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 significant part of your monthly energy bills. Spending time to understand more about your HVAC system offers a lot of benefits. You can increase its efficiency and choose the right replacement equipment. We’ll share the key facts about the most common HVAC systems. After, we’ll review how to find the best HVAC system in Odessa.
What Is HVAC?
HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. This utility system keeps indoor temperatures comfortable. It also improves air quality through filtration and humidity control equipment. As a group, these systems collaborate to keep our homes cool in the summer and cozy in the winter. Your everyday 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 work by circulating air in and out of your home. Based on the type of system, heat can be introduced or removed to regulate the indoor temperature. Air ducts can carry the air to every room of the house, but they’re not always required. Lots of HVAC accessories including air filtration equipment are installed inside 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 considerably more options than ever when deciding on an HVAC system. There are multiple different types, with one or more being the right combination for your comfort needs. These vary from popular air conditioners and furnaces to alternatives such as the heat pump.
Air Conditioners
An air conditioner is an innovative piece of technology that draws heat out of the air using a special substance called refrigerant or coolant. Extra heat and moisture are pumped out of the air and ventilated outdoors. This is extremely efficient for staying cool during the hot summer months.
Furnaces
The dependable central furnace has been the most common way to heat 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 properly ventilated away. Furnaces use a pilot light or electronic hot surface ignition system to begin a heating cycle.
Mini-Splits
Some HVAC systems don’t use central ductwork to circulate heating and cooling. A ductless mini-split system is one such type of equipment. An indoor and outdoor unit are instead connected 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. As opposed to central furnaces and air conditioners, heat pumps don’t generate 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. 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 distributed with power fans. The garage heaters themselves are often configured to be portable. They can be relocated around the garage freely or fitted to the wall. Some models are even mounted to the ceiling.
How Do I Choose 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:
Find the right size for your home: Bigger isn’t always better. In fact, a furnace that’s too powerful for your home could end up costing you in steeper energy bills. New HVAC systems should be the proper size for peak effectiveness.
Focus on 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.
Browse financing options and special offers: Many local service companies extend special financing for new installation. You may receive special offers for the system itself as well as other perks such as discounts on preventive maintenance plans.
Trust new installation to trained 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 complete air conditioning installation quickly and efficiently, ensuring you receive maximum benefit from the start.
Your local expert technicians can review your home and recommend the ideal HVAC system for you. If you’d like to start the process, give Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning a call at 432-237-0168 today.