Residential HVAC Basics

Your air conditioner is a critical part of your home.

HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) knowledge is critical for home owners. You may not be hiring a contractor to install a new HVAC system, but a substantial portion of your home's electric bill goes towards the operation of the HVAC.

Refrigerant

HVAC units contain refrigerant chemicals that must be periodically refilled. Having a unit with too little (or too much) refrigerant can reduce the efficiency of your air conditioning.

Duct Work

You can have the most energy-efficient air conditioning and heating unit in the world, but it will do you little good if your duct work is losing hot or cold air. All ducts should be well-insulted. As an added bonus, this prevents condensation that can ruin drywall or electrical wiring.

Air Filters

HVAC units must be able to pull air easily into the system. The harder it is to pull air in and move it around, the more energy the system wastes and the sooner it will need repairs. Therefore, air filters should be checked every month and changed as needed. This is especially true during hot summers and cold winters, when the unit is working its hardest.

References

• High Performance HVAC: Air Conditioning Maintenance 1
• High Performance HVAC: Air Conditioning Maintenance 2
• Contracting Business: Solutions to Sweating HVAC
• Energy Star: HVAC Information