HVAC systems regulate temperature, humidity and air quality throughout the home. Choosing the right system and installing it properly can boost your comfort level while saving money in energy costs.
Look for systems with a high MERV rating for improved filtration. Energy efficiency ratings are also important, with products with ENERGY STAR certification being more cost-effective to run.
Ductwork is a major component in an HVAC system. It transports heated or cooled air from the furnace and air conditioner to different areas of your home or building. It may be made of sheet metal, fiberglass or flexible plastic. It runs through attics, crawl spaces or ceilings and can be hidden from view. A well-designed duct system minimizes energy loss and helps keep indoor spaces comfortable. Ducts should be properly sized and insulated to ensure optimal function and to avoid problems like air leaks, which waste energy.
If you’re planning a new HVAC installation, your contractor will determine whether your existing ductwork is compatible with your new equipment. A professional inspection takes into account factors such as age, signs of damage and inefficiencies in duct design.
It also considers the size of your home and the type of heating and cooling equipment you have installed. This allows the technician to calculate the exact amount of ducting your home or building requires. The resulting ducting system will be efficient, minimizing energy loss and making sure your HVAC equipment has enough capacity to properly maintain a comfortable temperature.
In addition to assessing the suitability of your existing ductwork, an expert will examine its condition and make recommendations for improvement. These might include upgrading to more efficient duct materials such as insulated rigid fiberglass or galvanized steel, adding dampers and zoning your home, and sealing duct joints and connections.
Leaks are a serious problem that can cause your HVAC system to work harder than necessary to achieve your desired temperature. They can also allow contaminants into the airflow that won’t be caught by your filter. If left unchecked, air leaks can cause significant energy losses and cost you money.
Other duct issues that can reduce efficiency include dirt and debris, which restrict airflow and decrease performance. Insulation can help, but it’s important to keep in mind that the thickness of a duct is less of an issue than its shape and location. Long supply duct runs require more static pressure from the HVAC fan to overcome friction, while twisted or disconnected ducts can also restrict airflow.
Furnace
A furnace is the heart of a heating and ventilation system. It uses natural or synthetic fuels like propane, oil, or gas to heat the air in the home and distribute it via ductwork. It also uses a blower motor and fan to move the heated air throughout the house. Furnaces are more compact and can be installed in a closet, attic or crawlspace. They are more economical than HVAC systems that incorporate an air conditioner.
A control board interprets electrical signals sent by the thermostat and the air quality sensor and sends a signal to turn on the gas valve and the furnace burners. It then controls the blower motor and fan.
The heat exchanger turns the cold intake air into warm air. It then passes the air through a filter to remove any dust and debris. It then enters the plenum and gets blown by the fan into the ductwork and vents in your home. The blower motor needs to be in proper working order and have the right amount of power (or CFM) to move the amount of air needed to heat your home.
An AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating is a measure of how much fossil fuel energy the furnace converts into heat for your home. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient it is.
BTUs (British Thermal Units) are the standard measurement of heat. A single BTU can raise the temperature of one pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. The more BTUs the furnace has, the more it can heat your home.
You can get a gas, oil or propane furnace, depending on what is available in your area and how much you’re willing to pay to run it. Generally, gas furnaces are the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly because they use clean-burning natural gas. Oil furnaces tend to be used if the gas isn’t available, and they are expensive to operate because they burn dirtier fuel than natural gas.
You can also choose a two-stage or variable speed furnace that has multiple settings to give you only the amount of heating you need. These are more energy-efficient because they don’t need to run at 100% all the time.
Thermostat
A thermostat is a device that turns your air conditioner’s compressor and fan ON and OFF to maintain your home’s temperature within about a degree of your desired setting. It senses indoor temperatures and signals the rest of your system when it’s time to run.
A digital thermostat uses an electronic sensor called a thermistor that allows its electrical resistance to change with temperature. The thermistor then sends a signal to the thermostat’s microcontroller, which makes a decision about whether to run your system based on its readings. Digital thermostats are more efficient than mechanical models and include features like programmable schedules, WiFi connectivity, and energy usage tracking.
Non-programmable thermostats have a dial or digital display that lets you choose a preferred temperature and then set it to the ON position. They may have a button or toggle switch for selecting modes (heat, cool, auto). Non-programmable thermostats are more straightforward than advanced digital thermostats and are often cheaper than a programmable model.
If your thermostat doesn’t respond to your inputs it could have dead batteries or a tripped breaker (for hardwired models). Try replacing the batteries, if necessary. If the problem persists, it’s time to call a professional for HVAC repair service.
A programmable thermostat lets you decide on a heating or cooling schedule for different times of the day or week. Then, when the time comes to implement your new schedule, you plug in inputs that tell the thermostat to turn your air conditioning ON and OFF at those times.
Smart thermostats are the latest, and most sophisticated, iteration of HVAC technology. They’re wi-fi programmable through an app on your smartphone and feature touchscreens, learning capabilities, and local weather forecasts. They also save more money and energy than other types of thermostats by learning your patterns.
Many American Standard smart thermostats offer the ability to grant one-time dealer remote access so they can troubleshoot the system and perform routine maintenance. They’ll even send alerts when it’s time for a service appointment. This kind of data sharing allows your dealer to arrive on-site prepared to address any issues with your HVAC system.
Filters
The air filters in an HVAC system are vital to keeping the air clean inside a home or business. They trap harmful particles like dust, pet dander, dirt, mold spores, pollen, hair and other debris. This helps reduce irritants and allergies, improving the indoor air quality. It also protects the system by preventing debris from blocking the evaporator coils. Regularly replacing the filter ensures that it continues to work efficiently and prevents clogging.
Different types of filters are available, depending on the level of filtration required. Most filters are indicated by their MERV rating, with higher ratings meaning better performance.
Fiberglass filters, made of spun strands of fiberglass, are the most common HVAC filter. They are inexpensive, disposable and can be used to keep lint out of the unit. However, they have a low MERV rating and are not effective at increasing indoor air quality, as they can only capture particles of about 3.0 – 10.0 microns. These particles include dander, smog and dust.
A more expensive option is a pleated filter, which can be made of polyester fabrics or cotton folds. They have a slightly better MERV rating than fiberglass filters but are still not effective at eliminating allergens and contaminants. The extra cost of these filters is more than offset by the increased efficiency they provide, as their pleats increase surface area to catch and hold more debris.
Other options for residential and commercial filters include electrostatic filters, which use a series of metal plates that are electrically charged to attract particles in the air. These are often used in hospitals, laboratories and manufacturing environments to eliminate VOCs (volatile organic compounds), odours and harmful gases from the workplace. They can be washable or reusable, but require special maintenance such as potassium permanganate treatment.
Another type of filter is the media filter. These are a hybrid of both fiberglass and pleated filters, with a higher MERV rating than the former and lower MERV than the latter. They are capable of reducing many contaminants without restricting airflow, which makes them an excellent choice for households with pets or children.