In the Twin Cities metro area, heating and cooling systems are equally important, so it’s helpful to know exactly how these systems work. While you don’t have to learn all the technical acronyms, being able to answer the question “What is HVAC?” is a good place to start.
Heating
The “H” in “HVAC” stands for heating. In the typical Twin Cities home, this is provided by a gas or other fuel-burning furnace, but heat pumps are also used in our area. Furnaces and heat pumps are known as forced-air heating systems because they heat air and use a fan housed in an indoor air handler to force the heated air into ducts that deliver the warm air to all your rooms.
Radiant flooring is another option. In these systems, electric coils or tubes carrying hot water from a boiler are installed under the floors. Geothermal systems, which can operate as forced air or radiant flooring systems, aren’t as common, but they are often an energy-efficient choice.
Air Conditioning
This is the “AC” part of “HVAC.” Air conditioners include an outdoor condenser unit and an indoor evaporator coil, and they operate using refrigerant fluid that circulates through the system. The indoor coil draws heat from your air and dehumidifies it. The cool, dry air is then blown through the ductwork into your rooms. The refrigerant that absorbed the heat flows to the outdoor unit, releases the heat and flows back into the house to pick up more. Heat pumps also cool using this method.
Ventilation
Today’s homes are built to be airtight, so they need carefully planned ventilation to prevent a buildup of air contaminants, control humidity and get rid of odors. Your furnace and air conditioner do this to a certain extent by circulating air through the air filter. For optimal indoor air quality, however, you may need a separate balanced ventilation system, such as a heat recovery ventilation system (HRV), or a dehumidifier.
Want a more detailed answer to the question “What is HVAC?” Then contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning in the Twin Cities metro area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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