HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) Basics

HVAC, (the acronym that stands for Heating,Ventilating, also an important addition to HVAC,
Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) means little moreconsists of the systems that exchanges, replaces,
than a creature comfort, necessity, or a stiffand filters existing indoor air in order to create a
repair bill to most homeowners today. Somehigher indoor air quality. Rooms in the home such
homeowners don't even know what the acronymas bathrooms use a more mechanical form of
stands for in full! That being said, it is theventilation in order to reduce humidity and odors,
responsibility of every homeowner to both knowwhile items such as ceiling fans seek to lower
the basics without having to call Handyman Hankperceived temperatures and draw in fresh air
for help.through an open window. Your central air system
As the old mantra goes the best place to start isalso most likely uses ventilation in its process and
from the beginning, so let's begin by touching on aprovides high air quality through filters that
bit of history of the HVAC field. The systemseliminate and capture dust, mold spores, and
inclusion in the home began way back in theother indoor allergens.
industrial revolution when new methods ofLastly, air-conditioning systems work on the fact
electronics and manufacturing became available,that cold air is the absence of heated air. These
and lets face it, we got tired of sweating at worksystems rely on principles such as conduction or
and at home. Heating and air-conditioning provideschemical refrigerants to remove heat, therefore
proper temperature and higher indoor air qualityproducing cool air. The ductwork that your central
through mechanical engineering feats that are stillheating system uses is probably also used to
being improved upon today.disperse this cool air throughout the home. Some
The first portion of the acronym, heating, is mostsystems also use a dehumidifier to lower the
often used by way of a central heating systemtemperature of the air as moist air seems
consisting of a boiler or furnace to heat water orwarmer than dry air.
air, and ductwork that provides a transportHeating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning does not
medium to move the warmed air throughout ahave to be difficult, and through a little research
structure. Typically the heating portion of theyou can become more informed and discuss your
systems (i.e. radiators, heat pumps) is located inhomes' system with your repairman effectively
the coldest part of the home in order to provideenough to keep it in working order. Call your local
proper circulation. Unsurprisingly, the invention ofrepairman or the manufacturer of your system
central air systems is credited to the ancientfor tips on how to keep your system running
Romans, who created ductwork in homes andgreat.
public baths.