Knowing the various components that make up your HVAC will help you be more equipped to service and maintain your system. HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning. It helps keep your home comfortable throughout the year. Maintaining your HVAC system is crucial in avoiding costly repairs and replacements. Here’s what you need to know:

Thermostat— probably the most visible part of your HVAC system, it is the control center. It sits on a prominent wall easily accessible by the homeowner. Your thermostat may be controlled manually or be programmed ahead of time to maintain a consistent temperature in the home. If the temperature rises or drops below what is programmed, it will signal to the heat exchanger or the evaporator coil condensing unit to release warm or cool air into the home.

Furnace— typically found in the basement, closet, or cellar your furnace is responsible for heating the air that is distributed throughout the home. Your furnace is powered one of four ways: combustion (burning natural gas, oil, coal, or propane), electric resistance, heat pump, or solar energy.

Air Conditioner— responsible for the cooling of the home the biggest part of the air conditioning unit is found outside of the home. It is connected to an inner unit by pipes and refrigeration lines. If you hear strange noises or if it isn’t working efficiently, air conditioner repair may be the only option to get your home cooled down.

Ductwork— once heated or cooled, the air needs a  way to be dispersed throughout the home. Your home has a system of ducts that transport the warm or cold air to the various areas of the home. They are usually made of lightweight aluminum but can also be manufactured from steel or flexible plastic.

Vents— Air travels through the ductwork and enters individual rooms on the home via the vents. Usually in the floor or on the ceiling, vents are made from temperature safe metal. They can be manually controlled or closed to manipulate the amount of heating or cooling in specific rooms.

These are basic units that make up an HVAC system. Trust your local HVAC experts at Snowflake Air to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding any part of your HVAC system.