What Are the Main Parts of Your Heating Air Conditioning Unit?
If the air conditioning in your home is in its senior years, high repair costs and energy bills could be a reason to consider an upgrade. A residential HVAC expert can assist you in choosing the best option for your home.
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 house. The evaporator can be found inside a box that is connected to your gas furnace or inside it (if you own one). If you don’t have one, the coil can be found in an air handler. The evaporator is the place where the refrigerant liquid transforms into gas and absorbs heat from the home’s indoor air.
The evaporator is comprised of one or more copper coils that are tightly bonded. The refrigerant is able to reach the coils at low pressure, which makes it easier for it to transfer heat when it evaporates into gaseous form.
A fan blows warm air from your home to the coil that is used to evaporate. The air is cooled by the removal of heat from the evaporator which alters the refrigerant’s temperatures and reduces your indoor air temperature. The cool air then flows through your home’s ductwork to every room and circulates until it is returned to the air conditioning system through return ducts.
The evaporator, in contrast to the compressor, only needs to raise the boiling point of the refrigerant down to a low temperature to ensure effective air cooling. The evaporator also has its own fans to help it in achieving this final goal.
The evaporator’s metering device helps to ensure that the refrigerant has an even amount of liquid inside it. The low-side float is designed to open when there’s no liquid in the evaporator, and it closes when sees liquid enter the coils.
There are two primary kinds of evaporators: cases and uncased. The most popular type of evaporator in your home is the one that is cased. It is enclosed within the casing made of metal that covers your air conditioning unit. Uncased evaporators are similar to the cased evaporators, however they do not have an outer shell with protection.
Although both evaporators serve the same purpose, it’s important to select a model suitable for the requirements of your house. For instance, certain models are better suited for harsher working environments, while others are better suited for more moderate conditions. It is also important to consider how easy it will be to clean and maintain the evaporator as this can save you time, money and effort in the long in the long.
Condenser
The condenser is among the three main components of your air conditioning system which helps to keep it running efficiently. It is located outside the house, connected to the evaporator’s coil by refrigerant lines. It is also home to an array of metal fins and fans that remove heat from the refrigerant gas that was transferred from the evaporator. The heat removed from the refrigerant gas aids it to cool before turning back into liquid form.
A compressor is attached to the condenser unit. It is used to pressurize the low-pressure liquid refrigerant that was taken from the evaporator coil. The squeeze action of the compressor raises the temperature of the coolant which then flows into the condenser coils to take in heat that is not being released from the surrounding air. After it has completed its cooling cycle, the refrigerant is pushed back into the compressor where it is pressed again prior to being pumped to the evaporator coil, where the process starts all over again.
Because the condenser is located outside, it is exposed to the elements. Debris like twigs or leaves grass clippings, grass clippings, or even roofing shingles, can cause damage to the condenser. A universal HVAC condenser can protect your heating and cooling equipment from damage while not in use.
It is also crucial to not shade the condenser. Doing so can restrict air flow and force the compressor to work harder to cool your home. This could result in increased energy costs as well as a loss of refrigerant.
Regular maintenance of your HVAC system can help ensure that the condenser is working correctly. Having a professional service technician examine every major component of your system regularly can aid in preventing major issues from occurring. A professional service team can also avoid problems by checking regularly the refrigerant levels. Follow these steps to extend the life of your heating/cooling system and cut down on energy costs.
Compressor
The compressor is the core of your air conditioning. It pumps refrigerant through the system, which keeps everything cool. It’s like the blood in your body when it pumps the coolant between the evaporator coils and condenser. If the compressor fails then the evaporator won’t be able perform its job and your house will be extremely hot.
There are a myriad of different kinds of HVAC compressors. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. A reciprocating compressor, for instance, has a piston moving up and down in the cylindrical. This motion creates a suction which draws in the refrigerant. As the piston is moved down it decreases the volume of gas, and then a discharge valve is opened to expels the pressurized refrigerant into the condenser coil.
This type of compressor is equipped with a clutch, and a crankshaft that helps the piston compress the air. A rotary compressor is equipped with blades inside the cylinder to aid in compressing the air. This type of compressor is quiet, which makes it a popular choice for residential applications.
Both types of HVAC compressors are designed to raise the temperature of the refrigerant’s liquid while it is compressed, ensuring that the vapor that exits the compressor is high-temperature and high pressure. Heat naturally flows from high-temperature materials down to lower temperatures 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 issues by keeping track of your maintenance schedule. This will help your equipment last for a long time and will provide you with peace of mind knowing your home is always comfortable. If you do experience problems with your compressor then your Griffith Energy Services technician can assist you in determining what repairs are the best for you.
Thermostat
The thermostat is your heating and cooling system’s brain and it determines the frequency and manner in which the system is turned on and off. It measures the temperature of the air and compares it to an established desired level. The thermostat will send a signal to adjust the temperature if it’s off a few degrees. The majority of modern thermostats monitor temperature with the digital sensor, also known as a thermosistor. The thermistor is made up of two metals that expand differently when heated up which causes the metals to bend in an opposite direction. When the thermistor is at the temperature it was set to it informs the circuit board that your heating or AC should be switched on.
The touchscreens on the newer models make it easier to program and operate. Many thermostats are programmed to automatically heat and cool your home at specific times. This means you don’t have to worry about having to manually set them every day. In addition, they provide information on energy usage to help you figure out how to cut down on costs.
If you have an older electromechanical model the way it operates is a bit more complex. It is comprised of a bimetallic strip that is attached to a vial using mercury. When the temperature changes and the mercury inside a vial moves, either complete or breaking a circuit. When the vial is tipped it triggers the thermostat to turn on the cooling or heating system.
It is essential to regularly clean your thermostat to remove dust. Also, make sure that it isn’t crooked or loose. In some cases the thermostat’s readings may be incorrect due to a dirty or damaged evaporator coil. If that is the situation, you’ll need to call a professional to fix the problem for you. If the issue is something else, like an unresponsive screen or a blank screen, you can try replacing the batteries or making sure that your breaker has not been activated. This is an example of how your HVAC system can be more efficient when you make the effort to understand it and make the most of its use.