your gas furnace, or inside it (if you have one). If you don’t, the evaporator can be found inside 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 is made up of one or more copper coils that are tightly packed. The refrigerant has a low pressure when it gets to the coils, making it easier to transfer heat.
A fan blows your home’s warm air through 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 your indoor air temperature. The cool air then flows through your home’s ductwork to every room which is where it circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system via return ducts.
The evaporator, in contrast to the compressor, only needs to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant to a low temperature to ensure effective air cooling. The evaporator has its own fans to accomplish this goal.
The evaporator metering system ensures that the liquid refrigerant remains at an unchanging level. The low-side floating is designed to be open when there is no liquid in the evaporator. It will close when liquid gets into the coils.
There are two main kinds of evaporators: cases and uncased. The most commonly used kind of evaporator you can find in your home is the cased one. It is enclosed within the casing made of metal that covers your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are like cases, but they don’t have a protective outer shell.
Both evaporators have the same purpose but it’s important to select a model that can satisfy your home’s particular needs. Some models are better suited to more harsh environments, while others could be more appropriate for milder conditions. Consider how easy it is to clean and maintain your evaporator. This could save you money, time and effort.
Condenser
The condenser is one of three major components of your home’s air conditioning system that helps keep it operating efficiently. It is located outside of the house, connected to the evaporator coil by refrigerant lines. It also houses a series of fans and metal fins which work to eliminate heat from the refrigerant gas that was transported from the evaporator. The heat removed allows the refrigerant to cool down and transform back to liquid form.
A compressor is connected to an condenser unit. It is used to pressurize low-pressure liquid refrigeration that has been pumped from the evaporator coil. The compressor’s squeeze action increases the temperature, and it is carried into the condenser to absorb heat trapped in the air. After the cooling process, the refrigerant is pushed back into the compressor where it is pressed again prior to being pumped to the evaporator coil. There, the process begins again.
The condenser unit is exposed to elements since it is outside. Debris such as leaves or twigs grass clippings or even roofing shingles can damage the condenser. The addition of an universal HVAC condenser cover to your cooling and heating system can help to protect the equipment from damage when it’s not in use.
It is also essential to ensure that the condenser is not shaded. This can decrease air flow, forcing the compressor to work harder in order to cool your home. This can lead to more expensive energy bills as well as a possible loss of refrigerant.
Regular maintenance of your HVAC system can help ensure that the condenser is operating properly. Regularly having a professional technician inspect all major components of your HVAC system can aid in preventing major issues. In addition, having a professional service team check your refrigerant levels frequently can help keep any problems from developing. Follow these simple steps to prolong the life of your heating and cooling system and cut down on energy costs.
Compressor
The compressor is the core of your air conditioning. It pumps refrigerant through the system, ensuring that everything stays cool. It is as the blood flowing through your body, in that it moves the coolant back and forth 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 become uncomfortably hot.
There are a variety of types of HVAC compressors. Each has its own benefits and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, for example, has a piston moving upwards and downwards in a piston. This movement produces a suction that draws in refrigerant. As the piston is moved down it reduces the volume of gas, and then a discharge valve opens to release the refrigerant pressurized into the condenser coil.
This type of compressor has a clutch as well as crankshaft, which assists the piston in compressing the air. A rotary compressor, on the other hand, has blades inside the cylinder that assist in helping compress the air. This type of compressor is quiet, making it a popular option for residential use.
The HVAC compressors of both types are designed to increase the temperatures of the liquid when it is compressed. This creates a high-pressure, high-temperature vapor. It is normal for heat to flow from high-temperature substances to lower-temperature substances, so the hot vapor will move to the evaporator before returning to its liquid state.
While you cannot avoid the possibility of having a problem with your compressor, you can prevent the majority of AC problems by keeping track of your maintenance schedule. This will help your equipment last for a long time and will give you peace of mind knowing that your home is always at ease. Griffith Energy Services can help you decide on 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 frequency and manner in which the system is turned on and off. It compares the temperature of the air to a set desired temperature. The thermostat will send an indication to alter the temperature if it’s off by a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats gauge temperature with the digital sensor, also known as the thermistor. The thermistor is composed of two different metals that expand at different rates when they get hot and cause them to bend in opposite directions. When the thermistor is at the temperature it was set to it informs the circuit board that heating or AC should be switched on.
Newer models of thermostats have touchscreens that make them easy to use and program. A lot of thermostats are programmed to automatically heat and cool your home at specific times. This will save you from having to set them manually every day. Additionally, they offer reports on energy consumption so you can learn how to reduce costs.
If you have an older electromechanical model the way it operates is a bit more complicated. It is composed of a bimetallic band that is bonded with mercury to the vial. When the temperature changes in the vial, it causes the mercury in the vial to tilt in a way, interrupting or completing an electrical circuit. When the vial is tipped, it triggers the thermostat to start the heating or cooling system.
To ensure that your thermostat is in good condition, you must be sure to clean it on a regular basis to remove any dust that has accumulated. Also, ensure that it isn’t crooked or loose. In certain cases, the thermostat’s readings could be incorrect due to a dirty or damaged evaporator coil. In this scenario, you’ll require an expert to fix the problem for you. If the issue is something else, like blank screens, you can try changing the batteries or ensuring that your breaker has not been tripped. This is a good example of how you can make your HVAC system more efficient by gaining knowledge about it and optimizing its use.