Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning System, commonly known as HVAC, usually means nothing more than just a necessity, a stiff maintenance, and repair bill or a comfort for many homeowners these days. In most cases, some homeowners are not even familiar with this acronym and what it stands for. With this in mind, it is a great responsibility, for pretty much every homeowner, to know the basics of the HVAC system, as well be capable of doing some minor maintenance and repair tasks, without having to call for professional services on a regular basis. The purpose of this article is to provide a small ventilation and AC homeowners’ guide, to help you familiarize with the HVAC system.
The History
So, let’s just start from the beginning. To do that, we will go back in history a bit and talk about the origins of the HVAC systems. Many homes had started including HVAC systems back in the days of the industrial revolution when various new manufacturing processes and industrial innovations took place. Aside from sweating at their workplaces. Many people also got tired of sweating in their own homes. That is why they started implementing first and somewhat primitive HVAC systems into their homes, to provide improved indoor air quality and proper temperatures.
The heating
The first element of the acronym refers to the heating, and it mostly encompasses a central heating system, which consists of a furnace or a boiler, whose purpose is to heat the air or water. It also consists of a ductwork, which serves as a transport medium that moves the warmed air throughout the entire structure. Usually, the heating elements of the system, such as heat pumps or radiators are located in the coldest parts of the house, so as to ensure proper circulation. Not surprisingly, it was the Romans, who are accredited with inventing first central air systems, by creating ductworks in their public baths and homes.
The venting
The second element of the HVAC system is venting. This portion consists of a number of subsystems that replace, exchange and filter out the existing indoor air, so as to ensure a higher quality of it. Different types of rooms, such as bathrooms, for example, utilize a more mechanical means of ventilation, in order to neutralize or reduce the odors and humidity. On the other hand, items, like ceiling fans, are used to draw in fresh air from the windows and lower perceived temperatures. The HVAC system you use most likely uses ventilation processes in order to eliminate indoor allergens, mold spores, and dust.
The air conditioning
Last, but not least, there is the air conditioning aspect of the HVAC system. These systems work on a simple premise that cold air is nothing but the absence of heated air. They rely on principles like chemical refrigerants or conduction, so as to remove the heat and produce colder air. Your HVAC system also uses ductwork to transport and disperse that cool air, throughout the entirety of your home. Some newer systems may also consist of dehumidifiers, which are used to lower the temperature by removing moist, which is warmer than dry air.
The HVAC system is not overly complex. However, it does require a little bit of research and time for people to understand it. Should you find yourself in a tricky situation with your HVAC system, never hesitate to call the experts to help you out with ventilation and AC homeowner’s guide.
Whenever one decides either to change the old HVAC or acquire a new one they should make sure that they properly know what they are out there looking for in that particular system. They should know what questions they should ask and the criteria that they should use to acquire that particular system.