A Beginner’s Guide to HVAC
HVAC technology is amazing for controlling the climate of your home. After you come home after a long day of work, there’s nothing worse than sitting around in a humid, hot living room. Your HVAC system provides you and your family with a comfortable environment for the rest of the evening. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Getting started with HVAC can be intimidating at times. There are so many pieces of technology to explore and many terms to learn. Nevertheless, with a little bit of research, sophisticated HVAC systems won’t seem so far off in the distance. Here is a close look at a beginner’s guide to HVAC.
Furnaces
If you live in a cold climate (like here in the Pacific Northwest), you’ll need a furnace to stay warm during winter. Many older homes have furnaces built into the foundation of the property. With a little bit of work, we can modernize these systems for better warmth and control. Most furnaces operate with natural materials that won’t emit hazardous gases into the atmosphere.
A quality furnace will provide warmth to every corner of your home. There are a couple of options when it comes to linking your furnace and thermostat. Some owners prefer to keep these devices separate so they can operate the furnace on only the coldest days. Others like to integrate the two so the thermostat can actively control the furnace. Either way, furnace installation is quite straightforward and can be done fairly quickly and easily when using a professional heating and cooling company such as Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning in Seattle.
Air Conditioning
Next, air conditioning is crucial for those warm summer months. When things really heat up, you don’t want to be sweating on the furniture in your home. Ceiling fans and portable fans help, but they can only do so much when the temperature becomes unbearable. Install an AC unit for relief. Side yard AC units are some of the most powerful ones out there that can handle all temperatures.
On the other hand, if you want to save some space, look into rooftop units that pump cool air directly into your home. In this day and age, smart thermostats have also become popular. These units can be controlled via your smartphone even if you aren’t physically present at the property. They pick up on your tendencies and can adjust the temperature by a single degree on-demand.
Humidifiers
A lack of moisture in the air leads to a very dry climate. If you live at a higher altitude, you’re likely familiar with how dry the air can get in the winter. You might find it hard to breathe, and coughing often ensues. In particular, if you have preexisting health conditions such as asthma or allergies, there’s a good chance it will flare up in a lack of humidity. You’ll want to acquire a humidifier that will introduce extra water droplets into the air.
These droplets are so fine that you can’t feel them on the palm of your hand. In addition, they aren’t heavy enough to settle on surfaces, which means all of your electronic devices are safe to expose. Within minutes, you’ll be able to breathe normally again and go about your daily activities. If you’ve never tried humidity control, you’ll be surprised by just how effective it can be.
Dehumidifiers
On the other hand, a dehumidifier removes moisture from the air. If you live in a tropical climate, you’re probably well aware of this issue. The air feels heavy, and your clothes cling to your skin. A dehumidifier removes water droplets until the humidity reaches a suitable level. In addition, you don’t have to worry about going overboard with this removal. Sensors detect the humidity level and stop before you end up with the opposite problem.
One great thing to know is that you don’t have to place the dehumidifier in a central location. It does a decent job even while stationed in a corner of your home. This means that you can place the most important components of your HVAC system in this central location for efficiency. As long as the dehumidifier has access to your home’s atmosphere, you can control humidity from afar.
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers are also core to HVAC. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter if the humidity and temperature are perfect. If the air is unclean, to begin with, it can pose a health hazard to you and your family. Moreover, it’s simply disgusting to breathe in contaminated air. An air purifier will remove these foreign particles from the air and allow you to take a deep breath of oxygen and know it is clean and pure.
Many HVAC appliances such as AC units come with some sort of air purification. However, it’s not a bad idea to get a separate purifier that works on its own. You should never underestimate just how valuable clean air is. In particular, if you live in a city that already has low air quality, you’ll want to change the atmosphere of your home for the better.
Solar Panels
Solar panels have surged in popularity over the last decade. Homeowners are always looking for the cheapest way to power the above HVAC devices. Fortunately, solar panels are well known to work in tandem with AC units and humidifiers. These panels harness energy from the sun and use it to power your electric appliances. At the end of the month, you’ll end up paying much less on your utility bill. Furthermore, your HVAC appliances might be more powerful than ever. If you live in a moderately sunny area, take advantage of this natural energy source.
Ventilation
Last, ventilation should never be overlooked either. You can cool the air and purify it all you want, but air can quickly become stale in your home. Once again, this isn’t great for health conditions that are known to become irritated. You want to introduce ventilation in some shape or form. Windows are a great way to get started on ventilating your home.
Moreover, you’ll want to take a look at the ducts behind your walls and floors. These ducts are responsible for distributing the air, but they are also sources of ventilation. A series of strong ducts will allow you to cycle air in and out of your home. You might also be surprised by how much air gets through cracks and porous surfaces. The bottom line is that you should always have a plan on how to get some fresh air into your household.
Setting Up Your HVAC System
In conclusion, HVAC technology offers an incredibly powerful way to adjust the climate of your home. There’s no reason to ignore your HVAC system as it isn’t as complicated as it might seem. When your HVAC devices need maintenance, you’ll want to work with the professionals at Brennan Heating & Air Conditioning. We can handle HVAC installation, maintenance, and repairs as needed. We’re also experts in heat pumps and air quality solutions. Please give us a call today so we can provide you with a phenomenal HVAC solution. We have offices in Seattle and Lynnwood.
