As the global temperature increases each year, having an HVAC system for your home is necessary. HVAC units help heat and cool your Richmond Hill home. However, they also provide many more benefits that you may not have known.
Georgia Air Cooling & Heating works with the best HVAC technicians in Richmond Hill. Our contractors have decades of experience installing and repairing heating and cooling systems for our Georgia clients. An HVAC system will help improve your home or business’s indoor air quality and make for a more comfortable work or living environment.
Below, we will inform you of the definition of HVAC, its function, and the different types of heating and cooling systems available to Richmond Hill homeowners.
What Is HVAC?
HVAC is an acronym for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. These are the three components of an HVAC system. Sometimes, HVAC systems also contain a refrigeration component. However, that applies mainly to commercial HVAC units.
Benefits of HVAC Units
Homeowners benefit from heating and cooling units in several different ways.
Energy Efficiency
Nobody likes to overspend on their energy bills. With an efficient HVAC unit, you can better manage your energy costs.
Modern HVAC units come with energy-efficient features that allow homeowners to conserve as much energy as possible. Also, these units will power down automatically when they sense your home is at a comfortable temperature.
If something is wrong with your HVAC unit, it can cause your heating and cooling system to work harder than necessary, exerting more energy. That is why you must call a professional HVAC technician if you encounter any issues with your HVAC system.
Steady Cooling
Many older HVAC units feature cool blasts, meaning they pump out a lot of cool air within the first few minutes after you turn on your machine. However, after a few minutes, you can no longer tell if your AC is on.
Efficient HVAC systems regulate the temperature of each room, ensuring that there are no dead spots that your AC unit cannot reach. Therefore, each room in your home will be the same temperature.
Also, some HVAC units allow you to control the temperature of each room in your home. If you would rather your bedroom be cooler than the rest of your home, you can make that happen with a smart HVAC system.
Non-Disruptive
Many older HVAC units are noisy and disruptive. Contemporary heating and cooling units run quietly and do not disturb you while you’re trying to sleep.
Manufacturers design HVAC units to limit the noise coming from outside your home, allowing you to enjoy a healthy night of sleep. In fact, you will likely not even realize that your furnace or air conditioner is running.
How Does an HVAC System Work?
Most HVAC units can heat or cool your home depending on their setting. When your HVAC system is in cooling mode, its purpose is to remove warm air from your home, releasing it outdoors.
So how does an HVAC system work? HVAC units cool your home via a condenser. Note that a condenser cannot heat your home. Its sole purpose is to cool down your house.
Also, air conditioning units do not fill your home with cool air. Rather than cool the air, they eliminate the warm air that is in your home. Conversely, when your HVAC is in heating mode, it will take the warm air from outside and move it into your home.
Many homeowners invest in a split system, meaning an HVAC unit that can act as a heater and cooling system. If you want a dual-system HVAC unit, your system must have a heat pump, allowing the unit to heat and cool your home.
Other Parts of HVAC Systems
One of the beauties of HVAC units is that many different parts work together to heat or cool your home.
An Air Exchanger
Air exchangers are crucial to the efficiency of your HVAC unit. An air exchanger’s mission is to replace your home’s indoor air with fresher air from outside.
Indoor air quality is a critical component of having a healthy home. Over time, things such as dirt and debris pollute your home.
If you breathe in these pollutants all day, they can damage your respiratory system. People with allergies or asthma must ensure that their homes have high-quality air.
Air exchangers help remove these pollutants from your home’s air. Other HVAC-related products can also help eliminate dust and debris, including dehumidifiers and air purifiers.
An Evaporator Coil
An evaporator coil keeps your HVAC system cool. It works with your cooling system’s fan to filter the air outside your home into your house.
One of the unique things about coolant is it never runs out unless there is a leak in your system. Note that if you have a refrigerant leak, you must call a professional immediately—coolant is dangerous to touch and causes critical harm.
Many homeowners believe that coolant harms the environment. While that statement was factual in the past, modern HVAC units use Puron, which does not have a negative environmental impact.
Many old HVAC systems contain Freon, which harms the environment. Note that suppliers cannot import Freon to the United States anymore. Therefore if you have a leak in an older heating and cooling system, you must replace your unit.
Ducts and Vents
The “V” in HVAC stands for ventilation. It refers to the component of your HVAC system that controls your home’s airflow.
Air travels from your home through your HVAC unit’s air duct system to the outside of your house.
Most homeowners can recognize air vents immediately. They are the fixtures on your walls or ceiling where hot or cool air is released. This air comes from an air duct tunnel that connects your vents to your indoor and outdoor HVAC unit.
Ductwork is essential to maximize your HVAC system’s efficiency. If there are any flaws in your ducts, air will not be able to travel smoothly through your cooling unit. Therefore, your cooling system will not produce the results you desire.
However, ductwork can cause many headaches for homeowners. Not all duct systems will be compatible with your HVAC unit. We recommend consulting with an experienced HVAC professional that can suggest the best heating and cooling system for your Richmond Hill home or business.
Thermostats
Thermostats are integral to your home’s HVAC system. A thermostat allows you to control the temperature of your house. It also gives you the option of toggling between heating and cooling modes.
However, thermostats do a lot more than gauge your home’s temperature. Modern thermostats have many capabilities that automate the heating and cooling process. For example, you can connect a smart thermostat to your WiFi, allowing it to learn your home’s temperature patterns.
This feature allows your digital thermostat to accurately predict when you want your HVAC unit to power up. For example, if you come home from work around 5:30, your thermostat will know to turn on your cooling unit around 5, allowing you to return home to a comfortable environment.
Note that not all thermostats are compatible with your HVAC unit. If possible, you should buy a thermostat that is the same brand as your heating and cooling unit. Most HVAC manufacturers create thermostats that are compatible with their cooling units.
FAQ
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions customers have about our services.
How Much Does HVAC Service Cost?
The cost for your heating and cooling service call depends on what type of problem you have. If you need costly repairs, it may be better to invest in a new HVAC unit. An HVAC technician will give their best recommendation to address your AC issues.
Our technicians do their best to work within your budget range. We are open and honest about our pricing, and you do not have to worry about any hidden fees. Our transparency makes us one of the best HVAC service companies to work with in Richmond Hill.
How Do I Prevent HVAC Problems?
One way to avoid heating and air conditioning issues is by scheduling routine maintenance appointments with an HVAC technician. During these appointments, the technician will analyze the efficiency of your HVAC unit.
If there is an issue, heating and cooling contractors will take care of it immediately. We recommend scheduling an HVAC tune-up at least once a year.
Hire Us for HVAC Services in Richmond Hill, GA
Now you have an answer to the question, “how does an HVAC system work?” Unfortunately, many things can go wrong with your HVAC unit. That is why we are available 24/7 for emergency HVAC repairs. No problem is too complex for our experienced HVAC technicians.
If your Richmond Hill, GA, home needs HVAC installation or repair services, call Georgia Air Cooling & Heating at (912) 513-3756. Our team will walk you through our process and provide you with a free quote for our HVAC services. Lastly, here are some tips allowing you to learn how to balance your HVAC system properly.