Most homes are equipped with an HVAC system, especially in Tampa where the temperatures often average in the mid-90s. Maintaining the heating and cooling system is an important task for any homeowner.
What is considered an efficient and effective HVAC system? Well, for starters, it includes significant components such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. All of the components must be in sync for the HVAC system to work properly. If you think you are experiencing an issue with your HVAC system, don’t hesitate to reach out to the professionals at Comfort All-Stars.
What are the Components of an HVAC System?
With millions of homeowners using HVAC systems daily, it is important to familiarize yourself with the basic components. As mentioned above, the home comfort system involves elements like a central heating system, ventilation, and a cooling system. But what makes this machine run? Check out the list of important features below.
Heat Exchanger
Heat is essential during colder months. The residential heating system provides a home with satisfying warmth. Today, this feature is included in new home construction, whereas 50 years ago it was almost unheard of. It’s a modern luxury that most of us can’t imagine being without.
Heat can be delivered through systems such as a forced air system, radiation, water-based and geothermal.
- Forced air models use either a heat pump or furnace that heats the air, then pushes it through the ductwork and out strategically placed vents. These are the most commonly used type of residential central heat and air units in the Tampa area.
- Radiation models warm a structure through the direct transfer of heat from a hot surface to a cold one. The heat is then distributed through hot water tubing. A boiler, fueled by natural gas, propane, oil, or electricity, is used to heat the water, allowing the direct transfer of heat to a space.
- Hydronic models work very similarly to radiation systems. Water is heated by a boiler through a mixture of convection and radiation. Then, heated water is either transported to the baseboards of the walls or dispersed by convection as the air rises. The boiler is fueled by the same sources as radiant heat.
- Geothermal models use a specific type of pump to transport heat from one source and then deposit it into another. A geothermal heat pump delivers fluid to the earth via in-ground loops where rocks and soil increase the temperature of the fluid. Geothermal HVAC systems are the most energy-efficient option currently on the market.
Blower Motor
When the HVAC unit is in use the heat exchanger will reach your preset temperature. Once this happens, a blower motor will be responsible for forcing the air to move into your ductwork, going through the air registers, and then finally into all the rooms where vents are installed. The combustion process finishes even before the blower motor stops working. Because of this, the warm air that the heat exchanger produces goes into the rooms of your home before the blower motor shuts down to wait for the next air heating process.
There are two types of blower motors. A single-speed blower motor runs at a steady pace, whereas variable-speed blower motors are equipped with the ability to run at a variety of speeds. Additionally, it can keep a tab on your HVAC system. Since a variable-speed blower motor will rarely reach its full speed, they do not produce the same noise as other blower motors. Also, these blower motors can lessen the level of humidity more effectively during the summer season.
Combustion Chamber
For combustion to successfully take place, oxygen must be present. Your furnace plays an important role in the combustion cycle as it builds up the air that fuels the combustion process.
For a gas furnace, the heating process begins when air enters the burner and mixes with the gas that is present inside it. After the air and gas combine, a pilot light, or sometimes a glow stick lights the mixture. This glow stick is the furnace’s electronic ignition system. On the other hand, the pilot light is a small tube that continuously emits small amounts of gas that acts as fuel to the flame.
Additionally, some high-efficiency gas furnaces contain a second combustion chamber. This additional chamber catches the carbon monoxide as well as unused fuel and compresses it for the second ignition process.
Compressor
A compressor, which is sometimes called a condenser coil, is a vital component of an air conditioning unit or a heat pump. This is the part that is usually installed outside of your home.
A compressor is responsible for cooling your home by releasing heat into the outdoors. This process happens when it turns warm gas into cool liquid by compressing and condensing the refrigerant. Subsequently, a fan blows air over the compressor to help disperse heat and cool the refrigerant faster. After this process, the HVAC system distributes the liquid refrigerant through a copper line into the evaporator coil.
The compressor is the heart of the unit. It must maintain functionality.
Evaporator Coil
The evaporator coil is a major component of your central air system, located within your unit’s inside air handler. Your system delivers coolant to a series of small nozzles or expansion valves, and then these valves distribute the coolant so that it can turn from liquid to vapor quicker. This absorbs heat and cools your home.
Your system’s fan removes hot air from your home by pulling it through return ducts and over the evaporator coil to lower the temperature. The fan then distributes the cool air through your ductwork and out the vents of your home. After that, the cycle begins again with your system sending the coolant back to your condenser coil. Once the hot air touches the evaporator coil, it creates condensation. This reduces the humidity level in your home, making the indoor air feel cooler.
Thermostat
This HVAC component has temperature sensors that decide when your air conditioner or heater will turn on and off. A thermostat is directly wired to your system. There are also programmable thermostats, many of which can be controlled right from your cell phone. You can set this type of thermostat to change its temperature automatically based on your personal preference. For example, if you leave your home, you can set your programmable thermostat to cool or warm your home an hour before you return.
Comfort All-Stars can help you install, repair, and maintain your heating and cooling system, regardless of the type of unit you own. We offer some of the most advanced HVAC parts and accessories available, including evaporator coils, thermostats, and humidifiers. Call us anytime for reliable and affordable service from certified technicians.