HVAC systems regulate temperature, airflow, and indoor air quality. They use filters to remove pollutants from incoming air, as well as fans and ducts to transport fresh air into a space and vent out stale, polluted air.
Duct installation costs vary based on the complexity of the system and the size of the home or building. In addition, the type of HVAC system and labor rates impact overall project cost. Read on BEST HVAC COMPANIES IN CINCINNATI for more details.
You’ve likely benefited from the cooling blast of air conditioning on a sweltering summer day, or enjoyed warmth and comfort when you enter a home or business during winter. These conveniences, and many others like it, are made possible by heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, or HVAC. HVAC technicians can repair and maintain these important mechanical systems, helping them operate more efficiently and safeguard occupants from the effects of poor temperature or humidity control.
Ventilation: Most HVAC systems help ensure healthy indoor environments by introducing fresh outdoor air into buildings. This process of exchanging stale indoor air with fresh outside air dilutes pollutants, lowering their concentration. In addition, proper ventilation prevents moisture buildup that can lead to mold and mildew.
Air Filtration: Air filters in HVAC systems trap particles as they circulate, preventing them from recirculating into the environment. This can reduce asthma and other respiratory problems caused by dust, pollen, pet dander, and other airborne contaminants. In some cases, specialized filters can catch even microscopic pollutants.
Humidity Control: HVAC systems also regulate indoor humidity levels, promoting comfortable and safe conditions. Too much humidity promotes the growth of mold and mildew, causing health problems in some people. It can also cause damage to wooden structures and furniture. HVAC systems may use dehumidifiers or humidifiers to achieve optimal humidity levels.
Temperature Control: Most HVAC systems include a furnace to provide heat during colder weather, as well as an air conditioner to cool indoor spaces. They can be powered by a variety of fuel sources, including natural gas, propane, oil, and electricity. Some are ENERGY STAR®-certified, meaning they use at least 20% less energy than conventional models.
A career as an HVAC technician involves a combination of technical knowledge, mechanical skills, and interpersonal communication. Accredited HVAC training programs include both classroom instruction and hands-on experience working with actual equipment, helping students develop the practical skills they need for success in the field. Some programs offer internships and apprenticeships to give students on-the-job training under the guidance of experienced professionals. Students who successfully complete these programs can obtain NATE (North American Testing and Evaluation Association) certification, a widely recognized mark of excellence that can improve job opportunities.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps (also known as air-source or ground-source heat pump systems) are a great solution for homeowners looking to reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint. By transferring thermal energy from a cooler area to a warmer one, using the same refrigeration cycle that is used in refrigerators and traditional air conditioners, heat pumps make it possible to use electricity to provide low-cost, highly efficient heating for your home during the winter. And because heat pumps transfer rather than generate their own heating, they can also be used as a low-cost source of cooling in the summer.
Fossil gas furnaces produce combustion pollutants, including nitrous oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter, which contribute to poor indoor air quality and serious health impacts for residents. Transitioning to a heat pump eliminates gas combustion in the home, resulting in significant health benefits and lower energy bills.
When comparing the energy efficiency of heat pumps to fossil gas furnaces, they are typically at least twice as efficient. In addition to their efficiency, heat pumps also dehumidify the home during the summer by pulling moisture from the air. This helps to prevent mold and pest problems, and lowers humidity levels that can lead to discomfort on hot, humid days.
Depending on the climate, there are several types of heat pumps available: air-source, geothermal and ductless mini-split. Ductless heat pumps are a great option for homes without existing ductwork. These systems feature a small, wall-mounted unit that blows hot or cold air throughout the home via an easy-to-install flexible tubing system.
By leveraging existing rebates and incentives, state, local and utility programs can help millions of delivered fuel households upgrade to heat pumps, unlocking thousands in annual energy bill savings, while reducing harmful emissions, improving indoor air quality and accelerating the decarbonization of heating in the US. States should also implement clean heat standards, which require fuel suppliers to decrease their emissions over time or pay fines. This approach can be coupled with contractor training for ASHPs and HPWHs, which will enable contractors to install these new technologies more confidently and at scale.
