Your HVAC system is an essential utility. We rely on our heating cooling to keep our homes comfortable all year-round. It can also be a significant portion of your monthly energy bills. Taking time to learn more about your HVAC system offers a lot of benefits. You can improve its efficiency and choose the ideal replacement equipment. We’ll share the key details about the most common HVAC systems. After, we’ll discuss how to find the best HVAC system in the Rio Grande Valley.
What Is HVAC?
HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. This utility system keeps indoor temperatures comfortable. It also manages air quality through filtration and humidity control equipment. Collectively, these systems work together to keep our homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Your average HVAC system will have three principal components: heating, cooling and ventilation. Some places won’t always have both heating and cooling, like temperate climates or in older homes.
Most HVAC systems function by circulating air in and out of your home. Depending on the specific system, heat may be introduced or taken away to regulate the indoor temperature. Air ducts can carry the air to each room of the house, but they’re not always required. Many HVAC accessories like air filtration equipment are fitted inside the ductwork for the highest possible efficiency.
There Are Different Types of HVAC Systems
HVAC technology has come a long way in terms of overall design and efficiency. Homeowners have additional options than ever when deciding on an HVAC system. There are multiple different styles, with one or more being the ideal combination for your comfort needs. These range from popular air conditioners and furnaces to alternatives such as the heat pump.
Air Conditioners
An air conditioner is an ingenious piece of technology that pulls heat out of the air with a special substance called refrigerant or coolant. Excess heat and moisture are pumped out of the air and ventilated outdoors. This is incredibly efficient for keeping cool throughout the sweltering summer months.
Furnaces
The dependable central furnace has been the most common way to warm your home for many years. It commonly runs on natural gas or oil, combusting the fuel to generate heat. This heat warms the air that circulates through your home while vapors are safely ventilated away. Furnaces use a pilot light or electronic hot surface ignition system to start a heating cycle.
Mini-Splits
Some HVAC systems don’t use central ductwork to circulate heating and cooling. A ductless mini-split system is one such piece of equipment. An indoor and outdoor unit are instead connected by copper piping that delivers climate control. You can install multiple indoor units to heat or cool your home. Some models offer air conditioning while some can handle both heating and cooling.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are an increasingly popular choice for heating and cooling your home. In contrast to central furnaces and air conditioners, heat pumps don’t generate their own source of climate control. Instead, they pump heat in or out of your home using air circulation. Lower energy use can help you save on your monthly bill. Heat pumps are ideal for milder climates and can even be installed alongside other equipment.
Garage Heaters
This scaled-down kind of HVAC system is used to keep garages warm in the colder months. Most garages are unfinished, so they can be particularly chilly to spend time in. Garage heaters use fuel like electricity, natural gas or propane to generate heat. This heat is distributed with power fans. The garage heaters themselves are often manufactured to be portable. They can be carried around the garage freely or mounted to the wall. Some models are even hung from the ceiling.
How Do I Choose an HVAC System?
When choosing a new HVAC system, there are a few things to think about. You want to find a balance between efficiency and your specific comfort preferences. You can narrow down possible options with the following tips:
Choose the right size for your home: Bigger isn’t always better. In fact, a furnace that’s too powerful for your home could end up costing you in steeper energy bills. New HVAC systems should be the appropriate size for peak effectiveness.
Focus on energy efficiency for long-term savings: Higher energy efficiency is one of the easiest ways to earn back more savings. Energy-efficient equipment puts less strain on essential components and doesn’t need to work as long for climate control. Try to find models labeled with the ENERGY STAR® rating for especially efficient models.
Explore financing options and special offers: Many local service companies extend special financing for new installation. You could receive special offers for the system itself as well as other advantages like discounts on preventive maintenance plans.
Trust new installation to certified professionals: A new HVAC system is a quality investment. You can get the most out of a new air conditioner or heat pump with experienced technicians. They perform air conditioning installation quickly and efficiently, ensuring you enjoy maximum benefit from the outset.
Your local expert technicians can assess your home and recommend the ideal HVAC system for you. If you’d like to begin the process, give Cytech Heating & Cooling L.C. a call at 956-630-3522 today.