As technology progresses with each passing day, our comfort factor has doubled, making us cozy and snuggled up inside our homes. However, these technological aspects that bring us so much luxury are often beyond our knowledge realm. One such system that takes care of us on a daily basis is the HVAC system. Found in most American households, we hardly know what goes into the making, operation, and functionality of the same.

Here we shall discuss all that goes into the making, maintenance, installation, and perfect operation of your household or commercial HVAC unit.

But, before we dive deeper into this topic, let us first outline what exactly this HVAC system is.

An HVAC system is a combination of ventilation, heating, as well as an air conditioning unit in one. When put together, this system helps heat up or cools a residential space or commercial building as per requirement. One can locate an HVAC system potentially anywhere with the need for ample environmental comfort.

These systems are becoming popular by the day as opposed to stand-alone machines that provide only cooling or only heating. Your HVAC system uses fresh air filtered from outdoors to add to the air quality indoors.

Now, let us take a look at what this acronym brings together.

An HVAC system’s heating aspect helps crank up the temperature inside your room/ house or commercial space. You can set the temperature as per your requirement to counteract the winter chills taking a toll over the outdoor space.

The ventilation facet of your HVAC system helps with better replacement and exchange of air within your living space. We often close up the indoor area with no way for the fresh air to enter. The higher the number of people living inside the house, the faster the air within gets polluted by the carbon dioxide we release as we exhale.

However, the HVAC system’s ventilation aspect helps ensure that each breath you take comprises fresh air only minus the allergens, contaminants, or bacterial pollutants. It is also ideal for perfect oxygen replenishment. 

Apart from heating and ventilating your space, the HVAC system is also designed to provide air conditioning or air cooling features. If it’s the peak of summers or a general increase in humidity in your area, having an HVAC system is preferable when the heat is beyond the bearable mark.

These three prime functions of the HVAC system, as mentioned above, are interrelated. This is especially true when you plan on receiving acceptable quality indoor air or thermal comfort in the long run. Your air conditioning and heating system are among the highly complicated & extensive systems present within your home.

However, when this heavy machinery tends to break apart or suffer certain issues, it can be resolved with reliable service providers or HVAC repair services if paid attention to. There are 9 critical parts that make up your HVAC system, and it is important that you familiarize yourself with the same.

These parts have been explained here to help you understand if ever any defect or error arises.

The air return segment is the section of your HVAC that creates an initiation spot for your house’s ventilation requirements. The return valve is designed to suck in the air and move it through the filter while passing it via the prime system. Eventually, you get a burst of fresh air that is pertinent to both your health and comfort.

However, you need to ensure that your air return segment is in the receiving end of frequent cleaning to ensure there is no buildup of dust and debris within your filters. Any possible blockage can lead to non-functioning of the filters, and all you get is cold air without any filtering. 

At times, when the blockage is a major one, the air might not pass through, and there could be added issues in your HVAC system.

The air filter added to your HVAC system keeps particles such as dust, debris, or even mold and mildew away from the air that finally reaches you. This is critical to ensure that no one in your family suffers from breathing issues or similar allergen-induced issues. 

However, with time, your filter tends to get clogged, which requires regular maintenance and cleaning sessions from reliable HVAC professionals. 

The exhaust outlets make up for a critical part of your HVAC system, where your machine expels any unwanted air into the outside atmosphere. When seeking the right air conditioning and heating from your unit, make sure you check the vent stack or chimney flue on an annual basis or tune the same up in case there is a breakage or malfunction.

The AC ducts are hidden channels that carry the cooled or heated air from the HVAC unit. These channels come from the central unit and diversify according to the number of rooms present in your house. 

Given the fact that the flexible AC ducts are hidden, they often tend to get ignored by the homeowners. However, it is important that you put in place a reliable plan for the efficient cleaning and maintenance of your air duct system. 

This can help you get rid of any dust or debris along with any mold or mildew development that might happen after years of moisture exposure.

Now, this could be a critical yet tricky part of your daily HVAC monitoring routine. We often assume that the problem is in the machine, but most of the time, the problem stems from the power circuit or similar connections. 

So, make sure you check all the connections and call a technician as soon as possible. Do not do the mistake of opting for a DIY in case there is a circuit issue or problem with any electric component. This can lead to potential electrocution or damage your unit further. So, always hire reliable HVAC contractors to get the job done.

