The term “HVAC” covers all kinds of interrelated air control systems. Understanding the basics of these components can help you get a better grasp on your system’s role and function in your home or business.

It’s also important to know the ins and outs of HVAC Round Rock service plans. These proactively maintain your system and often reduce repair costs by catching minor issues before they become major ones.

Ventilation is a crucial component of HVAC, and it works to both heat and cool air. It also helps to reduce excess humidity. Without proper ventilation, you may notice a buildup of dirt and bacteria in your home or workplace. This can lead to discomfort and even health problems. The filtration system in HVAC systems is designed to remove these impurities and ensure that the air you breathe is clean and healthy.

When choosing an HVAC system, it’s important to do your research and find a unit that fits your needs. This includes assessing the climate conditions in your area, typical temperatures and humidity levels, and energy efficiency ratings. A trained contractor can help you choose the best system for your location and home.

An HVAC system consists of two main units, an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The indoor unit contains the evaporator coil and air handler, while the outdoor unit contains the compressor and condenser coil. The ductwork runs throughout the house and connects the indoor and outdoor units.

The evaporator coils in an HVAC system contain the sub-cooled refrigerant, and air blows over these metal fins. As the air passes over these coils, it’s cooled and blown out into the room through the vents. The cold air is then distributed to the rest of the house.

During old-fashioned construction, most homes and office buildings had access to natural ventilation, which allowed fresh air to come in from the outdoors and stale air to be expelled. However, newer building designs tend to be more tightly-sealed, so mechanical ventilation is essential for optimal occupant comfort and safety.

Refrigerant

Refrigerant is the “lifeblood” of your HVAC system, as it’s responsible for transferring heat between inside and outside your home. It circulates through copper coils in your air conditioner’s evaporator and condenser, changing between liquid and gas states as it absorbs and releases heat. The cycle repeats itself over and over, cooling your home and moving hot air out the vents.

There are several different refrigerants used in air conditioning systems, each with its own unique set of properties. Most refrigerants are halocarbons, which are compounds made of carbon and chlorine, but there are also hydrocarbon refrigerants and even non-halocarbon options like hydrogen.

The type of refrigerant your system uses depends on the age and model of your unit. Chlorofluorocarbons such as R-22 (Freon) were once widely used in residential HVAC systems, but production and importation of this type of refrigerant has stopped due to ozone depletion concerns. New HVAC systems now use R-454B or other low GWP refrigerants, which are better for the environment and your energy bills.

When your air conditioning system needs a refrigerant recharge, it’s important to have a professional perform the service to prevent equipment damage and health risks. A qualified technician can inspect the system and perform a full diagnostic to locate any issues. They can then repair the refrigerant leak and recharge the system to its manufacturer’s specifications.

Many homeowners assume that they can simply refill their AC with refrigerant on their own, but this is a dangerous task that should be left to professionals. Recharging refrigerant incorrectly can lead to permanent equipment damage and environmental concerns. If your refrigerant is running low, reach out to Burgeson’s for reliable HVAC service.

Furnace

Furnaces are the heating element in HVAC, and they’re responsible for generating and distributing warm air throughout a home or office. They use natural gas, propane, or electricity to create intense heat in a safe container that can then be distributed through the ventilation system.

A furnace starts by combining fuel with oxygen, combusting it to produce thermal energy and heat. The heat is then transferred to a heated exchanger, which warms the incoming air before it’s pushed into the indoor environment. The temperature is controlled by the thermostat, which signals the furnace to activate based on its programmed preferences.

The blower fan then pushes the warm air into the rooms in the building through ductwork. A filter keeps dust and debris out of the vents, while a flue and vent pipes expel the combustion gases outside.

While a furnace can operate by itself, it’s often paired with a heat pump or air conditioner to offer complete climate control. Unlike furnaces, heat pumps and air conditioners don’t need a dedicated cooling source to work.

Many homeowners choose to install a furnace with an air conditioner because they can save money on energy bills by relying on one unit to provide both heating and cooling. In some regions, the cost of natural gas is less than that of electricity, making a gas furnace a smart choice.

A furnace’s energy efficiency rating is determined by its AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating, which indicates how much of the fuel it uses to create heat. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the furnace is. Furnaces can also be paired with an air handler, which doesn’t have its own energy efficiency rating but is usually measured by the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) of the heat pump or air conditioner with which it’s paired.

