MEANING OF HVAC AND HOW IT WORKS-ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

MEANING OF HVAC AND HOW IT WORKS

Commercial buildings (homes) need various components to ensure the comfort and safety of their occupants. One of the primary components you need for your property is HVAC systems responsible for temperature control, indoor air quality, and air distribution.

While it may seem that their basic functions seem very straightforward, commercial HVAC systems can be more complex than basic residential units. HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.

HVAC refers to the different systems used for moving air between indoor and outdoor areas, along with heating and cooling both residential and commercial buildings. They are the systems that keep you warm and cozy in the winter and feeling cool and fresh in the summer. They also are the systems that filter and clean indoor air to keep you healthy and maintain humidity levels at optimal comfort levels.

All HVAC units fundamentally deal with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. It helps heat occupied spaces during colder seasons, maintain clean air through ventilation, and control the indoor temperature in homes. If you need to purchase a new unit or replace an older model, continue reading below to understand the necessary details about commercial HVAC systems.

HVAC WORKING

Each component in your home may be separate, such as a radiant system combined with window air conditioning units. However, it is more common for combined systems such as central heating and AC systems that use a single blower to circulate air via internal ducts in a home, or with a ductless system for different rooms or zones in the house.

The three main functions of an HVAC system are interrelated, especially when providing acceptable indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Your heating and air conditioning system is often one of the most complicated and extensive systems in your home, but when it stops working you’ll know soon enough! There are nine parts to your HVAC system that you should be familiar with the air return, filter, exhaust outlets, ducts, electrical elements, outdoor unit, compressor, coils and blower.

Air Return

Your air return is the part of your system that marks the starting point of the ventilation cycle. This return sucks in air, draws it through a filter, and then passes it into the main system. Pro tip: Make sure to dust your returns frequently as debris and dust can easily build up on your filters.

Filter

Your filter is the second part of the air return in which the air is drawn through. Pro tip: Make sure to change your filters regularly to keep your system in tip-top shape.

Exhaust Outlets

Another part of your system is the exhaust outlets where the exhaust created by the heating system is expelled. Pro tip: Check your chimney flue or vent stack annually and tune it up if necessary.

Ducts

Your ducts are the channels in which the heated or cooled air passes through. Pro tip: Get your ducts cleaned every 2 to 5 years in order to keep everything in working condition.

Electrical Elements

This part of your system can be a bit trickier, but often problems originate here first. Pro tip: If something isn’t working right check for a tripped breaker or dead batteries in your thermostat.

Outdoor Unit

This is likely the part of your system you think of when someone mentions an HVAC system. The outdoor unit houses the fan which provides air flow. Pro tip: Keep your unit clear of debris and vegetation as it can cause serious problems if plants are sucked into your fan.

Compressor

As a part of the outdoor unit, the compressor is responsible for converting refrigerant from a gas to liquid and sends it to the coils. Pro tip: If something isn’t working quite right, check your compressor. It is often the cause of many system failures.

Coils

Usually another part of the outdoor unit, coils cool the air as it passes through with a little help from the refrigerant. Pro tip: Check your coils annually. If they freeze up you may want to check your filter and/or refrigerant levels.

Blower

The blower draws in warm air through the main section of the unit. Pro tip: The more efficiently this air moves through, the more durable your system will be.