Understanding How HVAC System Works

Almost every house around the world has an HVAC system that is used to control the climate within. That being said, not many people understand what the system is or how it even works. First off, it is important to understand that HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. These systems are put in place to keep your house warm in colder seasons, cool In hotter seasons, and filter out moisture and keep air circulating within. Why is it important to understand how this system works?

A person who understands how their HVAC system works can help prevent themselves from getting scammed or overcharged for simple repairs. There are many common scams going around where people claim your HVAC system is faulty when in reality it is not, and then charge thousands of dollars. Most people pay this without thought because they do not understand how this system works and therefore just agree with what the contractor says.

Here are a few tips and terms to help you understand your HVAC system.

Understand your heating and cooling distributing system

The first step towards understanding the HVAC system in your home is to understand what type of system it is. The first system is a forced air system. These systems take hot and cold air and force them through metal ducts scattered around the house using a blower. Cold air and hot air both have their own unique ducts and travel around to help keep the house climatized.

One of the major problems with this style of system is blowouts. As these blowers age, they can begin to malfunction and eventually can break down completely. Another type of HVAC system that is used is a gravity system. These systems work by following the standard gas principle that hot air rises while cold air sinks. This works by placing your system in the basement. When it is turned on and generates warm air, the warm air rises up through your house and is able to heat all of it. When the air begins to cool down, it sinks back down to the gravity system, gets reheated, and rises again. The one issue with this system however is that it cannot be used with an air conditioning system, and therefore can cause summer to get quite hot.

Finally, your house can employ a radiant system. A radiant system uses radiators to heat the floors and walls of a room. Hot water pipes travel throughout the walls and reach the radiators which allow them to give off heat. The problems with this system are that once again you cannot use air conditioning with them and these pipes are prone to malfunction. The type of system you have is important when it comes to getting the necessary repairs and maintenance. By determining what HVAC system you have, you can ensure that you get the right HVAC specialist for the job. You wouldn’t hire an electrician to work on your car, so why hire someone who specializes in gravity systems to work on your forced air system.

If you are sure of the system you have, a good HVAC worker will also be able to come in, take a look at your house, and easily determine what system is being used and the changes that can be made to it. Understanding the type of system you have in your house is the first step towards understanding your HVAC.

Thermostats

Thermostats are how one communicates with their HVAC system to get their house climatized the way they want it to be done. From this control, you can set the temperature of the house and how quickly you would like it to reach that temperature. For example, you can set the AC to blow quickly if you would like your house to cool down fast. Not only can you do this, but you also program and schedule your thermostat to automatically kick in at a certain time and either cool or heat the house.

Many people use this in the evening to switch the house over from a standard temperature to one that is meant for sleeping. Understand the controls on your thermostat and learn how to use it to get the most out of your HVAC system.

These systems are not nearly as complicated as people would like to believe. By taking the time to understand the system you have, you can ensure that the maintenance you are getting is proper and priced fairly. Through understanding the thermostat, you can make your house as comfortable as ever with proper heating and cooling. What type of HVAC system do you have in your home?