The commercial HVAC system has a variety of components. Each of these works together to ensure overall system performance. If any of the components breaks down, then the whole system will not be far behind. However, just one part gets most of the attention.

As you can probably guess, that part is the compressor.

It’s true the compressor is the “heart” of the HVAC and does the most work. However, we caution you to remember many system problems don’t originate in the compressor. When you suffer early compressor failure, it often means there is another problem that has gone unnoticed.

The condenser is the heat exchanger that serves as the hot side of the air conditioning unit. It removes heat from the building and transfers it to the exterior. Gas refrigerant then becomes liquid refrigerant. A heat pump can also have a condenser, in which case it functions to collect heat from the outside.

The air handler which includes the evaporator coil and the blower, is the component responsible for circulating air through the system. In most structures, it is connected directly to the ductwork. It blows cooled or heated air into the building and then returns it back into the system. It includes a blower, heating and cooling elements, and a variety of other devices.

Of all the different parts of the air handler, the evaporator coil is the one most likely to need maintenance or replacement. The evaporator coil holds chilled refrigerant received from the compressor. As air from the blower fan moves over the coil, heat is removed from the air in the treated area.