Air Handler

The air handler is the indoor component of your HVAC system. It has an evaporator coil that cools the air, and a blower fan that circulates the conditioned air throughout your home. The air handler also contains a drain pan that collects condensation from the cooling coils. The air handler can be powered by electricity or natural gas, depending on the availability of each in your area.

An air handler is basically a bigger version of the furnace inside your home. It may look like a metal box that houses the evaporator coil, a blower fan and other components. It can be sized for either residential or commercial use and can be powered by electricity, gas, steam, water, or solar energy. A smaller air handler usually only has an evaporator coil, air filter and blower fan. These units are often used in homes that already have baseboard heat, but want to install ductless air conditioning.

In heating mode, the air handler uses electric heat strips (similar to those in a toaster) that warm up the air. The blower then circulates the air over the hot elements to warm it up before it is blown into your home. The air handler can also be fitted with an electric heater package, which adds heat to the circulation of your ductwork.

The air handler has an air filter that removes particulates from the circulating air. This helps improve your home’s indoor air quality, and keeps dust, dirt, and other contaminants from clogging the evaporator coil. It can also contain a humidifier or dehumidifier to regulate humidity levels. Finally, it may have a frost coil to prevent ice from forming on the coil in extremely cold climates.

Thermostat

The thermostat is the brain of your heating and cooling system, working constantly to keep the space at a comfortable temperature. In its simplest form, it senses the room temperature and turns your HVAC system on or off to bring the room to a specified “set point.”

Modern digital thermostats display your settings and current temperature on a screen and offer buttons or touchscreens for easy control. These thermostats help you heat and cool your home more efficiently, reducing energy usage year-round.

Regardless of the type of thermostat you have, it relies on a complex network of sensors to monitor and adjust the interior climate. These systems also feature controls to optimize the start and stop of heating and cooling. The sensors measure conditions like air temperature, humidity, indoor carbon dioxide, and more. The information is sent to the processing unit, which then decides when and how to activate your HVAC system.

If you have a programmable thermostat, you can set the temperature for the day and/or time of the week. Then, the system will automatically adjust the temperature to match your schedule, saving you time and energy.

Other advanced thermostats are designed to optimize your HVAC system’s operation based on the building’s load calculation, which considers occupants, solar loads on the structure, plug load (all the appliances that use electricity), and more. These thermostats combine your setting with other input devices and logic to provide even more energy savings.

If you have a new home or recently completed a major renovation, it’s a good idea to schedule Duct Cleaning Salt Lake City. Construction dust can contaminate the entire HVAC system, especially if it settles in ducts.

Dirty ducts can harbor contaminants that can exacerbate respiratory health conditions, auto-immune disorders, and allergies. Duct cleaning eliminates those pollutants to improve indoor air quality.

Reduces Allergies

If a family member suffers from allergies, it may be time to have your ductwork cleaned. Dirty ducts can contribute to allergy warning signs, such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and congestion. Allergens that are circulated throughout your home include pet dander, dust mites, mold spores, and bits of dead insects (like cockroaches and ants).

The air in your home passes through your heating and cooling system before it enters each room. Over time, your ductwork can become clogged with these allergens, and they are then recirculated throughout the house when the HVAC system is on. This can exacerbate existing allergies or cause new ones to develop.

Allergens can also build up in your ductwork due to water damage, smoke, or other environmental contaminants. When the ducts are cleaned, they are wiped clean of these contaminants and can be used to improve indoor air quality.

Duct cleaning can significantly reduce allergy symptoms by eliminating the contaminant sources that trigger them. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, mold spores, and pet dander can all cause respiratory problems and make it difficult to breathe. If you have a family member who suffers from severe allergies or asthma, it’s important to remove these contaminants from the air in your home.

If you’ve noticed your allergy symptoms worsening this spring, it may be a sign that the time for duct cleaning is now. The best way to get rid of the allergens that are building up in your ductwork is to have them professionally cleaned.

Choosing the right company is essential to ensure that your ductwork is thoroughly cleaned. Beware of companies that claim their services will improve your health or use marketing strategies such as “studies show” to lure customers in. These companies usually have no independent data to back up their claims. Instead, choose a company that is experienced in performing this service and can provide proof of their work, such as before and after photos. Avoid any company that recommends using chemicals to clean your ductwork, as these can negatively affect your indoor air quality.

Reduces Dust And Dirt

The air that circulates through the ducts of your home contains contaminants like dust, pet dander, volatile chemicals, and carbon monoxide. These pollutants are blown into the ductwork by your HVAC unit and recirculated throughout your living space. Over time, these pollutants can cause coughing, sneezing, and other respiratory illnesses. Using the right filters can help reduce the amount of dust and other allergens in your home, but regular cleanings are also necessary.

