Heating and cooling systems are a given in today’s homes, but their complexity often overrides the HVAC basics that are essential to appreciating what they are and do. Nearly every home in this region has a centrally-installed system that provides the summertime comfort that makes life here enjoyable.
What They Are
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. The term applies to all buildings that are mechanically climate controlled. HVAC systems provided heated and cooled air, and some also supply fresh air ventilation and air quality management.
Most homes in this area combine heating with cooling in a single appliance. An air handler sits inside the home in a closet, the garage, and less commonly, the attic. The second half, the outdoor condenser, sits in the yard or on the roof. Occasionally, you’ll find homes that have package systems, where the air handler and the condenser sit in one unit outdoors.
Heat pumps use both condensers and air handlers to heat and cool, while air conditioners only use the condenser in the summer for cooling. An HVAC system with an air conditioner and a furnace all in one piece is called a gas pack.
HVAC Basics and Regulations
Every home built in the U.S. must have a heating system, but air conditioners, even in Arizona, are optional. Besides their presence in homes, laws also exist regarding the energy efficiency of HVAC systems and their safety.
- Energy efficiency. These appliances use the most energy inside the typical home. The U.S. Department of Energy establishes minimum efficiency standards for all kinds of HVAC equipment that are shown on the EnergyGuide labels. These standards change in accordance with new developments in the HVAC industry that lower energy use without impacting comfort.
- Safety. Since HVAC systems use combustible fuels and high voltage electrical service, most states, including Arizona, and jurisdictions have mandates that only licensed contractors can install and service them.
Having an understanding of the HVAC basics provides a starting point for appreciating the hard work these systems do. To learn more, contact Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company, providing HVAC services for Yuma-area homeowners.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Yuma, Arizona about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC basics and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 928-723-3183.
