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What is HVAC?

As you shop for a new furnace, heat pump or central air conditioner, you’ll often see the term HVAC or HVAC system. What is HVAC? What does HVAC stand for? The acronym HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning. This lengthy group of words describes the primary functions of your homes heating and cooling system. Here’s a brief overview of these functions and how they are accomplished.

Heating
In most homes, heating is done with a traditional gas furnace. Most use natural gas but they can be converted to use propane as well. Gas furnaces are affordable and can be very efficient. The level of efficiency ranges from 80% to over 98%. This means that between 80% and 98% of the heat created by the furnace burner enters your home rather than being lost along with the exhaust gases.

Heat pumps are another popular means of heating in moderate and warm climates where they are more efficient. They use refrigerant to carry heat from outside into your home where it is released in a coil inside the gas furnace or air handler. A heat pump is a central air conditioner that does double duty by reversing the flow of refrigerant and the flow of heat. See central air conditioners below for more details.

Ventilation
Every home should have ventilation in order to maintain good indoor air quality. Where homes do not have good ventilation, the air within them becomes polluted. It can be contaminated with unhealthy levels of carbon dioxide. This is especially true in today’s tightly-built homes. Many HVAC systems don’t have components designed specifically for ventilation but that is changing. New whole-house ventilators are available that ensure a steady exchange of contaminated indoor air for fresh outside air. These ventilators greatly improve the indoor air quality. Electronic furnace filters and air purifiers are also more common and are effective in removing allergens and contaminates from the air.

Air Conditioning
Central air conditioning effectively removes heat from a home while also lowering the humidity level. Refrigerant picks up heat when it passes through the indoor coil and sheds that heat in the outdoor coil. As heat is removed from the air surrounding the indoor coil, that air is cooled. The system’s blower fan pushes that cool air into the home while drawing warm air into the system to be cooled. Water condenses on the cold coil and is drained out of the houses, reducing the humidity level significantly.
Split Systems and Packaged Systems

Two primary types of HVAC systems are used in homes today. The first is the split system in which the air conditioner or the heat pump is installed outside and the gas furnace or air handler is installed inside. A packaged unit contains both heating and cooling equipment housed in one “package” outside the home.

Summary
What is HVAC? HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning and refers to the electronic equipment that keeps your home’s indoor climate comfortable and healthy throughout the year.

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Why Are Dehumidifers So Important?

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Dehumidifiers. like the cold glass, collect the moisture from the air and collect it as it pools. Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to how you will handle the water that needs to be removed from the dehumidifier. Many dehumidifiers have tanks that will hold a specific amount of water, so make sure to choose a unit that will best meet your home’s needs. It’s also important to choose a dehumidifier that will effectively handle the amount of moisture in your room.

When reading dehumidifier reviews you will also need to consider the amount of noise the unit will make. Some dehumidifiers are loud and continually make a humming or buzzing noise. If the background noise will not bother you then you won’t need to worry about the volume. However, for some the background hum can be quite distracting and the only solution is to find a dehumidifier that specifically states it is quiet or produces very little noise. Other considerations include determining how large the unit is and where you will place it. Some units are small enough that they can fit nicely in the corner of a room, and when quiet, they are barely even noticed. This is an excellent solution for those who are concerned regarding the size and appearance of the unit.

Since many dehumidifiers collect water and then must be emptied, it is important to choose a model that has an automatic shut off valve. This ensures that should the unit reach full capacity it will automatically turn itself off, preventing any damage from occurring. However, many people find that manually emptying their dehumidifier becomes a tiresome chore and that they would prefer a unit that was permanently connected to a water drain outlet. Many models are capable of both, and if you find that you would like the option of permanently connecting your dehumidifier then choose a unit that states it has those capabilities.

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