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Home
Heating and Cooling 101
Heating and
cooling are 2 of the most important
concepts of home ownership. In fact,
heating and cooling systems are major
factors for those looking to purchase
homes, and are a critical part of living
comfortably in a home.
You may frequently hear the term "HVAC,"
which is used to describe home heating
and cooling systems. The acronym stands
for Heating, Ventilation and Air
Conditioning–which are the 3 primary
functions of a home system. They control
air temperature and humidity, and
maintain the quality of the air in the
home.
Central
Systems
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Heating and
cooling systems may be classified as central or local. Central
heating and cooling is the most standard method, and is defined
by a system that produces warm or cool air in one central area
and then distributes it throughout the home. There are many
types of systems that work as central systems, from traditional
split systems to packaged product systems.
Heat Pumps
Air Conditioners
Gas and Oil Furnaces
Fan Coils
Evaporator Coils
Single Packaged Products
Controls and Thermostats
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| Local heating and
cooling, on the other hand, produces warm or cool air at
the location where it is needed and serves small spaces.
Room Air Conditioners and Packaged Terminal Air
Conditioners (PTAC) are examples of local heating and
cooling. |
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Heating
Heating systems keep your home
warm and comfortable. If you
live in a particularly cold
climate, the function of your
heating system is a high
priority.
Most
central heating and cooling systems
are classified as forced air
systems, because they send air
through ductwork for distribution.
The ductwork can contain products
that filter or clean the air.
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| Radiant systems
create heat and deliver it using components such
as radiators that distribute the heat into the
home. Boilers are a traditional radiant heat
source. |
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Typical heating products
include:
Heat Pumps
Gas and Oil Furnaces
Fan Coils
Boilers
Single Packaged Products
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Cooling
Whole-home air
conditioning systems are central systems
that rely on ducts to deliver cooled air
throughout the home. An air-conditioning
system provides cooling, ventilation,
humidity control and even heating (if using
a Heat Pump) for a home. Air conditioning
units cool refrigerants like Puron
Refrigerant and Freon and deliver them to
evaporator coils, which dissipate the
refrigerant and blow cool air into ducts for
delivery throughout the home. |
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Products such as room
air conditioners are local cooling options for smaller
areas within homes. Instead of delivering cooled
refrigerant to a coil and then to ductwork, a room air
conditioner contains all the components in a single unit
and blows air directly into a room. Air-conditioned
homes often have sealed windows, because open windows
would disrupt the attempts of the control system to
maintain constant temperature.
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Typical air conditioning
products include:
Heat Pumps
Central Air Conditioners
Evaporator Coils
Room Air Conditioners
Single Packaged Products |
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Thermostats
The term "thermostat" commonly
refers to any unit that controls the operation of a
heating and cooling system. Thermostats are used to turn
on heating or cooling systems to bring the home to a set
temperature. In addition to basic temperature control,
programmable thermostats can be used to manage the
timing of the system's functions, which can control
overall energy use and costs.
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Learn More
Learn more about the many aspects of
heating and cooling, including the types of systems available,
how to find the ideal system for your home, how health and air
quality impact your home, how energy efficiency can save you
money, how heating and cooling impacts the environment, and the
many terms and phrases of heating and cooling.
Contact Sutton Heating & Cooling TODAY!
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