Are you a homeowner who sometimes gets confused by all of the different technical terms and acronyms used when discussing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems? You are certainly not alone, as it can get confusing for those not in the business. It also means that arranging HVAC maintenance can be tricky since you may not be sure of which parts are being referred to. With that in mind, we've compiled a list of some common HVAC maintenance terms and acronyms to help you get to know your HVAC system better.

What Does HVAC Actually Stand For?

Most homeowners know what an HVAC unit does - it heats and cools your home. However, when asked what the acronym HVAC actually stands for, a surprising number of people get hung up on at least one of the letters! Once you understand what each letter means, it is easy to remember as it simply describes your HVAC system's primary functions! H stands for heating your home when the temperature drops. V is for ventilation, relating to how your HVAC system circulates air around the property. Finally, AC is short for Air Conditioning, which cools your home when it gets too hot. Putting it all together, HVAC simply stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air conditioning!

Understanding Types of HVAC

When arranging an HVAC maintenance call, it is useful if you know what type of HVAC system you have, as there are several different types. Let's take a look at some of the most common types and see if you recognize yours!

• Furnace Units - The furnace is an indoor component of your HVAC system that is responsible for heating your home. It will generate heat by burning fuel sources such as gas, oil, or propane. The heat is then distributed by pushing warm air through a ventilation or duct system. A furnace unit is usually paired with an AC unit so that the system can both heat and cool your home.
• Air Conditioning Units - As noted above, a furnace is often paired with an air conditioning unit connected to a cooling coil in the home. Refrigerant coolant is pumped back and forth to extract warm air and release it outside. Warm air is also pushed over the cooling coils and distributed through the ventilation to cool the home.
• Air Handlers - The air handler is an outside part of the HVAC unit that heats and cools your home by blowing temperature-controlled air through the ventilation system. An air handler is electrically powered and is used in conjunction with a heat pump.
• Heat Pumps - A heat pump is an outdoor unit with refrigerant lines that help control hot and cold airflow. Heat is pulled out of the home to the outsider in summer, while in Winter, the process is reversed.
• Package Units - Package HVAC units can handle heating and cooling within one single unit. These are usually located on the roof or on the side of the building. Package units are more prevalent in commercial properties.
• Ductless or Mini-Split - A ductless HVAC system uses individual wall-mounted blowers to heat and cool a single room. Instead of using ductwork, these units are linked by a refrigerant line to an outdoor condensing unit. While this style of HVAC is more cost-effective and less disruptive to install, it often requires more frequent HVAC maintenance than more traditional HVAC units.

Key Components of Your HVAC System

Whichever type of HVAC unit you have, it will have two key components that will also require HVAC maintenance from time to time. These components are your thermostat and your ventilation system. Let's take a closer look at these and the HVAC maintenance that they may require.

• Thermostat - The thermostat could be considered one of the most crucial components of your HVAC system as it is how you communicate the desired room temperature your system needs to achieve. The entire system will be out of sync if the thermostat is not working correctly. The thermostat is one of the first things to be checked during HVAC maintenance, as it is one of the most common trouble spots!
• Ventilation System - The ventilation system connected to your HVAC serves multiple purposes, making it an important component that should be checked regularly when you schedule HVAC maintenance. The ventilation system helps to control humidity levels and collects/removes pollutants from the air. The ventilation system consists of multiple parts: ductwork, supply vents, and return vents.

Hopefully, this guide will help you get more familiar with your HVAVC system and take some guesswork out of booking HVAC maintenance when things go wrong!

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Gent Heating and Cooling provide heating and air conditioning for residential and commercial clients in Knoxville, Knox County, and the surrounding East Tennessee area. Over 20 Years experience. Customer Service is Our Top Priority. We strive to be on time, provide accurate estimates, and have most replacement products on our service vehicles.

Call 865-213-9202 or email office@genthvac.com

www.gentheatandcool.com