An outdoor unit is probably the biggest part of your HVAC unit that might seem too complicated for you to understand. However, it is easy to decode and monitor the way it works. Your HVAC’s outdoor unit comprises of fans that add to the airflow requirements. 

Given the fact that the outdoor units are kept outside open to the environmental factors, it is prone to collect a lot of dirt, debris, and even cause the growth of vegetation. If plants are sucked into the unit’s fan, it can lead to serious issues that might cause a partial or complete breakdown of the HVAC unit.

As a section of your HVAC’s outdoor unit, a compressor is designed to convert the refrigerant from its gaseous state to liquid while sending it to the respective coils. As the hot air passes through the compressor, it gets cooled down and helps provide chilled air to your room via the duct. 

If there is a cooling issue with your compressor, it surely points out towards compressor-related failures. So, make sure you get your compressor checked by a professional at least once every year.

The coil is one important part of your HVAC’s outdoor unit. This is where the coils tend to cool the hot air as it works its way through the same with a chunk of help coming from the cooling refrigerant. With constant heating and cooling happening in the coils, it can be prone to breakage or similar failure. So, if you happen to experience low or too highly cooling, it could be a sign of coil failure. Additionally, keep checking for frost build-up in your coils to ensure there is nothing wrong with the system. 

The HVAC blower tends to draw in the warm air present within your room through the unit’s main section. This warm air makes its way to the compressor to get cooled and eventually gets diverted back to the room after the cooling and filtering process is complete. 

Do keep checking your blower for mold or mildew growth as it can make its way into your body system and cause allergies or similar problems.

Given that the HVAC system stands for ventilation, heating, and air conditioning, it is confirmed that these parts are prime in your machine. In general, the heating segment of your HVAC refers to the boiler or furnace. It comes with a durable and sturdy pipe system to help transport the fluid that carries the heat through the ductwork. 

On the other hand, the ventilation system is either forced or natural. When forced, it is doubled up as a unit for air-cleaning requirements. The 3 ^rd element of the HVAC system, the air conditioning unit, delivers a work model that removes the heat within your home and delivers cold air.

In the AC manufacturing industry, we often use the term HVAC interchangeably with AC. Now, air conditioning is a term generally referred to as the systems designed to cool down your house. Window units & central ACs are the standard systems used in an air conditioning unit. 

Here are some subtle yet important differences between the two:

HVAC deals with both heating as well as cooling requirements of your house, whereas the air conditioning unit is just designed to cool down space. 

AC helps wick off extra humidity from the air bringing in a comfortable environment within your house. On the other hand, the HVAC system can both add as well as remove the humidity from your space as per your requirement. 

HVAC units have a sophisticated duct system as compared to the duct system of air conditioning units.

AC units are designed to save space as compared to HVAC units that can be bulkier in nature.

Now that you understand the HVAC system’s basics, you mind be wondering how long it lasts and is it worth the investment. The answer to this is variable and depends on a range of factors.

Here we will decode each factor responsible for the determination of your HVAC system’s lifespan. 

The most critical and often overlooked factor is the maintenance of your heating, cooling, and ventilation unit. If you plan on receiving the warmth, comfort, and luxury provided by the unit, you need to make sure maintenance is something you never overlook. 

You can surely perform a cleaning session for the unit’s outer parts. However, refrain from entering the inner areas as this can lead to manufacturer warranty being void. Unless you are a technician with knowledge of the HVAC system, it is better to refrain from opting for DIY methodologies as it can further damage the machine to the extent that might be beyond repair and hence cost you a fortune. The right way is to call in professional help and avoid risky DIY affairs.

One of the important factors that add to your HVAC system’s overall life is the cleaning done for the same. Ask yourself questions such as:

How many times should I change my HVAC air filter?

How often should I clean the filter?

Is my air conditioning unit making clogged sounds?

Is the cooling on the appropriate level?

Once you have analyzed the answer to these questions, you will come to a conclusion as to whether or not your HVAC filter needs a change or quick replacement. A clogged or dirty filter can put a lot of strain on the HVAC unit. Most maintenance and repair service providers tend to suggest a filter change every 90 days. However, this change is varied depending on the number of pollutants your HVAC is exposed to. 

On the other hand, if you do use a high-quality micro-particle filter, make sure you change the filter on a monthly basis.

One more thing that adds in or deducts your HVAC system’s life is the location it is placed at. If you happen to live in an arid or dry climate, dust might accumulate all around the coil & filter pretty quickly. Due to this heavy accumulation, you have to opt for frequent cleaning of the entire system. 

