Depending on your preferred settings, HVAC units are fantastic for keeping your house or building hot or cold. Knowing how these systems work can help ensure their proper functioning and routine maintenance.
Learn more about HVAC units and the important components that go into reducing or increasing the temperature in your home in this blog post. If you’re looking for the best Los Angeles HVAC company, reach out to the experienced professionals at Pure Eco Inc.
What Is an HVAC System?
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. These are the three types of functions that you can expect from these units.
Whether it’s a commercial or residential building, an HVAC system is excellent for cooling the space during summer and heating a room in the winter.
While most people believe that an air conditioner is also an HVAC system, that is not the case; it is merely a part of it.
HVAC incorporates heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Whether you have an old unit or are looking to install a new system, it’s essential to understand how these work.
How Does HVAC Work: The Steps Involved in Cooling and Heating the Air in Your Room
There are two main types of HVAC systems: a condenser and a heat pump. Both of these work similarly by removing the heat from your living space to reduce the temperature and expelling it outdoors.
Things to Remember About HVAC Systems: Furnace, Heat Pump, Condenser, and More!
While most people believe that air conditioners bring air from the outside, that is not the case. They simply remove heat from a room and cool it down.
Another thing to remember is that a condenser and a heat pump are different. We will be looking at the main difference between the two later in this article.
A home with a conventional air conditioner may require a furnace to heat the environment during winter. However, that does not mean that AC units with heat pumps do not have furnaces. Some new air conditioners come with both.
Steps Involved in the Cooling Process of HVAC Systems
Here are the steps involved in an air conditioner’s standard cooling process:
Step 1: The Thermostat Sends a Signal to the AC Unit
When you turn on an air conditioner, its thermostat records the room temperature and determines whether it’s too hot or cold.
If the sensor detects a higher temperature, it will send a signal to the AC unit to start the cooling process.
Step 2: The Air Conditioning Unit Absorbs Heat
The evaporator coils containing the cold refrigerant absorb the hot air inside the room, causing them to heat up. At the same time, the air inside the unit starts to get colder.
Step 3: Fan Blows Cold Air
With the help of a fan, the air conditioner blows the cooled air surrounding the evaporator coils into your room. In a home with a central AC unit, the ductwork allows the air to flow to each room, ensuring a cooler environment across the entire house.
Step 4: Release Heat Outside
When the refrigerant gets hot, it travels to the condenser unit, which is typically placed outside. There, it releases heat until it matches the outdoor temperature.
To further help the refrigerant cool down, the condenser unit has fans to dispel the heat faster.
Step 5: The Refrigeration Cycle Repeats
Once the refrigerant cools, it travels back to the inside of the air conditioning unit, where it again absorbs heat from the environment. This cycle repeats until the cooling system reaches the desired temperature.
As the indoor temperature increases and the sensors detect the rise, the smart thermostat sends a signal to the air conditioning unit, initiating the cooling process.
What Are the Key Components of an HVAC System?
Besides an air conditioning unit and a heat pump, here are the other key components of an HVAC system:
- Air exchangers: An air exchanger, also referred to as an air handler, plays a key role in an HVAC system. Air handlers replace and freshen up the air in the environment, helping reduce allergens while controlling humidity.
- Evaporator coils and refrigerant: Air conditioning units do not take cooler air from the outside. Instead, they use refrigerant inside evaporator coils that absorb the heat from the room, helping cool down the environment.
- Vents/ductwork:While air conditioners disperse cold or hot air directly into a room, an HVAC system uses vents or ductwork to help the cooler or hotter air travel throughout your home. It’s important to understand that there are many types of ducting systems on the market, and not all of them will be compatible with your older HVAC unit. Check the compatibility first before investing in one.
- Thermostat: This indoor component allows you to adjust and control the indoor temperature. What many people don’t know is that not all thermostats are compatible with the latest HVAC systems.
- Furnaces:Hybrid HVAC systems come with furnaces that help with heating the air and water before distributing it throughout your home.
- Air filter: This component in an HVAC system ensures the best indoor air quality by pushing the warm or cold air through a filter.
What Is the Difference Between a Vent and Ductwork?
The series of ducts running across your house is also referred to as ductwork. Simply put, ducts are pipes or tubes that help transfer hot or cold air inside your home.
On the other hand, vents are openings into the ducts, which is why you should keep them clean and clear for optimal airflow.
Does an HVAC System Take Air from Outside and Bring It Inside Your Home?
Whether it is a split air conditioner, window AC unit, or any other heating and cooling system, HVAC equipment does not take fresh air from outside and transform it into cool air to achieve the desired temperature.
Air conditioning systems cool the air using condensers or heat pumps. They extract heat from outside using a blower while throwing cold air, thanks to the refrigerant in the coils.
What Is the Key Difference Between Condensers and Heat Pumps in an HVAC System?
The main difference between the outdoor unit of an air conditioning system and a heat pump is that heat pumps also work in reverse. Whether it’s split systems or other types of AC units, heat pumps use refrigerants to heat the indoor air.
How Does a Heat Pump in an HVAC System Work?
Here are the steps involved in how HVAC systems work to warm up a living space:
- The HVAC unit extracts heat from the outdoor environment and blows it over the heat exchange surface of the heat pump’s exterior.
- As it collects heat, the refrigerant starts to warm up and turn into gas.
- The gas passes through the heat exchange surface in the compressor, which causes the pressure to rise, further increasing the temperature.
- With the help of a blower, the air conditioning system or HVAC unit blows heated air into the house or transfers it into a central heating or hot water system.
What Are the Different Types of Heat Pumps in an HVAC System?
While heat pumps use heat from the air or ground, there are new hybrid variants that can be paired with fossil fuel gas furnaces. These use natural gas to heat water according to your desired temperature. You can even find electric variants!
Are There Ductless HVAC Systems?
A ductless HVAC system, commonly referred to as a mini-split, can only heat or cool one portion of a room or house. Since these units are ductless, they use wall-mounted blowers to control temperature.
Homeowners Must Work with the Best HVAC Contractor for Their Home’s Heating or Cooling Needs!
Whether you want to regulate the temperature inside your home or make your house more comfortable and energy efficient, they have the knowledge, expertise, and skills to repair and install heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (ducts and ductless systems) with precision and care.
Contact Pure Eco Inc. to learn more about its products and services and the type of cooling and heating systems it has to offer. Whether you’re looking to repair or replace your HVAC unit, it has got you covered!
