HVAC Heating and Cooling

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) is any system that provides a means to condition the air indoors, be it warming, cooling, or removing humidity from the air. As heating and cooling systems have become more standard over the past few decades, and as the technology becomes cheaper and more efficient, there has been a surge in the number of professionals employed in the repair and maintenance of these systems. Here we will briefly explain the different aspects and types of HVAC systems.

Heating:

Central heating systems are used to heat houses and commercial buildings. These systems have a centralized heating unit that creates heat, which is then circulated throughout the rest of the building. These central heating systems employ boilers, furnaces, of water systems utilizing steam or hot air.

Resistive heating systems are used to heat the various surfaces in building, often seen with heated floors. These use various methods, often times electricity or gas burning, to transfer heat to the surfaces.

Heat pumps extract heat from the ground or the air, but generally work better in mild climates.

Ventilation:

Ventilation systems are the component responsible for moving and transferring air throughout the building. This involves replacing air with air of a more desirable nature, such as cooler or warmer air. In addition to moving the air, the ventilation system is also responsible for cleaning the air – removing molds, odors, smoke, moisture, bacteria, or other harmful components.

Air Conditioning:

Air conditioning involves the removal of heat from the air before it is injected into our homes. Central air systems often combines components both inside and outside the home. A unit outside takes air, removes heat, and injects the air into the ventilation system. In addition to removing heat, most air conditioning systems also dehumidify the air. This allows the air to be cooled easier, as moisture holds heat at a greater capacity than the air itself.