Additionally, the humidity content in your area also plays a critical role in determining your HVAC unit’s lifespan. The higher the humidity content in the atmosphere, the harder your system has to work in order to make the area comfortable inside. 

This heavy load added to your machine can dim down the years left for the system before it needs to be replaced by a new one. Also, make sure your HVAC system’s vents aren’t in a place that is blocked by the furniture. This blockage could have an adverse impact on the functionality of the machine.

We all have a habit of letting things run longer than necessary until you are slapped on the face with heavy energy bills. The same thing applies to your HVAC unit as well. A unit that runs constantly tends to see a higher amount of wear & tear as compared to a unit that is used only when required. Filter changes, frequent cleanings, programmable thermostats, as well as regular maintenance, ensure that your HVAC unit runs in an efficient manner. 

Check for the answer to these questions such as:

Is your outdoor unit exposed to direct sun in summers?

Is the area around your outdoor unit covered with grass?

Is your unit located close to the driveway with direct dust pouring in?

With the right answer to these questions, you can protect the outdoor HVAC unit from elements that drop down its years of functionality. Opting for these preventative measures makes sure that you do not have to work a lot in order to keep your unit well-maintained or free from extra repair needs.

Lastly, you have to ensure that the HVAC unit’s installation is done only by a certified and quality system professional. Additionally, you need to decide which size fits your needs in the best way. We often assume that a large unit is ideal for your house. However, this would only lead to added energy bills. 

On the other hand, a unit that is way too small for your house can add strain to the machine, and hence your HVAC system won’t last for long. You also need to make sure that your HVAC system’s ductwork is placed properly along with the venting sections.

A major faction of our energy bill comes from the HVAC unit. So, you must be wondering why they are so important. Let us decode why this complex yet the important system is so critical to your home machinery list. 

Fresh and comfortable air is always good for your body and mind. It helps add to your health and productivity. With the HVAC system’s ventilation protocol, one can quickly reduce the overall pollutants, odour, or bacterial contaminants they inhale with every breath they take. 

The HVAC system’s data analytics feature adds to the comfort you get from the building’s temperature regulation. Your machine also lowers the overall humidity to ensure that you do not feel too sweaty or drippy when inside the house.

Operating your HVAC machine at its best efficiency can be a challenging task. You have to keep in mind a lot of factors to ensure that your machine works at its best efficiency. However, modern-day HVAC machinery comes with futuristic features that help determine the right way to provide regular usage energy efficiency. This also helps add to the machine’s overall life without affecting the comfort factor in any manner. 

Operating your HVAC system on a regular basis helps enhance the air quality indoors. Poor air quality or the addition of pollutants to the air you breathe can aggravate asthma or allergies in certain people while causing headaches or dizziness in you or your family members. With cleaning sensors added to your modern-day HVAC systems, you can now easily check the air quality and modify the settings accordingly . 

It is a general consensus that a comfortable environment within the house and a cleaner air is sure to act as a mood booster for you and your family. Additionally, a reliable HVAC system added to your office environment also helps increase your employees’ overall productivity while promoting positivity with less sick leaves.

While discussing the HVAC unit and its importance, we cannot forget the types of HVAC products that come into play when you search for one to add to your house from a local shop. Here is a list of all the products related to HVAC you can get from your neighboring seller.

The AHU or Air Handling Unit makes up for a critical segment of the air-conditioning, ventilating, as well as a heating system. It is used for conditioning and circulation of air all around the house.  

The plenum or the single/double skin serves as a separate space added to enhance the air circulation feature for proper heating, air-conditioning, as well as ventilating the HVAC systems.

Another device that is critical to the HVAC system is the sound attenuator. This particular device is designed to dim down the HVAC or fan’s noise via the ventilation ducts. 

This particular device is designed to ensure a continual supply of ventilation between the adjacent spaces and rooms while ensuring the maintenance of proper sound transmission.

The damper for volume control is engineered precisely to cater to a positive airflow control in the HVAC system. 

An HVAC fire damper helps prevent any possibility of fire within the machine’s ductwork and avoids any probable accidents during intensive heating sessions.

The exhaust duct tends to allow efficient ventilation from the local exhaust, which is powerful enough to remove the unwanted materials floating up and around in the air within your room. 

The HVAC mixing box holds a critical place in the maintenance of comfort within your home. The mixing plenum is designed to provide a constant air mixture to ensure onward distribution throughout the building.

