Your home is heated and cooled by your HVAC system. HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. The term HVAC is meant to encompass the entire system in your home that keeps the temperature and airflow in your home comfortable. Many homeowners know enough about their HVAC system to know when to call a service technician, but knowing all the parts of your HVAC system can come in handy.
Parts of Your HVAC System
For the purposes of the following information, we will be discussing the parts in a central heating and air conditioning HVAC system in a residential home. Many of the parts listed below are found in commercial HVAC systems but at a different scale that we will not cover in this article.
1. Ductwork – The transportation of air throughout your home is done so through the ductwork. It is usually put in place during the construction of your home. This ductwork is generally made of a lightweight aluminum and connects both your furnace and air conditioner to every room in your home.
2. Vents – In each room where the ductwork connects to the room there is a vent. Vents are made of a temperature safe metal and have a control lever that allows you to increase or reduce the amount of air that is allowed into the room.
3. Thermostat – The most visible part of your HVAC system is the thermostat. The thermostat is the interface where you get to control temperature, airflow, and other variables based on the type of thermostat you have. You set the thermostat to your comfort level and it electronically controls your furnace and air conditioner.
4. Furnace – The flagship of your HVAC system is the furnace. It is the largest component and typically resides in the basement, cellar, or a special closet designed for it. It has the sole purpose of heating a supply of air that is distributed throughout your home. Furnaces can use the combustion of fuel, electricity, a heat pump, or even alternative energy like solar or wind to function.
5. Heat Exchanger – The heat exchanger is a separate part of your HVAC system but is almost always within the furnace housing. The heat exchanger pulls in cool air and then, once the furnace heats that air, it continues to distribute the air throughout the home. A heat exchanger and furnace come together but are not the same thing. The furnace creates the heat and the heat exchanger heats the air.
6. Evaporator Coil – The evaporator coil is the opposite of the heat exchanger. It cools the air. It is usually located on the furnace’s exterior and works just like an automobile radiator to produce cooler air.
7. Condensing Unit – Also known as an air conditioner, the condensing unit is added cooling to your home for those really hot summers. It is installed outside the home and is filled with a refrigerant. Heat exchange is also used in this unit but by using refrigerant, cooler temperatures can be reached. The cool air produced by the condensing unit is transported through the ductwork in your home same as the hot air created by the furnace.
8. Refrigerant Lines – These lines carry the refrigerant to the condensing unit in the form of gas. After the condensing unit, it is returned to the evaporator coil in liquid form. These lines are specially manufactured to carry refrigerant.
It is important to know the parts of your HVAC system in case something goes wrong or needs to be replaced. For repairs and installations give us a call or contact us here at Alpine Temperature Control in St. George, Utah. We specialize in HVAC!
