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 part of your monthly energy bills. Spending time to find out more about your HVAC system offers 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 go over how to choose the best HVAC system in Muldrow.

What Is HVAC?

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. This utility system keeps indoor temperatures comfortable. It also improves air quality through filtration and humidity control equipment. As a group, these systems work together to keep our homes cool in the summer and cozy in the winter. Your average HVAC system will have three primary 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. Depending on the specific system, heat might be added or taken away to adjust the indoor temperature. Air ducts can transport the air to each room of the house, but they’re not always required. Lots of HVAC accessories such as air filtration equipment are fitted within 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 picking out an HVAC system. There are several different styles, with one or more being the most appropriate 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 ingenious 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 incredibly efficient for keeping cool during the sweltering summer months.

Furnaces

The dependable central furnace has been the most popular way to warm your home for decades. It frequently runs on natural gas or oil, combusting the fuel to generate heat. This heat warms the air that circulates through your home while vapors are properly ventilated away. Furnaces use a pilot light or electronic hot surface ignition system to begin 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 choice for heating and cooling your home. Unlike 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. Less energy use can help you save on your monthly bill. Heat pumps are best suited 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 dispersed with power fans. The garage heaters themselves are often designed to be portable. They can be moved around the garage freely or attached to the wall. Some models are even hung from the ceiling.

How Do I Choose an HVAC System?

When deciding on a new HVAC system, there are a few things to consider. You want to find a balance between efficiency and your specific comfort preferences. You can narrow down available 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 larger 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 essential components and doesn’t need to run as long for climate control. Seek out models labeled with the ENERGY STAR® rating for particularly efficient models.

Browse financing options and special offers: Lots of local service companies offer special financing for new installation. You could receive special offers for the system itself as well as other benefits such as discounts on preventive maintenance plans.

Trust new installation to trained 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 perform air conditioning installation quickly and efficiently, ensuring you enjoy maximum benefit from the outset.

Your local expert technicians can review your home and suggest the perfect HVAC system for you. If you’d like to begin the process, give Air Service Co. a call at 918-212-8943 today.