A large majority of households are equipped with air conditioning or HVAC of some kind, but a significant amount of those homeowners might not know the first thing about how the system works. While you can always call a professional to handle any issues or maintenance your system may need, it’s still good practice to have a basic understanding of your system. Sometimes an issue can be solved with ease if you have knowledge of the fundamentals, and this means that you save both time and money on calling in a professional.
Here’s a simple guide to help your understanding of the basics of your HVAC system.
This one’s pretty simple, and you probably already know all there is to a thermostat. It can be programmed to keep your home at your ideal temperature, and when the temperature drops or rises beyond this the thermostat triggers your HVAC system to begin the processes to restoring it to your chosen ideal.
The largest feature of your HVAC system is the furnace. Its function is to heat air and then distribute it to all areas of your home through the air ducts.
When the thermostat detects that the temperature has dropped and it alerts the furnace, the gas valve within the furnace opens and ignites the burner that lies underneath the combustion chamber. The gas valve and thermostat work together to regulate the amount of gas flowing into the furnace.
The flames produced by the burner then heat a metal component called a heat exchanger. The heat created then circulates through the heat exchanger and is converted from heat to air, ready for circulation around your home.
Lastly, the blower motor and fan are responsible for the movement of this heated air through the ductwork in your home.
This component removes the unwanted heat from your home. When the thermostat detects that the temperature is too high, it alerts the furnace which, in turn, triggers the evaporator coil.
A fan draws warm air from your home through a filter and then over the evaporator coil. While the warm air passes over the coil, most of the moisture in the air is condensed and drains away. There is refrigerant inside the evaporator coil which helps to cool and carry away the warm air, expelling it from the system and your home.
The vents in your home are outlets which help to distribute the heated and cooled air travelling through your air ducts.
Your system has two kinds of vents: supply vents and return vents. In line with their names, the supply vents introduce the conditioned air from the furnace to the rooms of your house, while the return vents pull the unwanted air from your rooms and transport them to the furnace to be expelled.
The two vent systems should work together to maintain the air pressure in your home: an equal amount of air should be entering the rooms as is being pulled out of them. Accordingly, it’s critical that none of your vents are blocked.
This guide can hopefully enhance your experience with your HVAC system. If you run into any problems, however, don’t hesitate to contact us here at Acker Heating and Cooling.
When investing in an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system, understanding the ins and…
Having a heat pump that efficiently alternates between heating and cooling modes is essential for…
As residents begin to feel the crisp, cool air of the fall season, it becomes…
Regular HVAC maintenance ensures your system operates efficiently and comfortably. One essential aspect of this…
Ensuring your heating system is in top-notch condition before the winter hits is non-negotiable. An…
Maintaining a comfortable home depends significantly on the health of your HVAC system. Central to…