February 18, 2019

To keep a home’s interior temperatures comfortable year-round, most homeowners have an HVAC system. The term “HVAC” is an acronym for “heating, ventilation and air conditioning,” but what separate items does that include? The helpful technicians at Totally Cool Heating & Air wanted to give you a breakdown. Here are some of the main components.

The Thermostat

The thermostat is the part of your HVAC unit that you’ll interact with the most. Placed on an easy-to-access wall, your HVAC system’s thermostat allows you to program your home’s interior temperature or adjust it manually to keep it where you choose.

The Furnace

Your HVAC system’s furnace is a major component. This element is also the largest part of the system. Typically, the furnace will be installed in your home’s cellar, attic or basement. Some homes have a special cupboard for this purpose. The function of the equipment is to provide heat.

The Heat Exchanger

The heat exchanger is another important element, and it is located within the furnace’s housing unit. When the thermostat tells the furnace that heat is needed, the heat exchanger switches on. This part pulls cool air into the unit, heats it up and sends it out through the ducts.

Evaporator Coil

In your HVAC system, the evaporator coil has the task of doing the opposite job of the heat exchanger. The coil cools the air when the unit’s thermostat is set to a lower temperature during the summer. This part operates like an automobile’s radiator to lower the temperature of the air that the HVAC system sends into your home via the ductwork.

The Condensing Unit

Attached to the evaporator coil, the condensing unit is installed on the outside of your home. This part holds the HVAC system’s refrigerant gas, so after the heat exchanger has cooled the refrigerant until it becomes a liquid, the condensing unit sends it to the evaporator coil. Once there, it evaporates into a gas again.

Totally Cool Heating & Air in Austin is a full-service HVAC company that can take care of all these parts for you. For more than 30 years, we have supplied heating and cooling installation, maintenance and repair services to the people of central Texas, and we’d like to assist you as well. Contact us today to make an appointment.

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