Duct cleaning involves sweeping, brushing, and vacuuming the ductwork. This process can be performed manually, but it is best done with a professional who has been trained in best practices. In addition to removing the dirt and debris that accumulates, a trained technician can also inspect the ductwork to identify any problems like leaks, mold growth, or pest infestations.

Dirty ducts can also attract rodents. These unwanted house guests can chew their way through the ducts to find a cozy place to live, contaminating your air with fecal spores and other bacteria.

Even if you change your filters regularly, likely, some dust will still make its way into your home. This is because the ducts are constantly agitated and dislodged by your heating and cooling system. Cleaning your ducts eliminates the dust that collects inside, reducing the amount of dust that blows into your living spaces when you turn on your heating or air conditioning.

Clean ductwork can also reduce the amount of dirt and other debris that gets into your air conditioner and heater. During an inspection, a professional can determine whether your ductwork needs to be cleaned and how often it should be cleaned to maintain optimal performance.

Cleaning your ductwork can improve the quality of your home’s air and prevent health problems. Investing in professional duct cleaning services is one of the best ways to ensure that you and your family enjoy a clean, healthy home environment.

Reduces Stale Smells

We all wipe down pictures on the mantel or clean dust off of a table, but do you ever think about the air vents in your home? If you don’t, your ductwork may be home to a lot of bad odors. Cleaning ducts remove the dust, hair, and dander that create stale smells throughout your home.

Pets, household cleaning agents, paint fumes, mildew and mold, tobacco use, and even food preparation can all produce odors that settle in the ductwork. These stale smells circulate and recirculate with every air movement, creating a musty aroma throughout your house. Duct cleaning eliminates stale smells and leaves your home smelling fresher and cleaner.

Stale odors aren’t just unpleasant to live with; they can also be harmful. Many of these stale odors are caused by the growth of mold spores in dark and damp places, like air ducts and HVAC systems. These spores recirculate in the air, irritating asthmatics and other people with respiratory problems. Air duct cleaning with an antimicrobial solution prevents the release of spores and helps keep the air in your home fresher.

The stale odors from animal feces can be a sign of rodent infestation. When animals enter your ductwork through unsealed access points or chew their way in, they leave droppings and other contaminants behind. The stale odors these animals leave behind can spread to the entire house and contaminate the air quality.

Duct cleaning will remove all these stale odors and the pests that cause them, leaving you with fresher air in your home. The stale odors will also be less noticeable, making your home a more pleasant place to live in and inviting visitors.

Dirty air ducts and vents reduce the effectiveness of your heating and cooling system, forcing it to work harder to push warmer or cooler air into your living space. It also clogs the air filters faster, shortening their lifespan and requiring them to be replaced more often. Duct cleaning will eliminate these harmful substances and improve your HVAC’s efficiency, saving you money over time.

Increases Airflow

Your home’s ductwork acts like the respiratory system of your living spaces, distributing air from your HVAC systems throughout the entire structure. Over time, these ducts can accumulate dirt, dust, allergens, pet dander, mold spores, bacteria, and other pathogens. When they circulate, these contaminants can irritate your family members with severe allergies and asthma or exacerbate existing health conditions. Cleaning your ducts eliminates these contaminants and allows the re-circulation of clean, healthy air.

Dirty ducts can also harbor pest infestations and emit noxious odors. Mice, rats, insects, and other pests can contaminate your ductwork with their droppings, urine, and even carcasses, emitting foul smells that will permeate your living spaces.

During an NADCA-certified duct cleaning, professionals will use specialized equipment to dislodge and remove these contaminants. Cleaning your ducts eliminates these pollutants and removes the odors associated with them, leaving your house feeling fresher and cleaner.

Air ducts can trap moisture and spores in the ventilation system, leading to a buildup of mold and mildew. This can exacerbate respiratory problems and cause damage to the ductwork and the surrounding structures. Regular cleaning can prevent this from happening, and prevent mold and mildew from growing in your ductwork and around your HVAC system.

Cleaning your ductwork can also help you save money on energy bills. Dirty ducts can make your heating and cooling systems work harder, which can lead to higher utility bills. Clean ducts can reduce the amount of air that goes through your ductwork, decreasing the temperature in the surrounding areas and saving you money on your energy bill.

Many people consider duct cleaning to be a messy task, and many have questions about how this process works. This confusion can deter some people from scheduling a service, which may result in poor air quality and system performance over time.