Conventional HVAC System FAQs – Burning Questions About Cooling Units

Conventional HVAC System FAQs – Learn the Mechanics of Your AC Unit to Prepare You for the Hot Season

While it’s still cold outside you may want to start thinking about updating or installing a new air conditioning system for when the temperatures start to rise. Two major options you have are to use a conventional HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and cooling) system or a heat pump unit. Today we cover several FAQs generally asked about conventional HVAC equipment.

What is a conventional HVAC system?

A conventional HVAC system is a conventional air conditioner. Usually referred to as “central air conditioning”, its chief purpose is to move heat from the inside of your home to the outside during the summer. These units work using a condenser on the outside of your home and an evaporator on the inside to draw hot air from your house, cooling it on the evaporator coils.

How does a conventional HVAC system work?

A compressor compresses refrigerant contained in the AC system, causing the temperature to rise. This heated gas flows through the condensing coil and cools to ambient temperature, outside the home. Then, the gas enters the evaporator coil on the inside of the home where it expands and quickly decreases in temperature, cooling the coil.

This cool air is then distributed through your home using a fan or blower assembly that draws air through the cooled evaporator coil and throughout the ductwork to blow the new, refreshing air throughout each room of your house.

What’s the difference between a conventional system and a heat-pump unit?

Although both systems are technically considered to be a heat pump because they transfer heat from inside the home to the outside to cool interior temperatures, the two units are markedly different. The major difference is in the cycle of heat transfer. A heat pump can reverse its direction and transfer heat from the outside to heat indoor temperatures, whereas a conventional air conditioning system requires a separate furnace unit to produce and distribute warm air.

Which unit is the best for my climate?

People who live in climates where they experience long durations of temperatures below 40 degrees should utilize a conventional HVAC system. You do need an additional furnace or heating unit, but heat pumps lose their heating efficiency in these chronically extreme temperatures because they have to switch to emergency heat mode, which uses more electricity.

However, if the climate you live in is more balmy or moderate, a heat pump is a great idea. You don’t need a separate unit to heat your home in the winter and they tend to be more energy efficient than conventional HVAC units.

Are conventional HVAC units energy efficient?

Regarding the cooling apparatus, conventional HVAC units are about as energy efficient in the summer as heat pumps. However, in the winter, due to the previously discussed factors, a heat pump is more energy efficient (in climates that stay generally above 40 degrees Fahrenheit) and may actually yield a tax incentive if you install one.

How much does a conventional system cost?

A conventional system costs roughly five percent less than a heat pump, although they undergo less wear and tear than a heat pump as well, which adjusts the overall cost of installation and repair. We recommend speaking with a Gorman Mechanical HVAC professional who can help you determine which unit is best for you and will save you the most money.

With these most commonly asked FAQs you feel more confident about your air conditioning unit. But we’ve just scratched the surface of information about conventional HVAC systems and other equipment. To delve deeper into the HVAC world, feel free to visit our website today.