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 important utility. We rely 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 understand more about your HVAC system includes a lot of benefits. You can improve 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 choose the best HVAC system in Port St. Lucie.

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 work together to keep our homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Your standard HVAC system will have three principal 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 function by circulating air in and out of your home. Based on the specific system, heat can be added or extracted to regulate the indoor temperature. Air ducts can transport the air to every room of the house, but they’re not always required. Lots of HVAC accessories like air filtration equipment are mounted 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 considerably more options than ever when deciding on an HVAC system. There are several different styles, with one or more being the ideal 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 using 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 through the sweltering summer months.

Furnaces

The dependable central furnace has been the most popular way to heat your home for decades. It frequently 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 begin 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 linked by copper piping that delivers climate control. You can install 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 alternative for heating and cooling your home. Compared with central furnaces and air conditioners, heat pumps don’t produce their own source of climate control. Instead, they pump heat in or out of your home with air circulation. Reduced energy use can help you save on your monthly bill. Heat pumps are ideal for milder climates and can even be installed alongside other equipment.

Garage Heaters

This scaled-down kind of HVAC system is used to keep garages warm in the colder months. Most garages are unfinished, so they can be quite 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 designed to be portable. They can be carried around the garage freely or fitted to the wall. Some models are even hung from the ceiling.

How Do I Select an HVAC System?

When deciding on a new HVAC system, there are several things to think about. You should find a balance between efficiency and your distinct comfort preferences. You can narrow down available 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 can end up costing you in steeper energy bills. New HVAC systems should be the proper size for peak effectiveness.

Focus on energy efficiency for long-term savings: Higher energy efficiency is one of the best ways to earn back more savings. Energy-efficient equipment puts less demand on critical components and doesn’t need to run as long for climate control. Seek out models marked with the ENERGY STAR® rating for particularly efficient models.

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

Trust new installation to certified professionals: A new HVAC system is a great 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 recommend the ideal HVAC system for you. If you’d like to begin the process, give Custom Air Systems Inc a call at 772-247-2283 today.