Complete Guide to HVAC: What It Means and How to Choose the Right System for Your Home

June 17, 2022

Your HVAC system is an essential utility. We rely on our heating cooling to keep our homes comfortable all year-round. It can also be a big part of your monthly energy bills. Spending time to understand more about your HVAC system offers a lot of benefits. You can improve its efficiency and choose the right replacement equipment. We’ll share the key facts about the most popular HVAC systems. After, we’ll discuss how to choose the best HVAC system in Magnolia.

What Is HVAC?

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. This utility system keeps indoor temperatures comfortable. It also takes care of air quality through filtration and humidity control equipment. As a group, these systems come together to keep our homes cool in the summer and cozy in the winter. Your average HVAC system will have three primary components: heating, cooling and ventilation. Some places won’t always have both heating and cooling, like temperate climates or in older homes.

Most HVAC systems function by circulating air in and out of your home. Depending on the type of system, heat might be added or removed to adjust the indoor temperature. Air ducts can carry the air to each room of the house, but they’re not always necessary. Many HVAC accessories including air filtration equipment are installed within the ductwork for maximum efficiency.

There Are Different Types of HVAC Systems

HVAC technology has come a long way in terms of overall design and efficiency. Homeowners have additional options than ever when choosing an HVAC system. There are several different styles, with one or more being the right combination for your comfort needs. These vary from popular air conditioners and furnaces to alternatives like the heat pump.

Air Conditioners

An air conditioner is an innovative piece of technology that draws heat out of the air with a special substance called refrigerant or coolant. Excess heat and moisture are pumped out of the air and ventilated outdoors. This is highly efficient for keeping cool throughout the hot summer months.

Furnaces

The dependable central furnace has been the most common way to warm your home for many years. It frequently runs on natural gas or oil, combusting the fuel to generate heat. This heat warms the air that circulates through your home while vapors are carefully ventilated outside. Furnaces use a pilot light or electronic hot surface ignition system to start a heating cycle.

Mini-Splits

Some HVAC systems don’t need central ductwork to deliver heating and cooling. A ductless mini-split system is one such piece of equipment. An indoor and outdoor unit are instead linked by copper piping that delivers climate control. You can install multiple indoor units to heat or cool your home. Some models offer air conditioning while some can handle both heating and cooling.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are an increasingly popular choice for heating and cooling your home. Unlike central furnaces and air conditioners, heat pumps don’t produce their own source of climate control. Instead, they pump heat in or out of your home with air circulation. Less energy use can help you save on your monthly bill. Heat pumps are perfect for milder climates and can even be installed alongside other equipment.

Garage Heaters

This compact kind of HVAC system is used to keep garages warm in the colder months. Most garages are unfinished, so they can be rather chilly to spend time in. Garage heaters use fuel like electricity, natural gas or propane to generate heat. This heat is dispersed with power fans. The garage heaters themselves are often manufactured to be portable. They can be relocated around the garage freely or attached to the wall. Some models are even hung from the ceiling.

How Do I Choose an HVAC System?

When choosing a new HVAC system, there are several things to think about. You should find a balance between efficiency and your specific comfort preferences. You can narrow down possible options with the following tips:

Choose the right size for your home: Bigger isn’t always better. In fact, a furnace that’s too powerful for your home may end up costing you in higher energy bills. New HVAC systems should be the appropriate size for maximum effectiveness.

Focus on energy efficiency for long-term savings: Higher energy efficiency is one of the best ways to earn back more savings. Energy-efficient equipment puts less demand on essential components and doesn’t need to work as long for climate control. Try to find models labeled with the ENERGY STAR® rating for especially efficient models.

Browse financing options and special offers: Lots of local service companies extend special financing for new installation. You could receive special offers for the system itself as well as other perks like discounts on preventive maintenance plans.

Entrust new installation to qualified professionals: A new HVAC system is a great investment. You can get the most out of a new air conditioner or heat pump with experienced technicians. They perform air conditioning installation quickly and efficiently, ensuring you enjoy maximum benefit from the start.

Your local expert technicians can review your home and suggest the perfect HVAC system for you. If you’d like to start the process, give JTech Mechanical a call at 281-231-8768 today.