What is HVAC and How does it Work?

Understanding what is HVAC and how does it work is essential to maintaining your home or business’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. The HVAC system controls the movement of heated or cooled air throughout your home, and any fault within the system can cause numerous concerns for your home’s air quality, comfort, and safety. 

We offer full Las Vegas AC repair, including heating, cooling, and ventilation services, as well as repair, installation, and replacement.

How an HVAC System Works

Understanding how your home’s HVAC system works can help you keep it operating at its best. In its most basic function, the HVAC system pulls air into it, heats or cools it, and then sends that treated air through ductwork throughout your home to control the temperature. These systems are often ducted, but other versions exist as well.

The HVAC system is controlled by a thermostat, which you can program to keep the property at a specific temperature that fits your needs and adjust it up and down as needed. Each component of the HVAC system works together to efficiently move treated air to the rooms of your home you want to treat. However, these systems require comprehensive maintenance and upkeep to keep them working at their best.

Numerous makes and models of HVAC systems are in use today, some of which are more powerful and efficient than others. You also have various styles of systems, some of which are smart while others are simplistic. Our satisfaction guarantee makes it easy for you to choose the right company for your needs. Consider the following major components of these systems and how they work.

The Thermostat

Think of the thermostat to your home’s HVAC system as being the computer or brain of the rest of it. There are various forms of thermostats, and in their most basic function, you set the temperature you desire, and the thermostat will turn on or off the furnace or air conditioner to match that temperature. It sends signals to these main components to function.

More modern versions are programmable, which means you can create custom functions for the system, regulate your home’s temperature efficiently, and do most of the work from your smartphone or an app on your laptop. 

No matter the type of thermostat you have, it is designed to be a simple way to adjust the temperature to fit your needs. Most commonly, your thermostat will be on the wall in your living space, often in the form of a box or dial.

The thermostat for your HVAC system can break down over time, often because it needs new batteries (if it is not hardwired in) or because it is older. Replacing the thermostat tends to be inexpensive, and if this is the only problem with your HVAC system, it tends to be an easy fix. However, this is just one part of the whole system, so be sure to learn more in our FAQs section.

The Furnace

The furnace is the heating component of your home’s HVAC system and is typically used to warm the home’s air temperature to a desired level during the cooler months.

A traditional HVAC system has two main components: a blower and a heat exchanger. The furnace is most often located outside of the home, such as in a garage, but it may also be in the basement, attic, or crawlspace.

There are various types of furnaces used today, but the most common are either propane or natural gas. The furnace uses fuel to heat the exchangers, which generate heat that is then moved through the home’s ventilation system to heat various areas of the home. This is often done through the ductwork.

Today’s furnaces can be very efficient and precise, allowing you to control the temperature within a space properly and reach your desired level very precisely. Many are also very energy efficient, utilizing less fossil fuels than previous designs. That makes them a reliable and necessary choice for keeping your home warm, so be sure to learn how we are involved in the community with our media features.

The Air Conditioner

The air conditioner in your HVAC system cools your home and helps control moisture or humidity within it. Again, there are various types of air conditioners, but most work in the same basic manner. The air conditioning unit has two components: the condenser outside the home and the other in the basement, attic, or closet space.

To work, the air conditioner removes heat from the home by using refrigerant. This fluid circulates between the coils located within the home and outside the home, absorbing the heat from the indoor coil and then transferring that heat through the line sets. It keeps hot air outside the home.

Your air conditioner can also be very efficient, with modern systems that use less energy to cool the home. However, your AC unit will require some level of routine maintenance to ensure it is working properly. In some cases, you may need an air conditioning repair company to keep it up and running properly.

The Ventilation

Once these systems treat the air, it must then move through the home, which is done through a ventilation system. This system is typically a set of sheet metal boxes located on the floors or ceilings of your home that link to the heating and cooling systems. This system, called your ductwork, must be in good condition to ensure no treated air leaks from it.

The ductwork moves from the furnace and air conditioner to each room of your home and to a vent opening within that space. The air vents are critical to the treated air moving into the room, which is why if you block them, they cannot easily do that. This can make one room of the home less comfortable than another.

Most of the time, you will not need to do much to keep vents and air ducts working properly since they do not typically have any specific mechanical features. However, there are some situations where air duct cleaning can be helpful to remove a build-up of material in the vents. Your HVAC repair company can also inspect the ducts to pinpoint any problems with them.

