HVAC System – Your Choice in Cooling and Heating

HVAC is actually an acronym that stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. An HVAC system is the overall system that performs the heating and cooling (or both) for residential, commercial or industrial structures.

The system is also responsible for providing fresh outdoor air to dilute the airborne contaminants in the system. These would include the odors from the occupants, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) coming from interior furnishings, chemicals from cleaning and others.

Properly maintained, the system provides comfortable indoor environment. However, not all types of HVAC systems work the same way. Some are faster than others while some others serve larger environments.

In certain situations, some HVAC system Las Vegas are more effective than others.

Air conditioner

An air conditioner works by cooling and dehumidifying the air as it passes a cold coil surface. This indoor coil is called air-to-liquid heat exchanger. It has rows of tubes that pass the liquid through the coil.

DX or direct expansion equipment uses a refrigerant as the liquid medium. CW or chilled water can also be used. If the required temperature of a chilled water system is near the freezing point of water, a freeze protection is added (glycols or salts). All these liquids deliver the cooling coil at a cold temperature.

Split system

This is a combination of an indoor air handling unit and an outdoor condensing unit. The indoor unit has a supply air fan and an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger (or cooling coil) and the expansion device.

The outdoor unit has a compressor and a condenser coil. These are usually found in residential or small commercial buildings. Of all the available AC systems, this has the highest energy efficiency rating.

Packaged system

This is a single unit that combines all the components in the split type system. Since this is a package, it is placed outside the building and the indoor air is “ducted” from the building to the packaged system and back.

This unit has a seasonal efficiency rating (SEER) from 10 to 18. If heating is needed, alternate methods of heating the interior of the building are used. These are usually in the form of electric or gas heating.

Heat pump

These are like the cooling only systems with one exception: a special valve in the refrigeration piping lets the refrigeration cycle to be operated in reverse.  A cooling only system ejects heat to the outside while it cools the indoor air.

A heat pump can also cool the indoor air, although when the valve is reversed, the indoor air gets heated. An electric resistance heater can be used to help to assist the heat pump at lower temperatures. In colder climates, these pumps needs a defrost period.

Chilled water

In chilled water system, water is pumped throughout the building to “chilled water coils”. Because the liquid water needs to be at cold temperatures, a cooling plant is needed.

This is the chiller plant. The vapor compression chills the water to cold temperature and pumps the cold water to air-to-water heat exchangers where needed.

Overall, it’s important in an HVAC system Las Vegas to check on the efficiency and energy use before buying.

HVAC Systems

Many of the new HVAC systems can be controlled remotely from a smart phone. Save energy during the workday by adjusting it to your comfort before you head home. With remote access to your system from a smartphone or the Internet, you can control your heating and cooling system from anywhere, allowing you to adjust settings and save energy when you don't need it. Over time, the thermostat learns your schedule and preferences and automatically adjusts for you. Some even have sensors that can tell when no one's home and lower the temperature automatically.

Make sure to schedule your preventative maintenance. With a home maintenance plan, you'll lower your monthly utility bills by having a more efficient HVAC system Las Vegas. More importantly, a maintained system dramatically lengthens the life of your equipment, saving you thousands of dollars by not having to prematurely replace your system. Central humidifiers regulate the moisture content of the air inside your home. Excessively dry air creates an IAQ hazard since contaminants stay airborne for longer periods. When the HVAC system Las Vegas operates, these pollutants are transferred from room to room until they are unwittingly inhaled by an occupant. Humidifiers use sensors to sample the air and introduce steam or an atomized mist into the airstream when necessary. Over time, the ductwork in your home will accumulate a variety of unhealthy contaminants. After inspecting the interior of the ductwork, technicians use an industrial-strength vacuum to place the system under a severe negative pressure. Hair, dander, dirt and other irritants are pulled out of the air distribution grid and deposited in a sealed container for disposal. Regular duct cleaning will improve indoor air quality and prolong the life of your HVAC equipment.

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology, commonly called HVAC systems, is the service and installation of heating and cooling equipment. The main emphasis is on domestic, with some instruction on light commercial. HVAC technicians work mostly in homes, schools, hospitals, office buildings, or factories. Their worksites may be very hot or cold because the heating and cooling systems they must repair may not be working properly and because some parts of these systems are located outdoors. Working in cramped spaces and during irregular hours is common. Because HVACR systems have become increasingly complex, employers generally prefer applicants with postsecondary education or those who have completed an apprenticeship. Some states and localities require technicians to be licensed.

If you plan to move in the near future, repair is often the best choice when it's feasible. However, if you plan on staying in your home, it's wise to invest in an energy efficient A/C -heat pump system that has the capacity to cool your home efficiently and cost effectively.

The investment could save you thousands of dollars over time, not to mention create a much better living environment for you and your family. Even the best-maintained air conditioner will eventually fail. HVAC system Las Vegas professionals recommend following this basic rule when deciding whether it's worth investing in a repair: If the unit is more than 6 years old, and the repair will cost more than half the price of a new system, it's best to buy new. Energy Star recommends replacing an air conditioner that’s more than 10 years old, even if it’s still working. The system won't have many more years left in it, and it's likely to be using more energy than necessary.