HVAC 101

Heating and cooling are two of the most important concepts of home ownership. In fact, heating and cooling systems are major factors for those looking to purchase homes and are a critical part of living comfortably in a home.

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-which are the 3 primary functions of a home system. They control air temperature, humidity, and maintain the quality of air in the home.

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 central heating and cooling systems include:

• Heat Pumps

• Air Conditioners

• Gas or oil furnaces

• Fan Coils

• Evaporator Coils

• Single Packaged products

• Controls and thermostats

Local heating and cooling, on the other hand, produces warm or cool air at the location where it is needed and serves 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 systems are classified as forced air systems because they send air through ductwork for distribution. The ductwork can contain products that filter or clean air. Radiant systems create heat and deliver it using components such as radiators that distribute the heat into the home. Boilers are a traditional radiant heat source.

Cooling

Whole-home air conditioning systems are central systems that 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 and deliver them to the evaporator coils, which dissipate the refrigerant and blow cool air into ducts for delivery throughout the home.

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. Air-conditioned homes often have sealed windows because open windows would disrupt the attempts of the control system to maintain constant temperature.

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.

Health and Indoor Air Quality

Complete home comfort is about more than just temperature-it's also about maintaining a healthy home with indoor air quality.

Dusty, dirty homes at any temperature can mean discomfort. The air in today's tightly-sealed, well-insulated homes can become stale as the same indoor air is circulated and re-circulated. In fact, indoor air quality is among the Environmental Protection Agency's top 3 health concerns. The agency reports that with dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, skin flakes, chemical fumes, cigarette smoke, Radon gas and more, the air inside your home can be 2-5 times dirtier than the air outside.

Although we usually can't see them, air pollutants are all around us and already inside our homes, or waiting to come in from outside. From our yards to our kitchens dangerous air pollutants threaten our home health and air quality. Plus, each season brings its own dangers from mold in the fall and winter to pollens and high humidity in the spring and summer.

Fortunately there are a wide range of air quality systems such as humidifiers, ventilators, UV lamps, media filters and air cleaners, which eliminate many of the pollutants threatening your home's health and improve indoor air quality.

A clean home includes having clean air. Pollen, animal dander, smoke, bacteria and other pollutants naked to the human eye exist in our homes. We havesolutions to clean your home air with state of the art air cleaners, purifiers, and media filters.

During different seasons and within certain climates air can become dry and affect the quality of life in your home. If you experience static electricity, dry skin, or respiratory ailments caused by dry air, you may need a humidifer.

Air can circulate within a home and become stale over time potentially increasing the levels of viruses, bacteria, pollen, smoke, and odors. Many times bringing in fresh air through windows or doors can negatively affecting heating and cooling costs and is not an option. Fortunately, energy recovery ventilators bring in fresh air while dramatically reducing heating and cooling costs.

Heating and cooling systems provide maximum comfort for home owners by regulating temperature and humidity. Unfortunately, this also can cause a warm, damp climate within your evaporator coil that is ripe for mold growth. Installing a UV lamp in the evaporator coil will zap any trace of mold in your HVAC system and leave you with a healthy home.

American Air HVAC is a family owned and operated company.
American Air HVAC is an active member of the Better Business Bureau and ACCA.

Serving Ooltewah, Collegedale, Chattanooga and Cleveland Since 2003
License Number TN State 54121