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 significant portion of your monthly energy bills. Spending time to find out more about your HVAC system includes a lot of benefits. You can enhance its efficiency and choose the ideal replacement equipment. We’ll share the key facts about the most common HVAC systems. After, we’ll go over how to find the best HVAC system in Pacheco.

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 cozy 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. Based on the specific system, heat may be added or extracted to adjust the indoor temperature. Air ducts can carry the air to every room of the house, but they’re not always necessary. Lots of HVAC accessories such as air filtration equipment are installed inside the ductwork for maximum efficiency.

There Are Different Types of HVAC Systems

HVAC technology has come a long way in terms of overall design and efficiency. Homeowners have more options than ever when picking out an HVAC system. There are several 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 a groundbreaking piece of technology that extracts heat out of the air with a special substance called refrigerant or coolant. Unwanted heat and moisture are pumped out of the air and ventilated outdoors. This is highly efficient for staying cool during the hot summer months.

Furnaces

The dependable central furnace has been the most well-known way to warm your home for many years. It commonly runs on natural gas or oil, combusting the fuel to produce heat. This heat warms the air that moves through your home while vapors are carefully ventilated outside. Furnaces use a pilot light or electronic hot surface ignition system to start a heating cycle.

Mini-Splits

Some HVAC systems don’t use central ductwork to deliver heating and cooling. A ductless mini-split system is one such piece of equipment. An indoor and outdoor unit are instead connected 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 desirable choice for heating and cooling your home. In contrast to 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. Lower 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 compact kind of HVAC system is used to keep garages warm in the colder months. Most 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 distributed with power fans. The garage heaters themselves are often manufactured to be portable. They can be carried around the garage freely or fastened to the wall. Some models are even mounted to the ceiling.

How Do I Pick an HVAC System?

When deciding on a new HVAC system, there are several things to think about. You want to strike a balance between efficiency and your distinct comfort preferences. You can narrow down possible options with the following tips:

Choose 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 larger energy bills. New HVAC systems should be the appropriate size for maximum effectiveness.

Focus on energy efficiency for long-term savings: High energy efficiency is one of the best ways to earn back more savings. Energy-efficient equipment puts less strain on critical components and doesn’t need to work as long for climate control. Look for models marked with the ENERGY STAR® rating for especially efficient models.

Browse financing options and special offers: Many local service companies extend special financing for new installation. You may receive special offers for the system itself as well as other advantages like discounts on preventive maintenance plans.

Entrust new installation to certified 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 perform air conditioning installation quickly and efficiently, ensuring you enjoy maximum benefit from the start.

Your local expert technicians can assess your home and recommend the ideal HVAC system for you. If you’d like to start the process, give Clean Air HVAC a call at 925-233-6238 today.