When it comes to your home’s residential HVAC system, you may feel a little in the dark. And if you are like most homeowners your main interaction with your system involves changing the temperature on your thermostat and turning it off and on. However, having a basic understanding of your residential HVAC system will help you troubleshoot any problems you may have with your system. Another benefit is that you’ll be able to better explain any issues you are having with your system to a trained professional.
The first part of understanding your residential HVAC system is understanding what HVAC stands for, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. When it comes to residential HVAC systems there are four types, a split system, heat pump, ductless mini-spirit system, and packaged units. Traditional split systems are indoor and outdoor units that are attached to your home’s duct system. This allows air to move through the vents and into each room. When it comes to heat pumps and packaged systems no ducts are required for your system to run. The next step in understanding your residential HVAC system is knowing about the parts that make it up.
The evaporator coil in your residential HVAC system is typically mounted in or above the air handling unit inside of your home. Typically you can find the air handler and furnace are in the same place. Copper pipes work to carry refrigerant from the condensing unit outside to the evaporator coil located on the inside. This part is what creates the cool air you feel throughout your home. By the time the refrigerant reaches the evaporator, it has turned into a cold liquid. After that warm air will pass over the cold evaporator coils that work to vaporize the refrigerant liquid, turning it back into a cool gas. This cool air is then distributed throughout the ducts and is pushed out through the vents in your home.
The blower motor in your residential HVAC system is a part of your evaporator coil. If your air conditioning unit is running but isn’t producing cold air, this is typically because of an issue with your blower motor. You may be surprised to find out that air conditioners don’t actually produce cold air. Instead, they transfer heat from one area to another and your blower motor is what directs the transfer of heat. The blower fan works to suck in warm air and then passes it over the evaporator coils where it will cool they air and will return the cooled air back into your room. If your blower motor is broken then air will not circulator throughout the system. This can lead to some serious problems like the freezing of your evaporator coils.
The condenser in your residential HVAC system is located in the outdoor unit. This part is where the heat transfer takes place. The condenser is compromised of a control board, the compressor, the condenser fan motor, and coils. In order for the AC’s cooling process to begin the refrigerant flows through the coils while the fan works to pull in the air and this air is then blown over the coils to help dissipate heat.
If you are having problems with your condenser it can usually be traced back to a few things. This includes dirty for bent condenser coils, damaged fan blades, the fan, the motor, or the capacitor. When the condenser in your residential AC system isn’t working the refrigerant in the coils isn’t able to be cooled. If your AC isn’t blowing cold air it could be a sign that your condensing unit is having a problem.
When it comes to your compressor it is the part of the condensing unit that drives your AC. Often times it is referred to as the heart of your residential HVAC system because it is responsible for moving the refrigerant throughout your system. Without this refrigerant, your AC will not be able to produce cold air.
The compressor is powered by a motor that works hard and can undergo a lot of wear and tear. Because of that, it is important to make sure you take the time to check your indoor and outdoor unit so dirt and grime don’t build up. The compressor is one of the most expensive parts in your residential HVAC system. In order to avoid a breakdown you will want to keep the area around the outdoor as clean as possible and schedule regular maintenance to make sure everything is running correctly.
The compressor is powered by a motor that works hard and can undergo a lot of wear and tear. Because of that, it is important to make sure you take the time to check your indoor and outdoor unit so dirt and grime don’t build up. The compressor is one of the most expensive parts in your residential HVAC system. In order to avoid a breakdown you will want to keep the area around the outdoor as clean as possible and schedule regular maintenance to make sure everything is running correctly.
Now that you have a better understanding of the parts that make up your residential HVAC system you will have a better understanding of how exactly your system works. HVAC systems work on the physics principle of liquid expanding into gas and then pulling heat from its surroundings. This happens when refrigerant runs through the condenser coil that is located in the outside unit to the evaporator coil to the unit inside.
When you turn on the air conditioner, low-pressure refrigerant gas will work to turn warm air into cold air starting the cooling process. This gas will then flow through the condenser coils where it is then condensed into a high-pressure liquid. While this is happening, the condenser fan will then blow over the coils to remove excess heat into the air.
Knowing the basic components and how your residential HVAC system works will help you detect problems you may be having. However, when it comes to fixing these problems it may be best to leave it to the experts! Our team at Express Tech Air is here to help with all of your HVAC needs! Contact us today for more information about our residential services!
