Modern buildings feature a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that acts as a respiratory system. The HVAC system controls the movement, indoor air quality, and air temperature to ventilate, warm, and cool. The different parts of the system consume energy to heat and cool the air and fuel the movement of air with fans. Heat or refrigerants come into contact with air or water to heat or cool, then push it through ducts that filter air through air vents. Well-designed ventilation systems promote air circulation, infuse fresh air, and manage the buildup of toxic gases such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.
How does HVAC work?
Proper ventilation is essential to controlling fresh air intake, which contributes to healthy indoor air quality, removes toxic gases, moisture, and bad odors. The HVAC system filters incoming air to remove debris, allergens, and excess humidity.
The filtered air is then cooled through air conditioning or heated through the heater and pumped into the structure. In the case of central heating and air conditioning, filtered air is pushed through pipes and tubes that evenly disperse the air throughout the space. The best way to keep an HVAC system in good condition is to keep up with regular maintenance. This means checking the heating system every fall and the air conditioning system every spring.
Heating and air conditioning units are part of a complex system that requires the skills of a technician for regular maintenance and repairs. An HVAC contractor can handle emergency repairs for heat pumps, air conditioners, and furnaces as well as perform routine maintenance.
All Knight Heating & Air Conditioning are expert technicians and installers whose services include the installation, maintenance, and repair of air conditioning, heat pumps, and furnaces, ductless air conditioning, indoor air quality solutions, and commercial HVAC services. Their skilled technicians know how to get the job done correctly the first time and maintain a flexible work schedule to better serve their customers’ needs.
Heating
There are two types of heat, direct and forced air. Direct systems use hydronic, electric radiant floor systems, or radiators to pump warm air inside. Forced air systems use a furnace to heat air and force it throughout a building using blowers. Forced air systems consume cold air into the furnace using two sets of ducts, one that circulates hot air and one that vents on or near the floor. A heat pump can also generate hot air using compression and condensation.
Cooling
Traditional air conditioning units feature a compressor and condenser that cycles refrigeration through an air handler in the ventilation system, using the furnace blower to force the cold air through ductwork to vents. Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) and becoming more popular than older HVAC due to the importance of refrigeration.
Central cooling is a split system that features an outdoor cabinet with a condenser coil and compressor and an indoor evaporator coil linked with the furnace or air handler. As warm air blows across the evaporator coil, heat triggers the refrigerant inside the coil to cool the air. The heat absorbed by the refrigerant is blown outside and the cold air is blown inside.
Employees deserve to work in an environment that has comfortable and clean indoor air quality. They also deserve to be acknowledged and rewarded for their hard work. You don’t have to wait for employee appreciation day or a work anniversary to let your team members know they’re doing a good job. Shoot for the Edit suggests tangible ways to show your employees that you appreciate them, including access to a well-stocked supply closet on regular basis, treating your employees to a night on the town, and holding an employee raffle with random prize drawings. Giving employee recognition goes a long way toward employee happiness and satisfaction.
Now that you know how an HVAC system works, you can appreciate the hard work your heating and air conditioning systems put in.