What is HVAC? Defining HVAC Service vs. HVAC Maintenance
Simply put, needing HVAC service is referring to needing repairs done, while HVAC maintenance is referring to preventative measures that help improve performance and extend the life of your system. Think of your heating and cooling system like your car – when you’re having maintenance done, you’re having the oil changed, the tires rotated, and your filters replaced. You know these are necessary for the performance and longevity of your vehicle. It’s the same principle for your HVAC system. When you hear a weird sound coming from your car or you notice something isn’t working correctly, you take it in to be serviced. The mechanic will look at the vehicle and discover what is causing the problem, along with looking for issues that may cause a problem in the future. HVAC service works much the same way.
HVAC basics: The purpose of an HVAC system is more than just warming or cooling a space. Instead, it serves to improve indoor air quality and provide comfort for everyone inside a building. While there are several different types of HVAC systems, they all begin with the same essentials. First, there is a source of fresh air intake from the outside or from within the home. This process is called ventilation, and it happens in two different ways. Natural ventilation is present in most homes and refers to the way air typically moves in and out through windows, doors, vents, and other openings. This exchange of air is necessary to replenish oxygen and remove odors, carbon dioxide, and excessive moisture.
Mechanical ventilation uses a mechanical system ‐ the V in HVAC ‐ to move air in and out. In the past, there was plenty of natural ventilation in most homes from gaps and cracks in the construction along with the opening and closing of doors. However, modern construction is creating homes that are far more tightly sealed so ventilation is becoming an increasingly important component in home HVAC systems. Once the air is brought in, it is drawn into an air handling unit where the work begins. Here, the air is drawn through filters to remove dirt, dust, allergens, and other particles. Next up, is comfort. Air is either sent to be heated or sent to be cooled and have excess humidity removed. Once the air is clean, fresh, and at a comfortable temperature, it is directed into the home. For central systems, this means moving through a network of ducts and registers to different rooms. For other systems, this usually means being directed right into the space.
What does HVAC encompass? An HVAC system maintains a regulated temperature, controls the level of humidity, and ensures optimal air quality. As the HVAC acronym indicates, the system includes the following components...
Heating: An HVAC system includes some type of equipment -- such as a furnace, boiler, or heat pump -- for generating heat that is used to warm an internal space. The equipment might target a room, zone, or entire building. Heating equipment uses different methods to heat a space (conduction, convection, or radiation) and uses different types of resources to generate the heat, such as electricity, propane, heating oil, or natural gas. Although heating is usually not the primary concern in data center HVAC, it's still an important factor, particularly in cold climates, where heat might be needed to protect outdoor equipment or components such as chillers.
Ventilation: A comprehensive system of ventilation is essential to effective HVAC. Ventilation is a separate mechanism from heating or air conditioning but works in conjunction with both, maintaining the airflow necessary to effectively heat or cool a building. In addition, it exchanges inside air with outside air to ensure a fresh supply. Ventilation can also play a role in filtering the air or maintaining the proper level of humidity, depending on the heating or cooling system. Proper ventilation is especially important in data centers, where it's used in concert with air conditioning to cool IT infrastructure. Data centers employ a variety of strategies to ventilate and cool their systems, depending on the type of equipment and their layout.
Air conditioning: An HVAC system includes some type of equipment to cool circulating air. The approach to cooling can vary significantly from one commercial space to the next. For example, air conditioning equipment might be located inside the building or on the outside, such as on the roof. It might also use water to control temperatures, rather than coolant. In addition, it might play a role in filtering the air or controlling humidity, working in conjunction with the ventilation system. Data centers rely heavily on air conditioning to ensure that IT infrastructure can operate properly, using a variety of strategies to cool and ventilate their systems.
Turtley Awesome Cooling & Heating LLC
Palm Bay FL
