Heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment (HVAC) can be a secret for homeowners. You may know that your home has the ability to remain climate controlled at the touch of a button, but you will find that you want to learn more about the machines that work so hard for you. Read on for a comprehensive definition of the components of your indoor climate control equipment.
Cooling:
During the hot summer months, air conditioning is the star of the climate control show. Your AC unit draws air outside and cools and dries it when the air passes through a cold metal coil. This coil itself is an air-to-liquid heat exchanger, which means that warm air absorbs cold from the coil and vice versa. Rows of pipes pass cold liquid through a coil, and flat surfaces connected to pipes create a large cooling surface area, increasing the amount of air that can be cooled at once. The colder surface area is equal to the cooler air. The type of cold liquid used depends on your system, but may be a liquid refrigerant or chilled water with added frost protection. Regardless of the liquid medium used, liquid is supplied to the cooling coil at a cold temperature.
When this fluid passes through a cooling coil, two things happen to the air that passes over the surface of the coil: the air temperature drops (cooled) and the air humidity is removed (dried). The cooling capacity of your air conditioner depends on its effectiveness in cooling and dehumidifying the air. It is important to note that factors such as outdoor temperature can affect the cooling capacity of some mechanisms. When cooling is inversely proportional to the outside temperature, the machine’s ability to cool the air in the room decreases as the outside temperature rises. In the same way, the temperature and humidity in the room affect your equipment in the same way. Most manufacturers of AC equipment provide a user manual that shows the change in the efficiency of the equipment with changes in temperature and humidity in the room and outside.
Heating:
Central air conditioners are usually connected to a gas or oil stove to provide heat in your home through the same set of air ducts. Alternatively, there are central HVAC units, called heat pumps, which combine heating and cooling functions. If you heat your house with electricity, the heat pump system can be more efficient in temperate climates, providing three times more heat for the electricity consumed.
Air conditioners and heat pumps use different components to functionally cool or heat your home, but the basic principles are the same. The heat pump transfers heat from the winding of the evaporator to the air and the heated air now circulates through your home. The heat coil of the heat pump actually releases heat from the outside air (yes, even cold winter air carries heat that can be extracted by your system). Heat pumps are often installed using a backup stove to help heat your home during times when only a small amount of heat can be extracted from the outside air.
Types of systems:
In typical homes, a split-system split-system is used with an air condensing unit located outside the house and an internal coil. Another type available is called “packaged” air conditioning, and it combines a condensing unit and a coil into one outdoor unit. The best unit for you depends entirely on the location of your home and construction.
