What Are the Main Parts of Your Heating Air Conditioning Unit?
It may be worth investing in a replacement unit when your home’s HVAC is a bit old and in need of repair. 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 condensers to run.
Evaporator
The evaporator coil in your air conditioner is what cools your house. The evaporator is located in a box connected to your gas furnace or within it (if you have one). If you don’t have one, the coil can be found inside an air handler. The evaporator is the place where refrigerant transforms into a liquid and absorbs heat from the air in your home.
The evaporator consists of one or more copper coils tightly bonded. The refrigerant is in low pressure when it gets to the coils, making it easier to transfer heat.
A fan blows warm indoor air over the coil that is used to evaporate the air. This air is cooled when heat is taken away from the evaporator. This reduces the temperature of your indoor air. The cooled air is then moved through your home’s ductwork system to every room, where it circulates until it returns to the air conditioning system via return ducts.
The evaporator, unlike the compressor, needs to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant down to a low temperature to ensure effective air cooling. 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 maintains the same amount of liquid inside it. The low-side float is designed to open when there is no liquid in the evaporator, and it closes when it sees liquid enter the coils.
There are two kinds of evaporators, noncased and cased. A cased evaporator is one you’ll likely to find in your home, since it is enclosed inside the metal casing of your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators resemble cased evaporators, but they do not have an outer shell that is protected.
Both evaporators have the same purpose but it is important to choose a model that can satisfy your home’s particular needs. For instance, certain models are better suited to extreme working environments, while others are better suited to more moderate conditions. Also, you should think about how easy it will be to clean and maintain the evaporator as this can save you time, money and effort in the long run.
Condenser
The condenser is among the three major components of your air conditioning system that helps keep it operating efficiently. The condenser is located outside the house and is connected to the evaporator through refrigerant pipes. It is comprised of metal fins and fans which work to remove the heat from the refrigerant which has been transported from the evaporator. The heat that is removed from the refrigerant gas aids it cool before turning back into liquid form.
A compressor is connected to the condenser unit and is used to pressurize the low-pressure refrigerant liquid that has been transferred from the evaporator. The compressor’s squeezing action raises the temperature, and it is passed into the condenser 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 leaves or twigs grass clippings, grass clippings, or even roofing shingles could cause damage to the condenser. By 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 crucial to not shade the condenser. This can impede air flow and force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This could lead to higher energy bills and a possible loss of refrigerant.
Regular maintenance will ensure that your HVAC system is operating correctly. A professional service technician look over all of the major components of your system on a regular basis will aid in preventing major problems from occurring. A professional service team can keep your system in good working order by regularly checking the refrigerant level. By following these easy steps, you will be able to extend the lifespan of your cooling and heating system and reduce the cost of energy.
Compressor
The compressor is the heart of your air conditioning. It circulates refrigerant throughout the system, which keeps everything cool. It’s like the blood in your body, since it circulates coolant back and forth between your condenser and evaporator coils. If the compressor fails then the evaporator won’t be able to perform its job, and your home will be extremely hot.
There are a myriad of different kinds of HVAC compressors. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example the reciprocating compressor features an engine that moves up and down within the cylinder. This action creates suction which draws in the refrigerant. When the piston is moving downwards it reduces the gas volume. A discharge valve opens to let the pressurized refrigeration to the condenser.
This type of compressor includes a clutch and a crankshaft, which helps the piston in compressing the air. A rotary compressor has blades inside the cylinder to help compress 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 liquid refrigerant as it is being compressed, so that the vapor that leaves the compressor is high-temperature and high pressure. Heat naturally flows from high-temperature substances down to lower temperatures and the hot vapor will travel 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 provide you with 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 determines the time and frequency at which the system turns on and off. It determines the temperature of the air and compares it with an established desired level. If it is off by one or two degrees, the thermostat will send an electronic signal to alter it towards the desired temperature. The majority of modern thermostats measure temperature with the digital sensor, also known as the thermosistor. The thermistor is made up of two metals that expand in different ways when heated up which causes the metals to bend in an opposite directions. When the thermistor reaches its temperature, it signals the circuit board to start your heating or AC system.
Newer models of thermostats have touchscreens that make them easy to operate and program. They are often programmed to automatically cool or heat your house at specific times, which saves you the hassle of having to set it every day. In addition, they provide reports on energy usage to help you figure out how to cut down on expenses.
If you have an older electromechanical model, the way that it works is a little more complex. It is made up of a bimetallic strip that is attached to a vial using mercury. When temperatures change, the mercury in a vial moves, either complete or rupturing an electrical circuit. When the vial tipping, the thermostat turns on the cooling and heating system.
It is essential to regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. You should also make sure that it isn’t sagging or unbalanced. In certain cases the thermostat could be having trouble in its readings due to an unclean evaporator coil or a damaged thermistor. In this case, you’ll need to get an expert to resolve the issue. If you are experiencing a other issue, like blank displays, try changing your batteries or ensuring that your breaker is not connected. This is a good example of how you can improve the efficiency of your HVAC system more efficient by understanding it and optimizing its use.