The SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) measures the efficiency of your air conditioner or air-source heat pump. The SEER is the cooling output over a particular season divided by the total energy used in that same period. The higher the SEER, the greater the efficiency level of that cooling system.
Each split system cooling unit has a nominal SEER rating. For a higher rating your HVAC contractor can provide advice about an upgrade. The SEER rating of a system is based on the combination of equipment installed in the home. The outdoor equipment (heat pump or air conditioner), as well as the indoor equipment (evaporator coil and furnace, or air handler), play a vital role in the total rating.
Your heating and cooling systems work incredibly hard to perform their functions. The constant stopping, starting and general operation can wear down any machine. Proper care and maintenance help to keep these systems in optimum condition and ward off malfunction. By scheduling regular maintenance, you can maximize the life of your heating and cooling units and guard against many common equipment failures. Preventive maintenance inspections performed in spring for your AC and fall for your heater can uncover leaks, rust, rot, soot, frayed wires and corroded electrical contacts. Regular maintenance will ensure maximum efficiency and prevent other problems.
All heating and cooling equipment require annual professional tuneup. Inspections on boilers and furnaces should include ductwork, pipes, dampers, valves, the chimney, registers, radiators, pumps, blowers, fuel lines and the oil tank. Heat pump and air conditioning unit inspections should also include an examination of the fan, compressor, indoor coils, outdoor coils, and refrigerant lines.
What are the five main parts of your HVAC system?
Your heating and cooling system consists of five basic elements that all work together to provide real comfort for your home or business. These components include the following:
- Air conditioning
- Heating
- Thermostats and controls
- Ventilation systems
- Ductwork
Understanding each of these components is essential to allow you to maintain absolute comfort indoors during every season of the year.
What are the component parts of your air conditioning system?
You depend on your air conditioning system to provide reliable cooling during the hottest parts of the year. These elements are necessary to produce cool air for you and your family:
- Compressors apply pressure to refrigerant to allow it to pass between liquid and gas states and to ensure that it absorbs heat from the air inside your home. Compressors and condensers are located together in a unit outside your home.
- Condensers are designed to cool down heated refrigerant and to release heat directly into the outdoor air. A fan is used to cool the refrigerant lines and to move hot air away from the outside AC unit.
- Evaporator coils are located inside your home and extract heat from indoor air by moving that air across cold refrigerant, which absorbs heat energy and directs it outside.
- Refrigerant lines are the conduits through which refrigerant circulates between the indoor evaporator coils and the outdoor condense and compressor.
- