HVAC Lexington stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. It’s a system of interrelated units and parts on the inside and outside your home or business that work together to meet your temperature, comfort and indoor air quality preferences throughout the year.
Air ducts and vents transport conditioned air to different rooms. They also need to be inspected regularly for signs of deterioration or rodent infestations.
Heating is one of the primary functions of HVAC systems. It keeps us warm in the winter and is a vital part of keeping our environment comfortable. HVAC systems use a variety of methods to provide heating. The most common is through a furnace that utilizes fossil fuel such as propane or natural gas to heat the air. The warm air is then distributed throughout the home using ductwork. Other forms of heating include hot water heaters and boilers.
Most people have an idea of what a HVAC system is when they hear the term, but they may not realize that there are many different types of systems and options to choose from. The system that is right for you will depend on your home’s environment, size and your ductwork infrastructure. You will also need to consider how much you are willing to spend on an energy efficient system.
The main parts of a home HVAC system are the furnace and ductwork, along with a thermostat for control. The furnace will have a blower and heat exchanger to heat the air in your home. It is often located in the garage, basement, utility closet or attic. It uses a fossil fuel like propane or natural gas to heat the air, which is then distributed throughout your house.
Other parts of the system include an air return, filter and exhaust outlets. The air return sucks in air from the outside and passes it through the filter where any debris or dust is removed. Then the heated air is circulated by the blower through your home’s ductwork. The air return and filter need to be cleaned regularly to keep the system running efficiently.
Another option for heating is a rooftop unit, which is sometimes called a “solar AC.” These units are ideal for homes without ductwork or that have a limited amount of space. A rooftop AC is a great way to save on energy costs while maintaining your comfort level. These systems are not as efficient as a full HVAC system, but they will still keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Cooling
Cooling is an essential part of HVAC, which includes systems that perform heating and cooling for buildings and other structures. It also provides ventilation for those spaces, ensuring that air is filtered, circulated, and cleaned. In addition to temperature control, cooling systems filter out pollutants and other contaminants such as smoke, odors, volatile organic compounds emitted by household furnishings, chemicals used for cleaning and other tasks, bacteria and other airborne particles.
A full HVAC system contains both a furnace or another heat source for heating, an air conditioner for cooling, and a ventilation system to circulate the treated air. This type of system may be split or ductless, depending on the needs of the building and its inhabitants. In a ductless system, a blower moves the air directly through the living space rather than through the walls or ceiling.
HVAC equipment is found in homes, schools, hospitals, and many other types of commercial and industrial structures. It’s also used in vehicles like cars, trains, airplanes, ships and submarines.
When it comes to data center HVAC, heating is less of a concern than cooling. That’s because data centers need to stay at a steady, cool temperature to ensure the integrity of sensitive electronic equipment. For this reason, they often use liquid-based cooling systems that utilize a combination of air and a refrigerant.
The programmable thermostat is the component that you’re most likely to interact with, as it controls your HVAC system. It monitors the temperatures of the various areas of your home and activates the rest of the system as needed to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Central heating is often provided by furnaces, which generate warm air through combustion of natural gas, propane, oil or electricity. Furnaces distribute the heat they produce throughout your house via ductwork to increase indoor temperature. In some cases, heat pumps are used instead of furnaces, as they provide both heating and cooling. These units pull in outside air, heat it up using electricity, and then release the cooled air into the house. This process can be reversed when it’s time to cool the space.
Humidity Control
Humidity control is an important aspect of ensuring comfort in your home. It can help prevent bacterial and mold growth, and keep your skin and sinuses from drying out. It also helps to prevent damage to wood furniture, floors and musical instruments. Ideally, humidity should be kept at about 40% to 60%. Humidity controls can be integrated into HVAC systems to make it easier to control.
High humidity levels can lead to the spread of bacteria, airborne viruses and other microorganisms. These organisms can be harmful to people with respiratory conditions and cause or exacerbate allergies, asthma and other health issues. Humidity control is especially important in hospitals, where a humid environment makes patients and staff more susceptible to germs and other organisms.
Low humidity is also a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses, making it a major contributor to illness in the wintertime. If you are suffering from dry skin, sore throat and sinuses, stale or musty odors and condensation on your windows, these are all indicators that the humidity in your home is too low.
A dehumidifier or a whole-home humidifier can address these issues. These devices can be controlled by a hygrometer, which monitors the moisture content of the air. The device then adjusts the amount of water it adds or removes from your living space to maintain a certain humidity level.
These humidity sensors can be duct mounted, or they can be installed outdoors and monitor relative humidity from 0% to 100%. They can also determine the dew point, which is the temperature at which the moisture in the air will condense. They are also available in rugged and weatherproof enclosures for use in harsh environments.
Greenhouse growers must use a good humidity control system to ensure their plants’ health. High humidity levels can promote the growth of molds, mildews and other undesirable organisms, which can impact the health of the plant and its yield. The right humidity control system can ensure that the plant is healthy and productive and that the conditions in the greenhouse are ideal for cultivation.
Ventilation
Ventilation is the process of bringing fresh, outside air into a space and exhausting stale indoor air. It can be natural or mechanical, and it’s an important component of HVAC systems. If not properly designed, implemented and maintained, ventilation can bring in harmful substances and deteriorate the indoor environment.
Most residential forced-air heating and cooling systems don’t ventilate mechanically, so the system relies on infiltration and natural ventilation to bring outdoor air into a home. However, newer designs for homes are starting to incorporate mechanical ventilation into the HVAC system.
The basic components of an HVAC system are the air return, filters, compressor, furnace or heat pump, and the air handler. The air return pulls in outside air through ductwork and distributes it throughout the home. The filters keep particulates and other contaminants out of the ductwork. The compressor pumps the refrigerant through a cycle, absorbing and releasing heat in the process. The furnace or heat pump then warms or cools the ductwork and distributes the conditioned air. The air handler circulates the warm and cold air from other HVAC units through the ductwork, so it reaches your entire home at the same temperature.
The air handler also includes an expansion valve and a heat exchange coil, which is often called an evaporator. The evaporator allows the liquid refrigerant to evaporate, and the heat is transferred to the air, which cools the building. The condensate is then pumped back through the expansion valve and into the compressor, where the cycle begins again.
A heat pump is a popular choice for homes because it provides both heating and cooling, as well as ventilation. It uses the same principles as a conventional furnace but is more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The heat pump can be used in conjunction with an air conditioning system to provide additional cooling.
The ventilation system in a building is determined by its design and use, and the air quality that’s needed for human comfort. In addition to ensuring the proper humidity and air cleanliness, an effective ventilation system can reduce or eliminate odors, and it can control contaminants that cause respiratory problems and other health issues.
