Complete Guide to HVAC: What It Means and How to Choose the Right System for Your Home

An air conditioner is an ingenious piece of technology that draws 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 staying cool during the hot summer months.

The dependable central furnace has been the most common way to heat your home for many years. It frequently runs on natural gas or oil, combusting the fuel to generate heat. This heat warms the air that circulates through your home while vapors are carefully ventilated away. Furnaces use a pilot light or electronic hot surface ignition system to initiate a heating cycle.

Some HVAC systems don’t use central ductwork to deliver heating and cooling. A ductless mini-split system is one such piece of equipment. An indoor and outdoor unit are instead connected by copper piping that delivers climate control. You can set up multiple indoor units to heat or cool your home. Some models offer air conditioning while some can handle both heating and cooling.

Heat pumps are an increasingly desirable choice for heating and cooling your home. Compared with central furnaces and air conditioners, heat pumps don’t create their own source of climate control. Instead, they pump heat in or out of your home with air circulation. Lower energy use can help you save on your monthly bill. Heat pumps are best suited for milder climates and can even be installed along with other equipment.

This scaled-down kind of HVAC system is used to keep garages warm in the colder months. Most garages are unfinished, so they can be particularly 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 moved around the garage freely or fastened to the wall. Some models are even mounted to the ceiling.

When choosing a new HVAC system, there are a few things to think about. You want to strike a balance between efficiency and your specific comfort preferences. You can narrow down possible options with the following tips:

Choose the right size for your home: Bigger isn’t always better. In fact, a furnace that’s too powerful for your home may end up costing you in larger energy bills. New HVAC systems should be the proper size for maximum effectiveness.

Focus on energy efficiency for long-term savings: High energy efficiency is one of the best ways to earn back more savings. Energy-efficient equipment puts less demand on key components and doesn’t need to run as long for climate control. Seek out models labeled with the ENERGY STAR® rating for especially efficient models.

Browse financing options and special offers: Many local service companies promote special financing for new installation. You may receive special offers for the system itself as well as other perks such as discounts on preventive maintenance plans.

Entrust new installation to trained professionals: A new HVAC system is a great investment. You can get the most out of a new air conditioner or heat pump with seasoned technicians. They perform air conditioning installation quickly and efficiently, ensuring you receive maximum benefit from the outset.

Your local expert technicians can evaluate your home and suggest the perfect HVAC system for you. If you’d like to begin the process, give Brooks Heating and Air Conditioning a call at 800-COOLING today.