How do central heating and cooling systems work?
Understanding how heating and cooling systems work can save you time, money, and energy by helping you know when to call a professional technician. Most air conditioners work with the use of Freon or refrigerants, which cool down the air inside the system’s coils. First, a compressor turns the refrigerant into a hot, high-pressure gas that loses heat as it travels through the coils causing the gas to condense into a hot liquid. As the liquid expands it becomes a cold, low-pressure gas, which absorbs heat and returns to the compressor to begin the cycle again. The cool air is pumped into your home by motors and fans while hot air is extracted. Heat pumps are energy efficient systems that both heat and cool. In the winter, they work in reverse of the air conditioning by extracting cold air and pumping warm air into the home.
Another kind of heating system is heat strips, which contain elements that heat up providing hot air to be distributed throughout the home with the use of fans. |
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Heat pumps can usually keep a home warm when the weather outside is as low as the 20’s. Below that, sometimes the heat pump just cannot make your house as comfy or as snug as you want. That is where your heat strips come into play. In the northern states oil heat and gas heat are used more often,” she says. Central heating systems work by way of a boiler or furnace usually located in the home’s basement. In the case of boilers, water is heated and the steam is sent to radiators throughout the home. In the case of furnaces, air is heated and the warm air is pumped through a system of air ducts to heat the home. Thermostats located in the home control the temperature and operation of the heating system. Air duct systems are the most common type of heating and cooling system in modern homes. Of these, there are two types: gravity and forced-air. Gravity systems rely on the tendency of heat to rise naturally. There are no fans in this type of system. Instead the ducts are usually large and deliver warm air to locations above the furnace. Systems that have a blower or heat pump are forced-air systems. Central heating and air systems share the same air ducts for both heating and cooling and usually share the same thermostat. These systems also have the capability of humidifying and electronically cleaning the air that is delivered to the home. Most heat pumps run on electricity and include the following components: an outdoor condenser, refrigerant-filled coils, an indoor air handler, a fan blower operated by a motor, heating elements, an air duct system that runs throughout the home to registers located in each room, a return air system, and air filters. Understanding how the heating and cooling system works in your home can help you to pinpoint problems when they arise.
How can I save money on my heating and cooling system?
There are several ways to save money on your heating and cooling system. Replacing an older system with a new more energy efficient one will save money and energy in the long run and there are often rebates available to make this purchase easier. Annette Floridia is a customer service representative for Precision Aire and has been in the air conditioning industry for several years. She says, “From time to time, we offer rebates. You can check with your dealer and ask them about rebates that they may be offering at the time. Our company here in Ocala is associated with Home Depot and we do all of their at-home services. So, whenever Home Depot is offering specials like 12 months no interest, no payments on their charge card or home improvement loan, you can get in on that deal. Many times it is in conjunction with a rebate program. You can just ask your representative, ‘Do you have any specials going on right now?’, because we usually have some type of incentive program that can help you save money. Also, by having qualified dealers such as Precision Aire installing your equipment and knowing that you’re getting the job done right you can prevent problems down the road. Trane offers different specials at different times during the year. Sometimes, we give away $1,000 whole-house electronic air cleaners.” As far as purchasing a used heating or cooling system in order to save money, Floridia advises against it. “Our company does not sell used systems. I have talked to people that say, ‘My friend is getting a new air-conditioner and they are going to sell me their used system. I'm going to install it in my house’. That’s fine if there is a qualified installer, someone who is licensed to do it. But eventually they will have to invest in a new one.” Another benefit of purchasing a new heating and cooling system is the protection of a warranty and a maintenance contract with a certified technician who is specially trained to work on a particular line of units. Other ways to save money on your existing heating and cooling system include properly maintaining your coils and filters, weatherizing your home, and making use of energy-saving tips around the house. To save money on air conditioning costs you can use ceiling fans to aid with air circulation. Investing in a programmable thermostat is another energy saving tip since this allows you to raise the temperature while you are sleeping or away from home. You should also check to make sure no furniture or draperies are restricting the air flow from vents and registers as well as making sure doors are left open or have adequate space underneath to allow air to escape and enter the return system. You should also avoid placing lamps or appliances such as televisions near your thermostat as these can interfere with the thermostat’s reading of the room temperature and cause your air conditioning to run longer than necessary.
