HVAC or Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning systems have been in use for a long time now. They help us stay comfortable regardless of the season by heating and or cooling our homes, or commercial and industrial buildings. They also provide us with fresh and breathable indoor air so we can breathe air that is free from contaminants that come in the form of chemicals, odor, dust, and pet dander. These contaminants may likewise come from furnishings, cleaning materials, and other sources that are essentially all over one’s home.
Most people rely on their HVAC systems so much that their energy consumption from using HVAC units accounts to half of their utility bills. Due to this, it is advisable that one should be careful in choosing his or her HVAC system and make sure that these systems address any indoor comfort issue you may have without shooting the utility bills up.
People from very cold places may prefer to use heaters or heating systems so that they can be comfortable despite the freezing cold weather. Too much coldness can lead to hypothermia, which can eventually lead to one’s death. It is why you must be careful in choosing the unit for your home and make sure that it can provide warmth despite the freezing cold temperature outside.
Heating systems can take a couple of different forms. Some are furnaces that burn material to provide heated air through the ductwork, while another popular choice is boilers that heat water for steam radiators, or forced-water systems with baseboard radiators, electric heat, and heat pumps. A furnace will generally operate on natural gas or propane, while a boiler will use gas or oil to heat the water.
Another option is a radiant floor, also known as a hydronic heating system. These use piping under a floor, and are made up of flexible tubes that are filled with water or a glycol solution.
Source: http://twentyonecelsius.com.au/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-hvac-systems/
There are many advanced systems or models available in the market at varying prices. They have different features and energy consumption likewise varies. However, these are still proven inefficient compared to multi-staged systems that not only offer comfort but are more energy-efficient choices for both residential and commercial spaces. Aside from these, there are also other less common options that you may also want to look into that are friendlier to the environment if you are the type to be conscientious of your energy use and how much carbon footprint you contribute to your surroundings.
A split system is a combination of an indoor air handling unit and an outdoor condensing unit. The indoor air handling unit contains a supply air fan and an air-to-refrigerant heat exchanger (or cooling coil), and the expansion device. The outdoor condensing unit consists of a compressor and a condenser coil. Split-systems are typically found in residential or small commercial buildings.
These systems have the highest energy efficiency rating (EER) of all the available AC systems. Manufacturers are required to take the EER rating a step further and provide a seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) for use by consumers. SEER ratings vary widely and range from 10 to 20. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the AC system operates. If heating is required, an alternate method of heating the interior of the building must be used, usually in the form of electric or gas heating.
Source: http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/buildings/commercial/hvac.html
Another type is categorized as ‘zoned systems’. They are designed to either cool or heat the different parts of your home individually thus the term ‘zoned’. This is possible through designing zone valves and curbs in the vents and ductwork of the unit which will lead to the blockage of air flow from the inside. For people who own larger spaces, this is very important because it ensures that none of the areas in your home are cooled or heated unnecessarily or when not in use. In short, it can help you save money and energy at the same time.
Indeed, HVAC systems have given us so many benefits. However, we must keep in mind to always be vigilant when it comes to choosing the best HVAC unit for your home to ensure that it does not backfire and cost you your property, family, and sometimes even your own life when neglected or not cared for properly.