Do you feel lost when it comes to your home’s HVAC system? When the summer hits hard or when the winter gets below freezing, it’s essential to keep your home at the proper comfort level. But, this convenience comes at a cost.
When running your heating and cooling systems, you’ll need to remember that it cause a dramatic spike in your energy bill. I know this sounds like bad news, but there is some good news. Knowledge of your home’s HVAC system will give you a better understanding of conserving energy, saving you money, and troubleshooting common problems.
If you’re a homeowner, it’s good to know the basics. This article give’s you an HVAC system guide on what it is and how it works.
What is an HVAC System?
So what does HVAC stand for anyway? HVAC stands for Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning. This system essentially regulates and controls the heating and cooling of your home.
Warm or cold air produced by the HVAC system is pumped through ductwork and expells out to each room in your home through vents.
Components of an HVAC System
An HVAC system has many parts that work together as a cohesive unit to achieve the goal of keeping the temperature right for your home. Keeping your HVAC system running at an optimal level is essential knowledge for any homeowner. Knowing the basic components of the HVAC system can give you a better understanding of troubleshooting if problems arise. Let’s go over these components.
Thermostat
The thermostat is a device that regulates and controls your home’s temperature. You can program a thermostat to turn off when you’re not home or turn it on when you need to warm the house up in the morning without manually doing it.
Refrigerant
Refrigerant is a vital part of an air conditioning unit that creates cold air to blow. Refrigerant is a special liquid that absorbs heat and cools the air that blows through your ducts.
If your HVAC system uses a heat pump during the winter, the refrigerant does the opposite and absorbs cold air and turns it into heat.
Evaporator Coils
The Evaporator coils are located near the blower fan. The refrigerant travels through the coils, converts heat, and turns it into cold air. The air is hot air is removed and circulates the air into your house.
Compressor
When the liquid refrigerant leaves the evaporator coils, it becomes low-pressure gas. The compressor converts the liquid refrigerant into a gas by compression and turns it back into a liquid state.
Condenser
The condenser is the unit found outside of the home. The condenser is filled with refrigerant gas, collects heat, and sends it through the coils to create hot gas. The hot gas goes through the ducts of your home.
Vents
The vents are the openings in your floors or ceilings that allow cold or hot air to pass into the various rooms of your house. These vents have louvers that can open or close manually.
Adjusting the vents can help you regulate the temperature of specific rooms without having to turn your HVAC system off.
Ducts
Ducts are conduits where warm or cold air travels, and they are the paths where air enters or exits a room through the return air ducts and supply air ducts. They’re generally attached to the furnace of your home located in your basement.
Blower
The blower motor is the fan that pushes air through the ducts of your house, and it helps circulate air through the rooms in your home. When selecting warm, cool, or on, the blower motor engages.
Saving Money
The best way to save money if you have an HVAC system is by conserving energy. You can do this by programming your thermostat to run only at certain times. This way, your HVAC system won’t run if you’re at work or away from home.
Your HVAC system might not run as well as it should. When this happens, your system will be working harder, which means your using more energy than it should. It’s best to get routine maintenance scheduled to ensure your HVAC system runs in tip-top shape.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
If you are having trouble with your HVAC system, it’s good a good idea to do some troubleshooting before you call in a professional. Some issues can be easily fixed, saving you money for a service call. If you’re having problems with cooling or heating, check these first.
- See if your furnace’s pilot light needs to be re-lit
- Check your vents to verify they are open
- Check the condenser outside and see if it’s running
- Make sure the thermometer is set to Auto If you want heat or cold air
- Check for dirty filters and replace them
Checking these common issues can get your home back to where it needs to be. If you are still having problems, it’s best to consult with a professional HVAC technician.
Do You Need Help With Your HVAC System?
Having an HVAC system is a luxury that is sometimes often taken for granted. It’s great when you have it but can create unbearable circumstances when it’s not working the way it should.
If you need help with your HVAC system, you’ll need to call a professional HVAC technician. Our team of professionals service the San Francisco bay area and can accommodate all of your HVAC needs. With over 25 years of experience, we are confident we can get the job done for you. If you need help with your system, contact us now, and we will help you fix the problem.
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