Heating and Air Conditioning Basics for Homeowners

Heating and air conditioning are two of the necessary things for many homeowners in the United States of America. The reality of it is that most of the country experiences changes in the climate that may necessitate the use of heat and cold. Summer can be very warm and merit the use of airconditioning while winter can be extremely cold and merit the use of a heater. The HVAC system is something that homeowners should have some basic knowledge of. The reason for this is in case of emergencies, they should know how to check for what may be wrong and be able to do the easy maintenance and fixing that does not need the expertise of an HVAC expert.

Basics

There are three components of an HVAC system. The source of the air, whether cool or warm, the distribution system and the ways of controlling the output. The furnace is the main source for heat and the airconditioner is the source for cool air. If the house’s system combines heating and air conditioning then both the warm and cool air passes through the same duct when either is in use. This is especially true for centralized homes and establishments and means that there is one distribution component as well as one regulation component. For heat, gas, fuel and electricity may be used to produce it while electricity is used for cooling. 

The distribution of these can be through forced air and gravity systems. Forced air means a fan or blower is used to channel the warm or cool air throughout the house. This means additional energy is needed for the blower to function and can raise the cost of heating and air conditioning. Gravity moves air through the concept that warmth goes up and coldness goes down. The use of radiator sis also another common means of getting warmth into a room. Vents are needed since these are where the gusts blow through, whether they are cold or hot. For centralized systems, vents in each room or area may have a device that can open or close it in order to further control the temperature in the room or area. 

The regulation of heating and air conditioning is usually through the use of a thermostat. This device is sensitive to heat and maintains the temperature of an area, in part or in full. It functions with the use of a metallic component that expands and contacts according to the unregulated temperature and it acts accordingly to where the homeowner may set the switch. Modern devices have combined the regulator for both warmth and coldness. This is very convenient for many homeowners as well as energy saving also. 
Maintenance for both is actually quite simple. Regular checkups to ensure that the vents are clean are a must. Debris and dust should be cleared to ensure that the quality of air is excellent. It is important that vents have a screen to prevent any rodents, insect or any other pest from entering.