Your HVAC system is an essential utility. We count on our heating cooling to keep our homes comfortable all year-round. It can also be a significant portion of your monthly energy bills. Taking time to learn more about your HVAC system offers a lot of benefits. You can improve its efficiency and determine the ideal replacement equipment. We’ll share the key details about the most common HVAC systems. After, we’ll talk about how to find the best HVAC system in Winnipeg.
What Is HVAC?
HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. This utility system keeps indoor temperatures comfortable. It also improves air quality through filtration and humidity control equipment. As a group, these systems work together to keep our homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Your everyday HVAC system will have three primary components: heating, cooling and ventilation. Some places won’t always have both heating and cooling, like temperate climates or in older homes.
Most HVAC systems work by circulating air in and out of your home. Based on the specific system, heat can be introduced or taken away to regulate the indoor temperature. Air ducts can carry the air to every room of the house, but they’re not always required. Lots of HVAC accessories such as air filtration equipment are installed inside the ductwork for maximum efficiency.
There Are Different Types of HVAC Systems
HVAC technology has come a long way in terms of overall design and efficiency. Homeowners have considerably more options than ever when selecting an HVAC system. There are multiple different models, with one or more being the right combination for your comfort needs. These vary from popular air conditioners and furnaces to alternatives such as the heat pump.
Air Conditioners
An air conditioner is an innovative piece of technology that pulls heat out of the air with a special substance called refrigerant or coolant. Extra heat and moisture are pumped out of the air and ventilated outdoors. This is highly efficient for keeping cool during the hot summer months.
Furnaces
The trusty central furnace has been the most prominent way to warm your home for decades. It commonly runs on natural gas or oil, combusting the fuel to generate heat. This heat warms the air that moves through your home while vapors are properly ventilated away. Furnaces use a pilot light or electronic hot surface ignition system to begin a heating cycle.
Mini-Splits
Some HVAC systems don’t use central ductwork to circulate heating and cooling. A ductless mini-split system is one such type of equipment. An indoor and outdoor unit are instead connected by copper piping that delivers climate control. You can install multiple indoor units to heat or cool your home. Some models offer air conditioning while some can handle both heating and cooling.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are an increasingly popular choice for heating and cooling your home. As opposed to central furnaces and air conditioners, heat pumps don’t generate their own source of climate control. Instead, they pump heat in or out of your home with air circulation. Less energy use can help you save on your monthly bill. Heat pumps are ideal for milder climates and can even be installed alongside other equipment.
Garage Heaters
This smaller kind of HVAC system is used to keep garages warm in the colder months. Most garages are unfinished, so they can be quite chilly to spend time in. Garage heaters use fuel like electricity, natural gas or propane to generate heat. This heat is dispersed with power fans. The garage heaters themselves are often configured to be portable. They can be carried around the garage freely or mounted to the wall. Some models are even hung from the ceiling.
How Do I Select an HVAC System?
When choosing a new HVAC system, there are a few things to think about. You should strike a balance between efficiency and your distinct comfort preferences. You can narrow down potential options with the following tips:
Find the right size for your home: Bigger isn’t always better. In fact, a furnace that’s too powerful for your home might end up costing you in larger energy bills. New HVAC systems should be the appropriate size for peak effectiveness.
Focus on energy efficiency for long-term savings: High energy efficiency is one of the easiest ways to earn back more savings. Energy-efficient equipment puts less strain on critical components and doesn’t need to work as long for climate control. Try to find models marked with the ENERGY STAR® rating for particularly efficient models.
Browse financing options and special offers: Many local service companies offer special financing for new installation. You could receive special offers for the system itself as well as other benefits such as discounts on preventive maintenance plans.
Entrust new installation to trained professionals: A new HVAC system is a quality investment. You can get the most out of a new air conditioner or heat pump with experienced technicians. They complete air conditioning installation quickly and efficiently, ensuring you receive maximum benefit from the start.
Your local expert technicians can evaluate your home and recommend the perfect HVAC system for you. If you’d like to begin the process, give Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning a call at 204-272-8128 today.