Do you know what kind of system you have in your home? If you live in the Piedmont Triad, chances are you probably have one of these systems in your home.
Air Conditioning and Gas Furnace System
The most common type of HVAC system pairs an exterior air conditioner with an interior air handler or furnace. These two pieces of equipment work together to circulate air throughout your home. When the air conditioner is matched with a compatible air handler or furnace it will result in optimum efficiency and ideal system performance.
How The Air Conditioning And Gas Furnace System Works
- When it gets warm inside your home, your thermostat automatically activates your air conditioner to compensate.
- The air conditioner on the outside of your home circulates refrigerant that absorbs heat from the indoor environment through the coil as it travels between the indoor coil and the air conditioner outside.
- As refrigerant flows through the evaporator coil, a blower in the furnace moves the warm air across the coil surface, removing heat and dispensing the cooled air through your home’s ductwork.
- The captured heat is then sent back to the air conditioner outside- to be release into the outside air, cooling your home comfortable and efficiently.
Heat Pump System
Another common type of HVAC system pairs an exterior heat pump with an interior air handler to circulate air throughout your home. When a heat pump is paired with a furnace, it is referred to as a dual system. (Learn more about duel fuel technology.) Matching your heat pump with a compatible air handler or furnace will ensure maximum efficiency and system performance.
How A Heat Pump System Works
- The heat pump on the outside of your home circulates refrigerant that absorbs and releases heat as it travels between the heat pump and the air handler inside.
- When its cold outside a heat pump extracts heat from the outside air through the refrigeration process and transfers the heated refrigerant to the indoor system.
- The refrigerant flows through the air handler’s evaporative coil. The blower moves air across the coil surface to warm air that is sent through your home’s ductwork.
- The cold refrigerant is sent back to the heat pump outside so the process can repeat itself and keep your home comfortable. When it’s warm outside, the heat pump reverses direction and acts like an air conditioner, removing heat from your home.
Packaged Unit
A packaged unit is a complete HVAC system that conveniently packs heating and cooling into one box and is optimized for performance and efficiency.
How A Packaged Unit Works
- When your home gets too warm, the air conditioner component of the packaged system cools it down by removing heat from the air inside.
- To warm your home comfortably and efficiently on cold days, the packaged heat pump reverses the refrigeration cycle and transfers heat from the warmed coils.
- Rather than attaching to individual components within the home, the packaged system connects directly with ductwork to disperse warm or cool air in every room.
- Gas-electric packaged units- which combine an electric air conditioner with a natural gas-powered furnace- offer the best of both worlds for outstanding energy efficiency and performance.
Is It Time to Replace Your HVAC System?
If it’s time to replace your system, no need to worry. Check out these money saving tips before calling the first HVAC contractor.