Get Comfortable With Us

Our Blog

Blog
6 minutes read

Your HVAC System Explained: Part-by-Part

Published by Melanie Riggs

Your HVAC System Part-by-Part

As a homeowner, you probably have many questions about your HVAC system. Now you may have never thought about becoming an HVAC expert in your free time, but with our help, you can at least be familiar with the most basic components and what they do.

Your HVAC System Part-by-Part

Inside Your Home

Thermostat

Mounted on a prominent, easily accessible wall, the thermostat is the most visible and interactive part of your HVAC system. Either programmed in advance or set manually, your thermostat directs your system to keep your home at the desired temperature. When the temperature in your house gets too hot or cold, the thermostat will trigger your HVAC system to start circulating air as needed.

Furnace / Air Handler

Your furnace or air handler is the other inside portion of your HVAC system. Typically these are located in your garage, basement, attic, or a special closet designated for this purpose.

The furnace or air handler is designed to heat or cool air which is then distributed to different parts of the home via ductwork. Fossil fuel burning furnaces and electric air handlers are utilized for this purpose, depending on the type of system in your home.

Evaporator Coil

The evaporator coil is used in conjunction with your furnace. It is located within a separate metal enclosure installed adjacent to the furnace itself.

To simplify a much more complicated process, refrigerant is pumped into the evaporator coil and, like a cold glass of water on a warm day, the coil pulls the heat from the air as it passes over the coil and cools it at the same time. The cool air is then circulated through the ductwork.

Ductwork

Ductwork refers to the system of ducts, which you might compare to pipes or channels, that transport air – warmed or cooled by the system – to various parts of your home.

They are most often made of lightweight aluminum but are also manufactured from steel, flexible plastic, polyurethane, or fiberglass.

Vents

These are the outlets that help deliver the heated and cooled air from the duct system into the individual rooms of your home. Made of high-and low-temperature safe metal or similar materials, the vents are located on the ceiling, upper parts of walls, or in the floor. Each vent is fronted with angular slats that direct the in a particular direction.

In certain applications, they can be controlled or even closed manually to control the amount of heated or cooled air that’s being sent into the room. Otherwise, care should be taken to not block or impede the airflow from vents as this will affect the overall comfort of your home.

Outside Your Home

Condensing Unit

Connected to the inside evaporator coil by special refrigerant lines, the condensing unit is installed on the outside of your home. This unit contains the compressor – which can be likened to the heart of your heating and cooling system. When refrigerant is cooled by the cold air passing over it, the condensing unit pumps that liquid to the evaporator coil to be evaporated into gas once more. It is a continuous cycle during the operation of the system – with the refrigerant gas being continually compressed and cooled for conversion back to a liquid again.

Refrigerant lines

These narrow metal tubes carry the refrigerant in gas form to the condensing unit and then back to the evaporator coil in liquid form. These tubes, made of a durable heat- and cold-resistant metal such as copper or aluminum, bridge the gap between your home’s indoor and outdoor units.

If you have additional questions regarding your HVAC system and what each part does, or if you realize that system may be overdue for some maintenance, give us a call: (757) 418-8305 or use our contact page

Find Out What Our Clients Say About Us

Read Our Trusted Reviews

Technician Rick did an outstanding job of completing my annual service check, correcting minor problems and cleaning my system prior to the summer season. What impressed me most is that he took the time to point out other issues in my attic (loose fitting at the hot water heater) and even outside (water spigot leaking) and fixed both on his own since they were easy fixes. What a great service professional and so rare to find someone honest and willing to take a few extra moments to help out. Thanks for a great experience!

- Mark B.

Technician Rick did an outstanding job of completing my annual service check, correcting minor problems and cleaning my system prior to the summer season. What impressed me most is that he took the time to point out other issues in my attic (loose fitting at the hot water heater) and even outside (water spigot leaking) and fixed both on his own since they were easy.

- Mark B.

Our Special Offer

Take advantage of these special offers from MSCO!

icon

$29/month

Continuous Maintenance Plan

  • Routine maintenance every 6 months
  • 24/7 priority service - never wait weeks for a repair!
  • No overtime charges for emergencies!
  • Discounted replacements and repairs
  • Free system cleanings every six months
THIS PLAN IS NOT A WARRANTY AND DOES NOT COVER REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS. MONTHLY PRICING BASED ON THE PRIMARY SYSTEM. MINIMUM SIX MONTHS COMMITMENT WITH EARLY TERMINATION RESULTING IN FULL TUNE UP PRICE.

Receive Special Offers

Sign up to receive our
special offers directly to your inbox.

    Contact Us Today!

    Get Comfortable
    with Us.

    We offer 24/7 emergency service to all of our customers.

    Schedule an Appointment

    Please fill out the form if you would like to schedule an HVAC appointment with MSCO.