Ductless Systems
Unlike traditional HVAC systems that use ductwork to deliver conditioned air throughout the home, ductless mini-splits are self-contained units that deliver comfort directly to rooms or areas. This makes them perfect for home additions, retrofits, or cooling homes without existing ductwork.
Besides their flexibility, ductless mini-splits offer several benefits that align with improving indoor air quality (IAQ). They don’t bring in outside air, which eliminates the opportunity for pollen, mold, pet dander, or other contaminants to enter your house through the ventilation system and get distributed around your home. They also don’t require ductwork, which makes it nearly impossible for pollutants to leak through leaking or poorly insulated ducts.
Because ductless systems don’t use ductwork, they can be more energy-efficient than other cooling solutions. Specifically, they avoid the energy waste associated with central systems that uniformly treat entire buildings. And since they don’t need to bring in outdoor air, they reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which contributes to a more sustainable environment.
Aside from energy efficiency, ductless systems are known for their quiet operation, which can promote better sleep. This is because ambient noise doesn’t interfere with a good night’s rest as much as it does with traditional AC systems.
Ductless systems also feature high-grade filters that can reduce a wide variety of airborne allergens and odors, which are often the cause of respiratory problems. As a result, these systems can significantly alleviate allergy symptoms and help reduce asthma attacks, making them a great choice for families with sensitive family members.
Additionally, ductless systems can regulate indoor humidity, which is critical to protecting against the growth of harmful bacteria and other microorganisms. This helps prevent the formation of mildew and mold, which can pose serious health risks.
To reap the full benefits of a ductless system, it’s important to have your hvac unit installed by a licensed professional. This ensures that the system is properly sized for your climate zone, and it’s correctly insulated and sealed to minimize energy loss. It’s also crucial that the contractor is knowledgeable about ductless systems and can perform a thorough maintenance service. This is because accumulated debris on the system’s air filter can seriously impact its performance and lifespan.
Indoor Air Quality
The quality of indoor air is affected by a variety of factors. These include reducing sources of pollutants and increasing ventilation rates, enhancing filtration and air cleaning to remove harmful particles from the air, and managing moisture and humidity. Poor indoor air quality may contribute to health problems including respiratory disorders, irritated eyes and skin, headaches and fatigue. It is also known that long-term exposure to elevated levels of certain pollutants can cause cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses.
Changes in building design devised to improve energy efficiency have resulted in modern homes and buildings being more tightly sealed, reducing the amount of fresh outdoor air that circulates through them. This can increase indoor concentrations of certain pollutants such as volatile organic compounds and ozone. In addition, increased use of synthetic building materials has contributed to the release of a wide variety of chemical contaminants into the environment.
Indoor allergens such as proteins in pet dander and urine, dust mites and cockroach droppings can trigger asthma symptoms. Particulate pollution from burning fossil fuels for heating and cooking, tobacco smoke, and some outdoor sources such as sulphur dioxide can aggravate the lungs, aggravating asthma symptoms. The ENERGY STAR program includes prescriptive air sealing requirements and filters on the ducted system to reduce the transfer of these pollutants into the home.
A dehumidifier can be used to help control the level of moisture in the air. Having too much moisture in the air can lead to mold growth, which can have a negative impact on indoor air quality. In addition, a humidifier can be installed to raise the level of moisture in the air, which can make it feel more comfortable and can help with dry skin and static electricity.
An indoor air quality monitor can be strategically placed to identify variations in the quality of the air, enabling targeted actions to improve it. Putting monitors in high traffic areas of the home can help families track changes and identify specific sources of pollution. Bedrooms are a good place to place monitors as studies show that maintaining good indoor air quality supports restful sleep.