Monthly Specials

HVAC 101

HVAC is in common use in the heating and cooling industry. It stands for "heating, ventilation and air conditioning," three functions often combined into one system in today's modern homes and buildings. Warmed or cooled or dehumidified air flows through a series of tubes - called ducts - to be distributed to all the rooms of your house. A central HVAC system is the most quiet and convenient way to cool an entire home.

Unless you live in an amazingly temperate climate, the HVAC system in your home uses more energy and drains more energy dollars than any other system in your home. Typically, 44 percent of your utility bill goes for heating and cooling.

Like many other appliances, HVAC systems have improved in energy efficiency in the last decade. As a result, you can save money and increase your comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your HVAC equipment.

The efficiency of central air conditioning systems is rated by a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). SEER ratings typically range from 13 to 23, with the highest numbers indicating the most efficient units that offer the most energy savings year after year. Fortunately, great strides have been made in the last 10 years to increase the efficiency of new air conditioners and heat pumps.

Higher efficiency units usually cost more to purchase initially, but save money in the long run on operating costs.

How Does An HVAC System Work To Keep You Comfortale?

An HVAC system's primary purpose is to circulate and regulate the temperature of the air in your home. Here's how it achieves those goals:

Air highways. The primary means of moving air through modern homes is ductwork. These sheet metal or plastic tubes carry air to and from the HVAC system and distribute it into the room via registers. Registers are flat grated vents placed in walls, floors or ceilings.

A matter of control. A thermostat is used to control HVAC systems. Thermostats are small control boxes that allow you to set the desired temperature for both air conditioning and heating purposes. Programmable thermostats allow you to alter the temperature settings based on the time of day.

Breath easier. The ventilation portion of an HVAC system is responsible for moving indoor air outdoors. Ventilation systems are typically installed in the kitchen and bathrooms to remove odors, humidity and contaminants in the air. Ventilation systems tend to be mechanically regulated (by a manual switch) rather than regulated by temperature.

Things are heating up. In HVAC systems with separate air conditioning and heating systems, the furnace is often fueled by gas or oil. A fan is used to force air over flame-heated elements and the warmed air is carried to the rooms of the house through the ductwork.

Cooling off. An air conditioner works by circulating a chemical refrigerant through the two main parts of the system: the condenser and the evaporator. The condenser compresses the refrigerant and sends it to the evaporator. Air is cooled as it is forced over the cold coils of the evaporator. The cool air is then blown to the rooms of your home through the ductwork. The now warm refrigerant is cycled back to the compressor, where the process repeats.

The heat pump option. Some HVAC systems make use of a heat pump, which takes the place of separate heaters and air conditioners. The heat pump works by adding or removing heat from the air in your home. In the summer, the heat pump extracts heat from the air and expels it outdoors. In the winter, the heat pump extracts heat from the outside air (yes, even cold air has some heat) and transfers it into your home. Heat pumps often have back-up heating systems to provide additional heat in times of extreme cold.