After a heavy day at work, we all enjoy the comfort our house provides. We just relax and turn on the heating or the cooling system, and that’s it.
As you can see, an HVAC system plays an important role in our well-being. Even so, most people’s only knowledge of their HVAC system is that it cools or warms their lives when needed. The bad of it, is that when the system has issues, such as an air conditioner not blowing cold air, people get frustrated because they don’t understand the source of the problem due to its complex and numerous components.
Getting at least a basic understanding of the main parts of HVAC system can help you in many ways. So, in this blog post, I will talk about its 6 most crucial parts. Enjoy your read!
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; the hvac system plays a vital role in our comfort. But do you know what are those crucial parts of an HVAC system? Don’t you? Don’t worry; I will tell you everything you need to know about the 6 most important ones in the sections below.
A thermostat is the command center of HVAC systems, regulating indoor temperature by sensing and adjusting settings. Think of the thermostat as the brain of your HVAC system, telling it when to heat or cool your space to maintain your desired comfort level.
Advanced models offer programmable features for energy efficiency, enabling users to customize comfort levels and schedule temperature changes.
Here is a step-by-step guide on troubleshooting and fixing common problems with a thermostat.
There are times when we may notice that the air conditioning system is not starting even though the thermostat appears to be functioning. This does not necessarily mean that the thermostat is faulty; so read our article to learn other reasons why the thermostat clicks but the AC does not turn on.
Imagine your home as a body, and the air handler as its lungs. This indoor unit is the heart of your air circulation system. It works tirelessly, drawing in warm air through return ducts.
An air filter within the handler traps dust and allergens, keeping your air clean. Then, the blower fan pushes air past the evaporator coil, which has been chilled by your AC or heat pump. This cools the air, making your home comfortable.
Finally, the conditioned air is circulated throughout your house via supply ducts. So next time you feel that cool rush on a hot day, remember the air handler – the silent conductor of your home’s comfort.
Your air conditioner wouldn’t be so cool without its evaporator coil. Nestled inside the air handler, this metal magician is where the magic of cool air happens.
Think of it as a heat sponge. As warm air gets pulled through the unit, the evaporator coil, filled with refrigerant, absorbs the heat. The refrigerant, cooler than the air, gets even colder due to the pressure change caused by the compressor. This double whammy chills the air flowing past the coil.
Moisture in the air also condenses on the coil’s cool surface, creating that familiar drip you see outside your house.
While you might picture cool air when you think AC, there’s a hidden champion outside battling the heat: the condenser coil. This network of tubes in your outdoor unit is where the real fight goes down.
Imagine hot, pressurized refrigerant gas arriving from inside. The condenser coil, like a radiator, uses the cooler outdoor air to shed that heat. A fan blows air across the coil, carrying away the unwanted warmth.
As the refrigerant cools, it transforms back into a liquid, ready to repeat its cooling mission inside. Without this heat release, your AC would be like a car engine constantly revving – going nowhere fast.
The heat exchanger acts like a bridge, efficiently transferring thermal energy between fluids.
In heating mode, a hot fluid, like water or combustion gases, warms the heat exchanger. Air from your home then flows across the exchanger, absorbing this heat and getting warmed up. In cooling mode, the process flips. A cool refrigerant absorbs heat from the air, cooling it down as it passes through the exchanger.
Think of it as a handshake between hot and cold. The heat exchanger never mixes the fluids, ensuring safe and efficient comfort control in your home.
The AC compressor. This workhorse lurks in your outdoor unit, silently compressing refrigerant to make it colder.
Imagine tiny packets of cool air. The compressor squeezes them, raising their pressure and kicking them into high gear. This lets them absorb more heat from inside your home.
The super-heated refrigerant then travels outside, where the condenser releases the heat. The cooled refrigerant returns inside, ready for another round.
Without a compressor, your AC is basically a fan. So next time you enjoy a refreshing breeze, give a silent thanks to this mighty component.
If your AC compressor is having problems, please read our article about the AC compressor not turning on.
An HVAC lifespan is highly variable since it depends on many factors, such as the kind of system you have. However, the general lifespan is around 15-20 years.
To ensure that it will last for a long time working at its best, it is essential to provide regular maintenance to the entire HVAC system without overlooking not even a single part of it.
Now, if you wonder, “How often should I maintain my HVAC system?” then let me tell you that it would be nice to do it at least once a year.
Last and foremost, you need to ensure it is done by professional HVAC technicians with vast experience. Otherwise, what was going to be just routine maintenance can end up with worse consequences.
While it can be tempting to do it by oneself, it can be better not to do it; remember the saying, “Just because you can, does not mean you should.”
Understanding these 6 key parts of HVAC system empowers you to appreciate the complex system that keeps you comfortable. Just like knowing your car parts helps you avoid breakdowns, basic HVAC knowledge can alert you to potential issues and enable you to communicate better with technicians, keeping your home’s climate perfectly in tune.
At AAC Heating and Air INC, we have 25+ years of experience, and we know every aspect of an HVAC system like the palm of our hands. So, you can hire our skilled technicians for professional installation, replacement, or maintenance services!
