A chill is in the air, and autumn brings with it a to-do list of tasks like packing away summer clothes and preparing your home for winter weather. Another important item to include on your checklist is ensuring your HVAC system is ready for colder temperatures.
Maintenance is key to getting the most out of your HVAC system. Cleaning and replacing filters, and repairing leaky ducts helps optimize airflow, keeping energy use low. Contact HVAC Round Rock for professional help.
HVAC systems regulate and move heated and cooled air throughout homes, offices, indoor stadiums and other large buildings. They also control humidity and improve air quality by removing bacteria, spores and virus-sized particles from the atmosphere.
The four main types of HVAC systems differ in how they take in, heat or cool and distribute air, but they all share one key component: the blower fan that circulates conditioned air through a network of ducts. They are designed to serve a specific building or space and to meet its specific energy needs while meeting occupant comfort and health requirements.
A heating system typically includes a furnace, boiler or a heat pump. Furnaces use combustion to generate and distribute warm air, while boilers use water or steam to warm the air. Heat pumps are different because they use refrigerant to absorb and transport warmth or cooling from the environment.
In all three cases, the heat is distributed through a series of ducts. Air ducts are a common feature in commercial settings, while registers or vents are openings in walls, floors or ceilings that allow conditioned air to enter rooms and spaces.
During a home or office visit, an HVAC technician can recommend the right unit for your location and your comfort preferences. The system you choose will depend on a variety of factors, including your budget, the size of your home and whether you want your system to monitor and control humidity.
All HVAC systems have a main unit that houses the controls for the system, with the exception of boiler systems which don’t need a way to forcefully move air and an electronic compressor. An air handler, found in most other HVAC systems, houses an evaporator coil that can absorb and transfer heat from the surrounding environment, as well as a blower fan to push conditioned air through ducts into rooms or spaces. In addition to the evaporator coil, an air handler contains air filters that remove bacteria, spores and other harmful contaminants from incoming air. The air is then circulated through the entire system to ensure that every room or space has the same temperature.
Cooling
HVAC systems are vital in homes and commercial buildings, but are also a requirement for transport vehicles like cars, trains and planes. HVAC technology regulates temperature, humidity and air quality to create a safe and healthy environment for passengers and crew members.
How HVAC systems work to keep you comfortable in your home or office depends on your specific heating and cooling needs. Some systems include furnaces that burn fuel to make heat and distribute it via ductwork, while others may use refrigerants to cool a room. Depending on your preferences, you can choose from a range of energy efficient heating and cooling options that are quiet, compact, or even portable.
The basic components of a HVAC system include a fan, blower, coils, and compressor. A programmable thermostat or smart thermostat links to all of these systems to control their operation and maintain an optimal indoor climate. Ventilation fans are another important element of a HVAC system, and they help to regulate air pressure and flow through the house or office.
During the colder months, an HVAC system will use an electric furnace to produce warm air. This air is then blown throughout the home or office via ductwork to raise indoor temperatures and provide comfort. Some systems also include a central air conditioner to cool the interior.
In some cases, you may opt for a split system ACU (air conditioning unit). This solution includes all of the heat creating components outside the house or office and pushes cooled air through ductwork to increase indoor air temperature.
The ACU will typically feature a heat pump that uses a gas-powered or electric motor to drive the compressor and refrigerant through its cycle. The system will extract heat from the air outdoors and use it to warm up the refrigerant vapor before it enters the cooling coils to lower indoor temperatures.
The ACU will also feature a heat exchanger, which is used to recover waste heat from the cooling process to prevent overheating. This is known as hot-gas reheat or desuperheating, and it helps the ACU to run more efficiently by using less energy.
Humidity Control
The level of moisture in the air, known as relative humidity, has a significant impact on occupant comfort and health. Excessive humidity creates conditions ripe for the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria, which can contribute to allergies, asthma, respiratory infections, and more. Low relative humidity levels can cause dry air that leads to skin irritation, discomfort, and the development of static electricity. In both cases, a properly sized humidification or dehumidification device can help to establish ideal relative humidity levels.
The best way to determine if your home has the proper humidity levels is with a hygrometer, available at most hardware stores and online. A hygrometer measures both the amount of moisture in the air and the temperature, and provides a reading of the relative humidity. An ideal humidity range is between 30-60 percent. The relative humidity level in any particular space is influenced by a number of factors, including outdoor climate and local weather, the design and construction of buildings, and people’s daily activities.
Humidity control is essential to a building’s structural integrity, as well as the longevity of its contents. Wooden flooring and furniture, for example, are less likely to warp or crack in a well-regulated environment. Electronics and artwork can also be better protected from damage when humidity levels are properly controlled.
A good HVAC system is one that can balance temperatures and humidity levels. However, most HVAC systems are not designed to specifically target humidity and are not equipped with the necessary components to humidify or dehumidify an entire home. Our professionals have the tools, expertise, and knowledge to effectively monitor and regulate indoor humidity in any property.
In addition to monitoring indoor humidity, we can also install a vapor barrier in the attic to prevent water vapor from rising into the living spaces below it. This simple step can drastically improve the energy efficiency of any home or commercial property. A vapor barrier will also significantly reduce the risk of water intrusion and structural damage, as well as protect against musty or stale odors in the living spaces.
Ventilation
Ventilation is the act of bringing in outdoor air and replacing indoor air to control humidity. It also includes the air movement within a room, building or space so that oxygen can be exchanged for carbon dioxide and heat can be removed.
Ventilators are a vital component of modern home design and are expected in commercial buildings, offices, high rise tower blocks, hospitals, shops, warehouses and more. It is important to regularly inspect, test and maintain ventilation systems to avoid health issues, condensation and mould.
In a healthy building, the ventilation system is designed to provide an adequate supply of fresh outdoor air while controlling pressure relationships between spaces to prevent moisture damage in structural and other components. The risk of condensation in structures in cold climates can be reduced by providing a slightly lower pressure indoors than outdoors (by up to 20 Pa), so that buoyancy forces the moisture-laden air downward, rather than into the structure where it could condense on cold surfaces.
A ventilation system consists of an air handling unit, blower fan, air filter and a network of ducts that distribute conditioned air into rooms. The blower fan pushes cooled or warmed air through an evaporator coil to reduce its temperature. The air is then pushed back out through the ducts, which are usually located in walls, floors or ceilings and into a building’s exterior. A heat pump can be used to both heat and cool a house. The process works in the same way as a traditional furnace but can also reverse the flow of refrigerant depending on whether it’s heating or cooling.
The air filters remove contaminants and particles from the conditioned air before it’s distributed into rooms, so that it is clean, dry, and odourless. The air ducts, which are often hidden in walls or under floorboards, connect the air handling unit with rooms via vents and registers. Keeping these openings clear is crucial to ensure that your HVAC system is performing at maximum efficiency. If not, the ductwork can be blocked with dust, debris and mold or may have insufficient airflow, which can affect your energy consumption and cause indoor air quality problems.