Be Sure You Know All the HVAC Parts Inside Your Home’s Unit

The better you know your HVAC system and the HVAC parts inside, the better prepared you’ll be to take care of it. There are all sorts of components to the unit. Which components are which, and what do they do? Here’s a rundown of the most important HVAC parts and how they function within your system.

• Heat exchanger. Part of your furnace, this is one of the most important HVAC parts, as it’s the mechanism that heats the air before it’s distributed through your home. In most furnaces, it’s powered by gas, though it can also run on oil or electricity. The heat source warms the metal walls of the exchanger. Then when air passes over it, it heats up before being distributed throughout your home.
• Blower motor. Essentially a large fan, this is what draws the air across the heat exchanger and distributes it throughout your home via your ductwork. It also pulls air out through the return duct, which goes back through the system to be heated again. This keeps your air circulating and helps improve your IAQ.
• Evaporator coil. Used in either your AC unit or your heat pump, the evaporator coil is what extracts heat from the air. In your AC, that heat is vented outside, while the cold air that remains is circulated through your home. With your heat pump, the opposite happens: The extracted heat is pumped into your home and the cold air is vented outside.
• Compressor. The evaporator coil causes the refrigerant in your AC or heat pump to expand so that the heat it absorbs can be released. The compressor contracts the refrigerant again, turning it back into a liquid so it can absorb more heat.
• Thermostat. The most visible part of your HVAC system, this is how you set the temperature for your home. Place your thermostat in a central area that sees a lot of foot traffic throughout the day. This will help eliminate hot and cold spots and encourage even heating and cooling throughout your home.

Whichever HVAC parts need servicing, you can contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide quality home-comfort solutions to the Lorain, Oberlin, and Elyria areas.