What Are the HVAC Basics?

You probably already know that HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. But do you know the basics about how HVAC systems function? Read on to get answers about HVAC basics.

What is HVAC?

HVAC refers to all the machines, systems, and technologies used to regulate the environment of indoor settings to keep the occupants comfortable.

In your home, an HVAC system achieves environmental regulation by heating or cooling the air to maintain the temperature of a room at an optimal level. It also controls humidity by regulating the air movement and distribution inside the room. The system also cleans the room’s air.

How Does an HVAC System Work?

While all types of HVAC systems function to control your home’s temperature, humidity, and air quality, they do so differently. The main types of HVAC systems include:

• Split Systems – These systems have separate cold and hot sides. The expansion valve and cold coil are found on the cold side. Air is blown over the coil by the air handler. The cooled air is delivered to different rooms using air ducts.
• Packaged Systems – These systems have the heating and cooling equipment in one unit. A centrifugal fan or blower helps distribute the air.
• Central A/C Systems – These systems can be described as bigger split systems. The condensing unit houses the condenser coil, compressor, and cooling fan. The evaporator coil is usually housed by an air handler that’s normally on the furnace. Warm indoor air is blown through the indoor coil to remove heat and moisture. The heat is transferred outdoors, and the cooled air is circulated in the room through the fan on your air handling unit.

Your HVAC system is an important part of your home because it helps you stay comfortable regardless of the weather conditions outside and positively impacts your health by improving your indoor air quality. Knowing the basics about it will help you get better at taking care of it. To get more HVAC basic concepts, contact us at C.R. Wolfe Heating & Air Conditioning, proudly serving the Middletown area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Middletown, New York about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC basics and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 845-367-4482.

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