Hvac Lexington systems control the temperature of indoor spaces. They are used in houses, apartment buildings and offices; and large commercial structures like skyscrapers.

A home heating system includes furnaces, boilers or heat pumps to generate heat for a space. A central air conditioning system cools your house by absorbing, transporting and releasing heat using refrigerants.

Whether you’re replacing your old furnace or just thinking about upgrading to a better system, a heat pump is an option worth considering. They’re efficient and can be used for both heating and cooling. They also use less energy than traditional electric or gas systems, helping to shrink your carbon footprint.

In a heat pump system, a hero called refrigerant moves in a cycle through the evaporator and condenser coils. The system is powered by electricity, which pushes the refrigerant around the circuit. The liquid refrigerant absorbs the heat in the evaporator coil, and that energy is transferred to the air. Then, the evaporator coil pumps warm, conditioned air throughout your home.

Heat pumps can also work in reverse, gathering heat from the outdoor air on a chilly winter day and pumping it into your house. This process isn’t as efficient as generating your own heat, but it still helps you cut down on excessive energy waste.

If you’re replacing a ducted system, your local Carrier expert can help you select the right heat pump that fits your needs. They’re available as ductless units to fit homes with no existing ductwork and are also compatible with ductwork.

How do heat pumps work?

Heat pump systems use what’s called a reversing valve to switch the flow of the refrigerant through the system. In the case of an air-source heat pump, that means reversing the flow through the evaporator and condenser. When the reversing valve is active, the volatile fluid is compressed in the evaporator coil and sheds its heat into the air in your home. That heat is then transferred to the one-way expansion valve in the outdoor coil. The vapor is then cooled in the outdoor coil, and its low-pressure state allows it to pick up heat from the surrounding air.

The reversing valve turns off the compressor, and the refrigerant goes back through the indoor evaporator and fan coils to cool down. The cooled vapor then heads back outside through the condenser coil and releases its heat into the air there, and the whole cycle repeats.

Ductless systems

There’s a lot of buzz about ductless systems these days, but do they live up to the hype? They certainly can cool air, and some even provide heating. But, they’re not right for every home. Among other things, they can be more expensive to install than traditional systems and require regular maintenance. Getting the facts about these systems will help you decide if they’re worth it for your situation.

A ductless system has two main parts: an outdoor unit that contains the compressor and condenser, and an indoor air-handling unit. The air-handling unit is connected to the outdoor unit via a conduit with power cable, refrigerant line and a condensate drain. Some ductless systems have more than one indoor unit to allow cooling for multiple rooms or areas.

Most ductless systems have a remote control to operate the unit and set the temperature for each room. The units can be mounted in a variety of places, including on walls or ceilings and in the floor. The units are very quiet and are easy to hide. Some have a sleek appearance, while others are less so.

The biggest pros of a ductless system include its simplicity, ease of installation and energy efficiency. Because there’s no ductwork to lose energy through, these systems can save you money on your monthly cooling bills. Also, ductless systems tend to have higher SEER ratings than their central counterparts.

While ductless systems are great for new additions, they’re also ideal for old homes with no ductwork or unconditioned spaces like attics and crawlspaces. They’re also perfect for garage apartments, sunrooms and man caves, Bowman says. And for new additions, a ductless system can be properly sized for the space and won’t steal air from other rooms or overwork your existing HVAC.

The major drawback to a ductless system is that it can cost more than a central AC to install. Also, a ductless system requires regular maintenance, such as cleaning the evaporator coils and replacing the air filter. A qualified technician can perform these tasks. And the unit’s noise level can be distracting during movies or conversations.

Furnaces

Furnaces are the most common type of home heating system. They use natural gas, propane, oil, or electricity to heat incoming air that’s then forced through your house’s supply ducting to make each room warm and cozy.

They typically include a thermostat mounted on the wall to receive signals about your house’s temperature. When the thermostat detects that your room’s temperature has fallen below a set point, it sends a signal to the furnace’s control board. This in turn activates the ignition switch to start the burners and heating elements.

The burners are a series of tubes through which a combination of gas and flames burn. This combustion process heats up a metal loop called a heat exchanger that then passes the hot air throughout your home through supply ducting.

Your heat exchanger can crack over time, which could allow carbon monoxide to leach into your home’s air. Fortunately, your heating system includes a flue pipe that vents this toxic mixture outside.

When your heat exchanger has warmed up enough, the blower fan starts to circulate the hot air. A circulation blower is a fan that draws air from the return vent, blows it past the heat exchanger, and then forces it through your home’s ventilation system so it can distribute to your rooms.

There’s another fan known as a draft inducer that helps create this flow of air through the system. It also has a safety switch that measures the amount of air it drives out after every heating cycle and shuts off your furnace when the pressure drops too low.

A control board interprets the various signals that come into your furnace from both inside and outside your home, including the signal from the thermostat. It ensures that all the safety switches are in place before going through the heating cycle.

The gas valve regulates the amount of gas pressure that enters the furnace from a tank of natural gas or liquid propane. The igniter then ignites the combustible fuel and the flame sensor keeps an eye on things to see if there’s a fire or carbon monoxide leak.

Air conditioners

Air conditioners cool indoor environments by pulling heat from your home and pushing it outdoors. They also remove excess moisture that can lead to mold and musty odors. Air conditioning systems can be central ducted, ductless mini splits, or window units. A central ducted system cools your entire house with an outdoor unit and an indoor evaporator coil. Ductless mini splits are great for sunrooms, garages, and other areas that don’t have ductwork. Window units are single pieces of equipment that fit into a window or wall opening.

Like a refrigerator, an air conditioner uses a compressor to pump refrigerant through a cycle that converts liquid to gas and back again. The process absorbs heat from the air and releases that heat into the air, which is then cooled and pushed through the house in a fan. In cooling mode, an air conditioner can also dehumidify the air.

An air conditioner has a cold indoor coil called an evaporator, and a hot outdoor coil called the condenser. Refrigerant travels between these two coils in serpentine tubing surrounded by aluminum fins. The evaporator coil has cold, liquid refrigerant running through it, so the air that passes over the evaporator coil gets cooled. The refrigerant then moves to the compressor, where it is pumped up to a very high temperature.

The compressor compresses the refrigerant until it reaches a temperature that is above the boiling point of water. When the refrigerant reaches this temperature, it turns from a liquid into a vapor. The vapor travels to the evaporator coil, where it picks up heat from the conditioned air passing over the evaporator coil. The cooled vapor then returns to the condenser coil, where it is pumped back down to its liquid state.

The cycle repeats itself over and over until the indoor air is cool and comfortable. The ten points listed above should give you a better understanding of how your HVAC system works and why it is important to schedule regular maintenance. A trusted professional can help you find the right HVAC system for your home and guide you through regular tune-ups to keep it working at peak performance.