When you own a home, heating and cooling systems are an important part of living comfortably. You may frequently hear the term “HVAC,” which is used to describe home heating and cooling systems. The acronym stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning –the 3 primary functions of a home system. They control air temperature and humidity, and maintain the quality of air in the home.
Central Systems
Heating and cooling systems may be classified as central or local. Central heating and cooling is the most standard method, and is defined by a system that produces warm or cool air in one central area and then distributes it throughout the home. There are many types of systems that work as central systems, from traditional split systems to packaged product systems.
Products typically used in our central heating and cooling services include:
- Heat Pumps
- Air Conditioners
- Gas or Oil Furnaces
- Gas and Oil Boilers
- Fan Coils
- Evaporator Coils
- Single Packaged Products
- Controls and Thermostats
- Geothermal
Local Systems
Unlike central systems, local heating and cooling systems produce warm or cool air at the location where it is needed and serve small spaces. Room air conditioners and Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners(PTAC) are examples of local heating and cooling.
Heating
Heating systems keep your home warm and comfortable. If you live in a particularly cold climate, the function of your heating system is a high priority.
Most central heating and cooling services are performed on systems that are classified as forced air systems – they send air through ductwork for distribution. Other systems, such as radiant systems, create heat and deliver it using components such as radiators that distribute the heat into the home. Boilers are another type of heating system you can use.
Cooling
Whole-house air conditioning systems, or central systems, rely on ducts to deliver cooled air throughout the home. An air conditioning system provides cooling, ventilation, humidity control and even heating (if using a heat pump) for a home. Air conditioning units use refrigerants like Puron Refrigerant and Freon to cool the air that is delivered throughout your home by your ducts.
Products such as room air conditioners are local cooling options for smaller areas within homes. Instead of delivering cooled refrigerant to a coil and then to ductwork, a room air conditioner contains all the components in a single unit and blows air directly into a room.
Thermostats
The term “thermostat” commonly refers to any unit that controls the operation of a heating and cooling system. Thermostats are used to turn on heating or cooling systems to bring the home to a set temperature. In addition to basic temperature control, programmable thermostats can be used to manage the timing of the system’s functions, which can control overall energy use and costs.
