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 important utility. We rely on our heating cooling to keep our homes comfortable all year-round. It can also be a significant part of your monthly energy bills. Spending time to find out more about your HVAC system includes a lot of benefits. You can increase its efficiency and choose the ideal replacement equipment. We’ll share the key details about the most common HVAC systems. After, we’ll go over how to find the best HVAC system in Dresden.

What Is HVAC?

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. This utility system keeps indoor temperatures comfortable. It also manages air quality through filtration and humidity control equipment. As a group, these systems work together to keep our homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Your everyday HVAC system will have three principal 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. Based on the type of system, heat might be introduced or removed to adjust the indoor temperature. Air ducts can bring the air to each room of the house, but they’re not always necessary. Many HVAC accessories like air filtration equipment are installed within the ductwork for the highest possible efficiency.

There Are Different Types of HVAC Systems

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

Air Conditioners

An air conditioner is a groundbreaking piece of technology that extracts 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 incredibly efficient for staying cool through the hot summer months.

Furnaces

The trusty central furnace has been the most popular way to warm your home for many years. It commonly runs on natural gas or oil, combusting the fuel to generate heat. This heat warms the air that moves through your home while vapors are safely ventilated away. Furnaces use a pilot light or electronic hot surface ignition system to initiate a heating cycle.

Mini-Splits

Some HVAC systems don’t need central ductwork to provide 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 desirable option for heating and cooling your home. In contrast to 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 using air circulation. Lower energy use can help you save on your monthly bill. Heat pumps are ideal for milder climates and can even be installed along with other equipment.

Garage Heaters

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

How Do I Pick an HVAC System?

When deciding on a new HVAC system, there are several things to consider. You want to strike a balance between efficiency and your specific comfort preferences. You can narrow down available 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 might end up costing you in steeper energy bills. New HVAC systems should be the proper size for maximum effectiveness.

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

Explore financing options and special offers: Many local service companies extend special financing for new installation. You might receive special offers for the system itself as well as other advantages like discounts on preventive maintenance plans.

Entrust new installation to trained professionals: A new HVAC system is a quality investment. You can get the most out of a new air conditioner or heat pump with seasoned technicians. They perform air conditioning installation quickly and efficiently, ensuring you receive maximum benefit from the outset.

Your local expert technicians can review your home and suggest the ideal HVAC system for you. If you’d like to start the process, give McFadden Heating & Cooling a call at 1-866-781-0111 today.