If you own a home or are planning to own one in the future, you should know some HVAC basic information in order to get the most out of your home’s HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system. Most homes have some type of central, forced-air HVAC system.
Non-forced-air cooling and heating systems, while not as common as forced-air central systems, are also used by many people. They include hot-water radiators, radiant heating, electric baseboard and solar heating.
Here’s some more information about forced-air HVAC basic components that ensure your home is comfortably heated and cooled:
Air handler or blower
This important component draws household air into the main equipment, whether it’s a combustion or electric furnace, heat pump or air conditioner. But it also blows conditioned (heated or cooled) air through “supply” air ducts to rooms throughout the house, where the air emerges through registers. Air is then drawn back into “return” ducts where it makes its circular trip back to the HVAC equipment.
Main heating and cooling equipment
The most common HVAC set-up in American homes is a combustion furnace (using either natural gas, propane or fuel oil) for heating and a central A/C for cooling, with the furnace’s blower serving as the air handler for the air conditioner. Many homes, however, utilize a heat pump for both heating and cooling, though in colder areas, some supplemental form of heating, either part of the heat pump itself or a separate appliance, is often used. The most common type of central A/C or heat pump is the split system, with one unit inside containing a heat-exchange coil and air handler, and one outside containing another heat-exchange coil, a second fan and the compressor.
Other HVAC components
Many homes have whole-house humidity-control and air-cleaning systems connected to the forced-air HVAC system. Other homes accomplish these functions through portable or room units. Mechanical ventilation is also common in homes.
For more help understanding basic HVAC components and information, please contact us at Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc., providing quality HVAC services to the Dayton area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
