Your HVAC system has several parts that must work together to keep your home comfortable. Knowing the parts of a residential HVAC system can help you understand how your home’s heating and cooling work.
Once you have a better understanding of the main parts of your HVAC system, you can make better decisions about repairs, upgrades, and installations.
The Main Parts of an HVAC System
The Thermostat
This is the control hub of your entire system. The thermostat is what tells the rest of your HVAC system when to turn on and off. It is also how you set the temperature you want to keep your home.
The three main types of thermostats are:
- Manual
- Programmable
- Smart
Air Conditioner
This is the outdoor component of your system, which is responsible for cooling your home. It removes heat from the air by cooling it down and then pumping it back into the room. Your air conditioner is one of the parts that requires regular maintenance.
This part of your HVAC system is made up of four different parts:
- Compressor
- Condensor coil
- Evaporator coil
- Refrigerant lines
Furnace
While you use the furnace primarily in the winter, because it heats your home, it is still used year-round because it is where the blower motor is typically located. The blower motor is responsible for circulating air throughout your home.
Other furnace components are:
- Burner
- Heat exchanger
- Flue
Heat Pump
If you don’t have a traditional AC or Furnace, your home might be heated and cooled with a heat pump. This specific component of your HVAC system offers heating and cooling capabilities by reversing the flow of the refrigerant. It cools your home in a similar fashion to a traditional air conditioner. For heating, it pulls heat from the outside air and pumps it inside.
The key parts of a heat pump are:
- Compressor
- Reversing valve
- Evaporator coils
- Condensor coils
- Refrigerant lines
Ducts and Vents
Another major central HVAC system component is your home's air ducts and vents. These are designed to move air from your heating or cooling system into every room of your home. The air travels through your ductwork, and the vents allow the air to flow in and out of your home.
Other Components of an HVAC System
Air Handler
If your blower motor isn’t housed in your furnace, it’ll be part of an air handler. This part of a residential HVAC system is specific to homes with heat pumps or ductless systems. It is what circulates air throughout your home.
An air handler is made up of four parts:
- Blower motor
- Evaporator coil
- Air filter
- Control board
Coils
Your HVAC system has indoor and outdoor coils, each serving a different purpose. The evaporator coil is a part of your air handler or furnace. It cools warm air by passing it over refrigerant in the coil.
The condenser coil is part of your outdoor unit. It works with the condenser fan to release the inside heat into the outdoors as part of the cooling cycle.
Refrigerant Lines
The refrigerant in your system travels through copper lines. These lines run from the outdoor compressor to the evaporator coil inside your home. They carry the refrigerant through your HVAC system, allowing it to absorb and release heat from the air as needed.
Why It’s Important to Understand the Different Parts of a Residential HVAC System
Having a basic understanding of the components of your HVAC system helps empower you as a homeowner. This knowledge can help you spot problems early. It also allows you to talk more clearly with service professionals and make better choices about maintenance and upgrades.
Knowing how each component fits into your overall HVAC system makes you feel more confident asking questions, explaining any issues or symptoms, and discussing repair or replacement options.
Let Service Express Keep Every Part of Your HVAC System in Good Shape
Every HVAC system is made up of carefully engineered parts that must work together seamlessly. At Service Express, we specialize in maintaining and repairing all the major parts of residential HVAC systems. Whether you're due for a seasonal tune-up or exploring upgrade options, our expert technicians are ready to help.
Let us help you get the most out of your HVAC system with reliable service and expert care. Contact us today to schedule your service and ensure your HVAC system performs at its best all year.
