When it comes to learning about your business or home’s HVAC unit, it helps to know the different components that make up your HVAC system. Ambient Heating & Air Conditioning will break down the main components of a HVAC system, where they are found and how each one works or functions. This will help you troubleshoot future problems and understand when your HVAC technician explains any problems that your HVAC system may have.

Thermostat

The very first component that every person becomes familiar with is the Thermostat. The thermostat is the device that allows residents to control the amount of cool or heated air to circulate throughout the building. Usually located somewhere that is easily accessed, the thermostat will trigger the heat exchanger or the evaporator coils-condensing to circulate the cold or heated air.

Furnace or Boiler

The most important component of your HVAC system is the Furnace or Boiler. As the name suggests, the furnace or boiler are the components that heat the inside of a building. The heater is one of the largest components and require the most amount of space. The furnace is either located in the attic, basement, cellar or occasionally a closet that was built just to house the furnace. The boiler can safely be installed in most rooms and even lofts. Furnaces and boilers run or heat air with natural gas, coal, propane, oil or electricity, which of course is then circulated throughout the building.

Heat Exchangers

When the thermostat registers that the temperatures have dropped and need heating, the Heat Exchanger then activates the furnace or boiler. The heat exchanger will pull the cool air into the heater and then after the heater has heated the cool air, the heat exchanger will then re-circulate the warm air throughout the building.

Evaporator Coils

The job of the Evaporator Coils is similar to that of the heat exchanger but instead of warming air, the evaporator coils cools air. The evaporator coils are located on the exterior part of the furnace or boiler within the casing.

Condensing Unit

The Condensing Unit is connected to the evaporator coils, which is located on the outside of the home or building. The condensing unit is filled with the refrigerant that transforms into a gas turning warm air into cool air.

Refrigerant Lines

The Refrigerant Lines, normally made of copper or aluminum piping, is the part of the HVAC system that delivers the refrigerant or coolant into the condensing unit that changes the refrigerant into a gas that cools the air and re-circulates it back through the evaporator coils and in turn, changes the gas back into the coolants.

Ductwork

Ductwork is a very important component of your HVAC system. The ductwork or air duct as it is mostly known by is the passage ways the warmed or cooled air uses to travel to each room of the home or building. The ductwork is mostly made of lightweight aluminum. However sometimes they are made of flexible plastic, polyurethane, fiberglass or fabric.

Vents

The Vent is the end or connecting part of the ductwork. It is located either on the ceiling or walls and sometimes the floors to direct the warm or cold air into the room. The vent is normally made of steel or a stronger material.

Air Conditioning & Heating Services & More in Springfield, Granby, Holyoke, South Hadley, Monson, Chicopee City & Agawam Massachusetts

Ambient Heating & Air Conditioning hopes that we were able to help folks learn more and understand your HVAC system. In the event a component malfunctions you will know what needs repairing or replacing. If your HVAC system and their components seem to be malfunctioning, contact Ambient Heating & Air Conditioning today.