HVAC Lexington KY helps regulate the amount of moisture inside a building. Too much humidity can damage a building and lead to mold or mildew.
New systems help maintain a consistent temperature in your home and offer better energy-efficiency ratings than older equipment. They also filter out allergens such as pollen.
The heating component of an HVAC system warms the air in a home or building. This helps maintain a comfortable temperature and contributes to indoor air quality by reducing contaminants like dust and pollen.
Most HVAC systems are made up of a combination of units to meet the unique needs of each home or building. They include a furnace, heat pump, air conditioner or other cooling unit, ductwork, thermostat, and other devices. Each element is important for keeping the space comfortable, but they work together to ensure the indoor environment meets your preferences and lifestyle needs.
Many people search for “what is HVAC” when looking into becoming an apprentice or career changer in the field. However, it’s important to know more about the entire system before deciding whether or not this is the right path for you.
As the demand for energy efficiency increases, so does the need to better understand how HVAC works. Many people are interested in learning more about this topic, but it can take time to determine what training they need.
HVAC is a field that includes many different aspects, from mechanical engineering to fluid mechanics. These skills are needed to design, repair, and maintain HVAC systems.
HVAC is often followed by an R, which stands for refrigeration, as this is a key aspect of many commercial applications. However, most HVAC systems are residential, and the main function is to provide comfort.
An HVAC unit that heats a space by convection. It uses a fan to move air over a heated coil, and the hot air is then vented into the room. This unit type is less expensive than other heating units but could be more efficient.
A device that allows an HVAC system to use outside air for free cooling. When the enthalpy of the outdoor air is lower than that of the interior air, an economizer can be used to reduce the required mechanical cooling load.
A device that keeps a heating or cooling system running at its most efficient by monitoring the ambient temperature and controlling the output of the equipment accordingly. A programmable thermostat, for example, can control how long a heating or cooling unit runs to ensure that the indoor temperature is maintained at a desired level.
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. While the term may seem daunting to some homeowners, it is an umbrella term that encompasses all the units that make up your home’s indoor environmental comfort system. These units include your furnaces, air conditioners, ductwork, thermostats, and other solutions, such as an upgraded MERV 13 air filter, air purifier, or whole-home dehumidifier.
Your HVAC system’s cooling functionality depends on latent heat, the ability to absorb and transport moisture in the form of water vapor. Most cooling systems work by grabbing warm air from inside your house and moving it outdoors, where the surrounding environment cools it. This process works best when the outside temperature is lower than the interior temperature.
Many HVAC technicians recommend a split system, where an insulation barrier separates each indoor and outdoor unit. This helps keep the units from experiencing too much wear and tear from the elements and reduces the potential for energy loss between the two units. However, not all homeowners have the budget or space to accommodate these large units. If that’s the case for you, a packaged air conditioner is an alternative.
Furnaces are a common whole-home heating solution that burns natural gas or propane to create heat, which is then distributed throughout your home via ductwork to increase the indoor temperature. Another option is a heat pump, which works by using refrigerant to absorb and transfer both sensible and latent heat.
Air handlers are responsible for circulating the warm and cool air formed by your other HVAC units, ensuring that your home is evenly heated or cooled throughout. A thermostat is the final component of your system, allowing you to control your home’s temperature.
Many modern HVAC systems use a type of refrigerant known as polyethylene glycol (or PAG), which is used to lubricate the compressor in your AC system. Unlike the petroleum-based refrigerants of older models, these newer compounds do not produce toxic byproducts and are safer for the environment.
Ventilation is the movement of air around a space to allow fresh and stale air out. This can be done naturally or mechanically. Ventilation is important for maintaining healthy indoor air quality as it replenishes oxygen levels, removes odors and excess moisture, and provides a heat exchange method.
Heat loss is the amount of heat a building loses through its exterior walls, windows, and doors. It is determined by a heat load calculation that considers the surrounding air’s temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide levels. The calculations determine the HVAC systems required to maintain the appropriate indoor temperatures.
The evaporator coil is the part of an HVAC system that cools down the air in a home. It is the largest component of an HVAC unit, requiring a lot of energy to operate. This is why getting an HVAC system with a high SEER rating is important, which means it consumes less power to function.
A thermostat is the control system of an HVAC unit. It is the device that tells the system when to start and stop operating and adjusts the temperature. Several types of thermostats are on the market, and they can be digital, analog, or smart. Some thermostats can even be controlled with a phone app!
Air ducts are the conduits that transport air to and from the HVAC system. They can be made of metal, fiberglass, or plastic. It would help if you got insulated air ducts, as they help keep your home energy efficient.
The ventilation system in a home is often divided into two parts: the furnace and the air conditioner. A furnace uses natural gas or propane to heat the air, circulated throughout the home by ductwork.
An air conditioner is an electrically powered unit installed in a window or on the wall. It uses a blower to pull in air from the outside and an evaporator coil to cool the air. An air conditioning unit can have multiple fans, and it is recommended that you check the size of these to ensure they are adequate for your home. The indoor air quality of a house or other building can be affected by various factors. Some of these factors include the presence of pollutants, poor ventilation, and humidity. In addition, certain groups of people are more sensitive to indoor pollutants than others. These groups include infants, older people, and those with existing respiratory or cardiovascular problems.
Indoor pollution sources can be derived from the combustion of fossil fuels like oil, gas, kerosene, or coal; chemical vapors from household cleaning products and pesticides; mold and mildew; gases produced by building materials, appliances, and certain furnishings; dust mites and other insects; bacteria and viruses; and biological contaminants like cat and dog saliva and dander. Biological pollutants are especially potent allergens that can trigger respiratory reactions and even cause disease in susceptible individuals.
In general, human activities are the primary source of indoor air pollutants. However, building materials and furnishings can also contribute if they are of high-emitting or low-ventilating types. Ventilation systems in large buildings can also create problems if poorly designed, operated, or maintained.
Health effects related to poor indoor air quality can be short-lived and often difficult to distinguish from the common cold or other viral illnesses. Record the time and place when symptoms occur to judge the possibility of IAQ problems better. If you prove that your symptoms disappear when away from the problem area, this may indicate that IAQ causes the issue.
Poor indoor air quality can be improved by reducing or eliminating sources of pollutants, increasing ventilation, and installing air-cleaning devices. Frequently, it is the responsibility of the individual resident to improve indoor air quality by taking action to control or eliminate a pollutant source. Sometimes, a homeowner can do this by temporarily opening a window to increase the ventilation rate. Still, it is important to remember that outdoor air might not be suitable for breathing on days when pollution alerts are issued.
