Complete Guide to HVAC: What It Means and How to Choose the Right System for Your Home

June 17, 2022

Your HVAC system is an essential utility. We depend on our heating cooling to keep our homes comfortable all year-round. It can also be a big portion of your monthly energy bills. Taking time to learn more about your HVAC system offers a lot of benefits. You can enhance its efficiency and choose the ideal replacement equipment. We’ll share the key details about the most common HVAC systems. After, we’ll review how to find the best HVAC system in Florissant.

What Is HVAC?

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. This utility system keeps indoor temperatures comfortable. It also manages air quality through filtration and humidity control equipment. As a group, these systems collaborate to keep our homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Your everyday HVAC system will have three main components: heating, cooling and ventilation. Some places won’t always have both heating and cooling, like temperate climates or in older homes.

Most HVAC systems work by circulating air in and out of your home. Depending on the type of system, heat might be added or extracted to adjust the indoor temperature. Air ducts can bring the air to every room of the house, but they’re not always required. Many HVAC accessories such as air filtration equipment are fitted inside the ductwork for the highest possible efficiency.

There Are Different Types of HVAC Systems

HVAC technology has come a long way in terms of overall design and efficiency. Homeowners have additional options than ever when picking out an HVAC system. There are multiple different styles, with one or more being the best combination for your comfort needs. These vary from popular air conditioners and furnaces to alternatives like the heat pump.

Air Conditioners

An air conditioner is an innovative piece of technology that draws heat out of the air with a special substance called refrigerant or coolant. Extra heat and moisture are pumped out of the air and ventilated outdoors. This is highly efficient for keeping cool through the sweltering summer months.

Furnaces

The dependable central furnace has been the most prominent way to warm your home for decades. It commonly runs on natural gas or oil, combusting the fuel to produce heat. This heat warms the air that circulates through your home while vapors are safely ventilated away. Furnaces use a pilot light or electronic hot surface ignition system to start a heating cycle.

Mini-Splits

Some HVAC systems don’t need central ductwork to deliver heating and cooling. A ductless mini-split system is one such type of equipment. An indoor and outdoor unit are instead linked by copper piping that delivers climate control. You can set up multiple indoor units to heat or cool your home. Some models offer air conditioning while some can handle both heating and cooling.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are an increasingly popular alternative for heating and cooling your home. Compared with central furnaces and air conditioners, heat pumps don’t create their own source of climate control. Instead, they pump heat in or out of your home using air circulation. Less energy use can help you save on your monthly bill. Heat pumps are perfect for milder climates and can even be installed along with other equipment.

Garage Heaters

This scaled-down kind of HVAC system is used to keep garages warm in the colder months. Many garages are unfinished, so they can be particularly chilly to spend time in. Garage heaters use fuel like electricity, natural gas or propane to generate heat. This heat is dispersed with power fans. The garage heaters themselves are often designed to be portable. They can be carried around the garage freely or attached to the wall. Some models are even hung from the ceiling.

How Do I Select an HVAC System?

When choosing a new HVAC system, there are a few things to consider. You should find a balance between efficiency and your unique comfort preferences. You can narrow down possible options with the following tips:

Find the right size for your home: Bigger isn’t always better. In fact, a furnace that’s too powerful for your home may end up costing you in higher energy bills. New HVAC systems should be the appropriate size for maximum effectiveness.

Prioritize energy efficiency for long-term savings: High energy efficiency is one of the easiest ways to earn back more savings. Energy-efficient equipment puts less demand on key components and doesn’t need to work as long for climate control. Seek out models labeled with the ENERGY STAR® rating for particularly efficient models.

Explore financing options and special offers: Many local service companies offer special financing for new installation. You could receive special offers for the system itself as well as other perks like discounts on preventive maintenance plans.

Entrust new installation to qualified professionals: A new HVAC system is a terrific investment. You can get the most out of a new air conditioner or heat pump with seasoned technicians. They complete air conditioning installation quickly and efficiently, ensuring you receive maximum benefit from the start.

Your local expert technicians can evaluate your home and suggest the ideal HVAC system for you. If you’d like to begin the process, give B & B Heating & Cooling a call at 314-325-7552 today.