Other Types of HVAC System Components and Systems

While the components previously mentioned are the most common setup for many homes, there are numerous other ways to heat and cool a home, and each one requires careful management by experienced professionals. 

If you are unsure what type of heating and cooling system you have, our technician at Ambient Edge can provide a full inspection and make recommendations for you for the types of repairs you need. The key here is to keep them working at their best.

Some heating and cooling components are paired with other systems to make them work well, such as a heat pump and an air handler working together to heat and cool your home. Also note that some systems integrate other components into the HVAC system, such as air purification systems. Each of these features is meant to make it easy for you to keep your home heated and cooled while also keeping your air quality good.

The following are some of the alternative options for the traditional components of an HVAC system. Not all are viable for all homes, and some are less efficient than others.

Heat Pump

A heat pump system is a somewhat common system that works to both heat and cool your home by using the same method as an air conditioner, but in cool weather, it reverses the process. In doing so, it will use refrigerant flow to heat the home. The heat pump cools the air by transporting heated air from inside the home outside, while when it is heating, it takes heat from the outside and brings it within the home.

Air Handlers

An air handler works much like a furnace, but it does not use fossil fuels to operate. Instead, the typical coil on a furnace is within the cabinet of the air handler. 

The air handler works with either the heat pump or air conditioner to provide heating and cooling for the home. It circulates treated air through the ductwork, keeping your home at the right temperature.

Mini Split Units

A mini-split unit is another type of heating and cooling system ideally suited for smaller spaces where there are no ducts (ductless mini-splits have an outdoor compressor or condenser unit and an indoor air handling unit). 

Some are single-zone units, which means they provide air conditioning or heating for a specific space. Mini-splits are a good option for smaller spaces and areas with home additions.

Geothermal Heat Pumps

For those looking for a way to heat their home using geothermal heat, these pumps work very efficiently and tend to be some of the best when it comes to both energy efficiency and the option best suited for the environment. These systems allow the earth’s natural internal temperature to keep your home warm and comfortable.

Zoned HVAC Systems

Though they are not the only specific type of HVAC system, there is increasing demand for AC zoning systems. These systems provide you with more control over the temperature in each area of the home, creating zones that you can heat and cool to your desired level without each area being the same. 

This method allows for the installation of either multiple HVAC systems or the use of automatic dampers positioned within the air ducts to control the airflow throughout the home.

Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers

There are many instances in which a home’s moisture level, called humidity, can become a very big problem to control (and not doing so could mean you develop mold or mildew within your space). 

Humidifiers add moisture to the air, which is often necessary during a dry winter when the furnace is drying out air. Conversely, dehumidifiers work to pull moisture out of the air, helping often during the warmer times of the year to keep your property comfortable.

Whole-Home Ventilation Systems

Clean air is just as important as having air that is comfortable in temperature. A whole-house ventilation system is a type of system for this because it works to provide a regular exchange of stale air from in the home with fresh air outside of the home. 

Not all properties need this, but if you have a very insulated property, especially with more modern systems, it may be critical to have these in place. Read our client reviews today to learn more about Ambient Edge.

How an HVAC System Works

Once you have an HVAC system installed in your home, you will be able to use it rather easily. To work, you will set the thermostat to the heating or cooling setting and select the temperature you desire. This sends messages to either the air conditioner or furnace to work based on your needs. The treated air from these systems is pumped into each room of your home through the ventilation.

There is also a return, which is a vent that allows for the current air within the space to flow back to the system. These systems will expel any fumes out of the home through ventilation. Most systems are very efficient throughout this process.

You will need to keep them working properly with consistent maintenance and upkeep, including replacing the filters in them at least once every other month and having them professionally serviced by a technician at least one time a year. 

Proper maintenance and upkeep ensure your system continues to work at its best and in the most efficient manner possible. The good news is that our team can help you with this process, and we also offer a referral rewards program for our clients.

Contact Ambient Edge for Comprehensive Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation Care

Let the experienced and highly trained team at Ambient Edge work to keep your property’s heating and cooling system working at its best. 

Whether you are considering upgrading to a new type or model, or you just need to have seasonal work done, we are here for you. We also offer emergency HVAC services when you need them.