While about 90 percent of homeowners in the United States have AC systems in their homes, one might ask: what sets an HVAC system apart from an AC unit? Knowing the difference between the two systems is important in making informed choices about home comfort.
This guide explains the differences between HVAC and AC systems: what they are, how they work.
What is an air conditioner?
An air conditioner is an electric appliance used to cool indoor areas, residential or commercial. An AC draws out the heat from a room and lets in cooler, fresh air inside. This helps keep the space indoors comfortable and pleasant, especially if it is quite hot outside.
How does an air conditioner work?
Central air conditioners are designed to have two associated coils: one for the condenser and another for the evaporator. The condenser coil is usually outside, and the evaporator coil is inside the house. In this system, the two coils work in harmony to cool the whole house. Now, here is a simplified, step-by-step explanation of how this kind of cooling process works:
Outdoor Cooling Compressor: This is a unit that sits outside a house. This pump circulates the refrigerant throughout the system. It draws heat from inside the house and transfers it outdoors.
Condenser Unit: This is an outside unit. It contains the compressor, one fan, and a grille for venting the air in and out. This unit dissipates the heat it has taken in and blows cooler air.
Fan Unit: It directs cooled air into the house through ducts circulating the air in every room of the house.
Unlike central systems, there are window air conditioners. What they are, are just smaller systems designed to cool only one room, not the whole house. They are used when the areas are relatively small or when a complete central system is just not needed.
What is an HVAC system?
The abbreviation for “HVAC” is Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. This makes it even more complete than just AC. HVAC systems are designed to regulate the temperature of a home or building during any season of the year, both by heating and cooling. They also provide good ventilation by admitting fresh air from the outside into the building to maintain indoor air quality.
How Does An HVAC System Work?
An HVAC system consists of multiple components to control indoor climate:
Heating: The system is designed with heating elements, such as a furnace or heat pump, which ensure that the space is warm during cold weather. The furnaces burn some fuel, like natural gas, oil, or electricity, to produce heat, while heat pumps extract heat from the outside air or earth-where the temperatures may also be cool-and transfer it indoors.
Cooling: HVAC systems use coils to cool the air, just like in air conditioners. As the air passes over the coils, the system extracts humidity and cools the living spaces.
Ventilation: HVAC systems circulate air in the house, introducing fresh air from the outside into the house. This improves indoor air quality and helps remove noxious agents among other air allergens.
The HVAC systems regulate heated and cooled air. They have been designed to function well during any season and hence they may contribute to comfort indoors throughout the year.
Selling HVAC Systems
Online marketing strategies can be tricky for an HVAC business, especially in a busy market. However, they ensure that your company looks good and trustworthy. Basically, the need arises whereby a homeowner intends to hire a company he can trust, especially when it deals with comfort in their own homes.
All that will be needed is an online presence, customer reviews, and clear information about the benefits of HVAC systems, since possible clients will already be coming to your firm. The key is knowing what your audience needs-whether they want a new installation, maintenance, or repairs-and highlighting the benefits of HVAC compared to regular AC systems.
HVAC versus AC: Basic Differences
Both HVAC and AC provide cooling, but the main differences between them are as follows: Functionality Scope: An AC is designed to cool the house only. It can cool a single room-say, a window unit-or the whole house, if it were central. In relation, an HVAC provides cooling and heating; hence, this will be more applicable to the house in whatever season in maintaining an indoor climate.
Components: In general, an air conditioner contains a compressor, coils, and a fan that cool the air. However, HVAC systems do contain these parts but also include a furnace, heat pump, or other heating tools to warm the house during winters. HVAC systems also have parts associated with ventilation to maintain air quality.
Cooling Capacity: The entire house is cooled by a central air conditioning system by spreading cool air throughout with the help of ducts. But that is not all an HVAC system can do for you. During winter, it warms your house with its furnace or heat pump. And to add, many HVAC systems have air filters that clean indoor air quality by removing dust, pollen, and other allergens.
Common Usage: Although the same companies usually maintain or install HVAC and AC systems, HVAC systems tend to get used more since they can do more things. This is most true in places where people need both heat and cool air throughout the year.
Buying Options: HVAC systems are available as split systems, where the evaporator coil is located inside the structure, but the rest of the components sit outdoors. There are packaged systems available, too, that are available in a single unit with everything included for heating and cooling.
Services: HVAC and AC The primary difference between HVAC and AC lies in what they actually do: AC systems are designed for the sole purpose of cooling a place. It may be a single room with window AC or the entire house cooling with central AC. They essentially cool the temperature inside.
HVAC Systems: These systems can provide both heating and cooling, hence can be considered a complete climate control solution. Also, HVAC systems maintain good ventilation, thereby keeping the inside air clean.