This is a ventilation item designed to keep away the water, dirt, and debris. 

Butterfly dampers work as an amazing and cost-effective approach that provides easy control and isolation.

Spiral ducts serve as an efficient method to transport the airflow from one location to another with minimal energy consumption.

These ducts are perfect for HVAC systems that work on low to high-pressure requirements in terms of airflow dispatch.

GI ducts are designed to carry air in and out within the house to the main unit. It comes in a range of sizes that include spiral, circular, rectangular, and square.

If you are looking for an HVAC for your house, the ideal move would be to select the right service provider to get the best system. 

It all starts with manufacturing. How long your machine will last and how well it works depends on the manufacturer itself. This will help you determine whether the same is worth your money. With the right parts in sync and well-synced manufacturing, you will get access to a machine that works well for a long time.
So, keep in mind to trust reliable manufacturers or HVAC companies with a positive market reputation. 

Apart from manufacturing, supply-chain activity also matters a lot. Even though the HVAC units tend to work efficiently due to their sturdy design, they can still be vulnerable to damage in case they aren’t handled well in transit.

With the right installation, you can ensure that your machine works perfectly day in and day out. When each part is fitted perfectly by a certified service provider, you can be assured that your machine won’t ever fail you unless the damaging factor comes due to other negligence or general wear-and-tear.

In case there ever is a need for repair for your HVAC system, it is always advised that you seek professional help as opposed to going for someone with no experience at all.

Your HVAC undergoes plenty of synchronization to help keep your room environment cozy as per your requirement. Here is how it works:

The part that controls each and every element of your system is the thermostat. This is the segment that you will interact with the most. It can easily be set on manual control and programmed for the ideal temperature set. Whenever the surrounding temperature turns too cold or hot, the thermostat initiates the HVAC system for controlled temperature air circulation. 

The furnace helps heat up the air, and this very air is passed into your rooms through the vents in temperature as required. It makes use of a range of heat sources such as heat pumps, solar energy, electric resistance, as well as combustion.

Your evaporator coil can help cool down your house when the thermostat is switched to a low-temperature setting. This chilled air is later funneled all throughout the house. 

Found outside the house, this particular unit houses what we call as the refrigerant gas. Once this refrigerant gets cooled, this liquid is pumped through the condensing unit to the machine’s evaporator coil in order to be changed into the gaseous state once again. 

These particular outlets help distribute the cooled and heated air from your AC ductwork system to different parts of the house. They are generally added to the ceiling area with the help of angle slats and are designed to move the air in a downward fashion. 

The refrigerant lines carry the refrigerant liquid to your condensing unit while it is in the gaseous form. This change of refrigerant from liquid to gas and vice-versa helps transform the temperature of your house. 

Let’s count down the types of popular industrial HVAC or residential HVAC systems available in the market for you to choose from.

Now, this one is a traditional variant of your HVAC system. This machinery comprises of components placed both inside and out of your home. Normally, it houses an air conditioning agent designed to add a cooling effect to the refrigerant and a furnace’s presence paired with a fan or a coil within the house.

This system is designed to work free of any ducts. It is also termed as the ductless mini-split system. They can be an ideal option for the rooms that cannot be networked with a ductwork distribution system.

A zoned HVAC system or HVAC chiller allows you to heat or cool different segments of your house with the help of the controlling dampers or valves placed within your HVAC ductwork. This particular design helps you selectively block the airflow and save you a lot on energy bills. Plus, it also makes things easy when it comes to AC ducts cleaning. 

Most of the Smart HVAC systems tend to offer humidity control options as well. This particular add-on to your classic HVAC helps ensure that there is proper temperature control throughout the house. Humidity tends to add to the overall temperature leading to extreme discomfort. However, with such systems, you can easily get access to a controlled and cozy environment.

As you can deem from this elaborate explanation above, your HVAC system can be a particularly difficult item to keep track of. They might seem simple enough, but there is so much going within the system that can only be decoded by a certified and trained technician. 

At Enviguard, we ensure that you do not have to deal with the consequences of poor maintenance and work done by a technician with no skills. 

Wondering why you should hire us among the HVAC companies near me? Here are some reasons for you to do so.

Do look for us when searching for the best HVAC contractors near me, and you get the promise of quality work at amazingly discounted prices.

The cost of installing an HVAC system for your averaged-sized house generally ranges amid the price range of $600 & $5000 and can even trend higher depending on your requirements.