It’s hot, so you push a few degrees down on your thermostat and your house feels better in mere minutes.
You probably aren’t thinking about the inner workings of your HVAC system, but we thought it might be cool (pun intended) to share what exactly is happening in that system of yours, so the next time something may be off, you have a better understanding of what the problem could be.
Meet the Compressor
Not be confused with The Professor, but honestly, a good way to think about it. The compressor is leading the class. This is the heart of the system, yet it sits on your outdoor unit. The compressor is pressurizing refrigerant gas and pushing it through your system. If the system fails, the compressor is usually the first place we look for a problem.
Meet the Condenser Coil
The heat from your home has to go somewhere and that’s what this coil does. It also lives on your outside unit and it takes the heat from your home and pushes it into the air outdoors. If you are standing beside your unit and feel warm air, that’s your condenser coil doing work.
Meet the Evaporator Coil
This coil is inside and typically mounted over your air handler or furnace. As the refrigerant passes through it, it absorbs the heat and humidity from the air, thus cooling your home.
Meet the Air Handler/Blower
This component is what pushes the air through the ductwork and into the rooms of your house. If this fails, it means uneven cooling and rooms that feel warm or too cold.
Meet the Refrigerant Lines
These copper lines are how the refrigerant gets from the outside to the inside of your home, cycling between liquid and gas states. This is the whole basis for the cooling process.
Meet the Air Filter
You may have met this one before, as it’s common to change the air filter in your AC system every 3 months. If you have pets or a household with a lot of allergies, this is vitally important. It keeps all the dust, debris and allergens out of your home and keeps your air quality high.
You know The Thermostat well. This is your command system. It reads the temperature in your home and knows when to switch your system on and off. A simple battery replacement once a year is helpful to keep your thermostat running smoothly.
If you have warm air blowing from your vents, ice on the coils or refrigerant lines, hearing weird noises, smelling musty odors, noticing water by your unit or suddenly getting higher energy bills, give Shafer’s HVAC a call. We can diagnose the problem and get you back up and running.
A few other tips to stay friendly with your system.
Keep your outdoor unit clean by ensuring no leaves or debris are covering it. Keep your inside vents free from furniture or rugs blocking air flow. Schedule a tune up before each season for peace of mind.
Shafer’s HVAC is here to help and answer any questions about your cooling (or heating) system. Give us a call at 724-543-2615 or visit our contact page.
