How Your HVAC Works
Air conditioning system unit installed outside facade of the house.
There’s no shame in not knowing how your HVAC system works in your home. While it sounds like it could be complicated, it’s actually quite simple! For starters, HVAC is an acronym for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. We’ll break down their function in simple terms.
1. Heating
Whether you have a furnace that runs on gas, electricity, oil, or any other, the furnace is what helps your home warm up during the cold weather.
A heat pump also issues heat, but the difference between heat pumps and furnaces is that the heat pump takes in heat from the outside unit and moves it indoors.
Forced Air Systems are common in homes, this utilizes the ductwork to distribute the heat throughout the home.
2. Cooling
This is where the air conditioner comes in! Heat pumps can work for both sides, heating and cooling, as it can warm up or cool down your home.
Refrigerants are also necessary in the process of cooling down a home! The refrigerant has two forms: gaseous or liquid, which is manipulated by the HVAC system. With the refrigerant at a different pressure, it absorbs heat and transfers it outside, which then cools down the inside.
3. Ventilation
Ventilation works with all the systems involved. Heating and cooling both need the ventilation to work properly. When ductwork in the home isn’t up to par, the heating and/ or air conditioning won’t work as well as it should. It also helps with expelling built up heat.
There are times when the the ventilation has been installed into the sides of the home. If they’re added above it, it may cause condensation to the rest of the HVAC system.
