When you need service for your heating or cooling system, you’ll have a better chance of receiving solid assistance if you can show a basic understanding of HVAC concepts and terms. Here are some of the most common things to know when communicating with HVAC pros:

HVAC

This stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, a catchall for anything involving mechanical and passive ways to make a home’s climate comfortable.

Forced-air HVAC system

While other methods of heating and cooling exist, forced-air systems are by far the most common. They include any system that uses a central appliance (heat pump, air conditioner, furnace, boiler) to heat or cool the air, then employs a powerful fan to circulate that air through the house, via ducts and registers.

Split-system heat pumps and air conditioners

These forced-air systems have two main components, an inside evaporator/air handler and an outdoor condenser/compressor. With heat pumps, the outdoor condenser coil exchanges roles with the indoor evaporator coil when the appliance is providing heat rather than cooling. A/Cs and heat pumps (including the increasingly popular ductless mini-split) rely on the principle of refrigeration to create cooling (or cooling and heating with a heat pump). While too involved to explain in this limited space, the process basically uses a chemical compound (refrigerant) to either absorb heat energy from the air (for cooling) or release heat energy into the air (for heating).

Ventilation

Homes require adequate ventilation in order to maintain comfort and indoor air quality. Otherwise, the same stale, contaminated air gets recirculated constantly. Ventilation methods range from opening windows to a simple bathroom exhaust fan to more elaborate heat/energy recovery systems. The latter systems use fans to bring fresh air into the house while expelling stale air to the outside, exchanging heat energy and humidity between the two parallel air streams for maximum comfort and energy efficiency.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to communicating with HVAC pros. Try out your new knowledge next time one of our expert technicians at Powers Heating & Air comes to your Peachtree City home.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Peachtree City, Georgia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 770-487-2040.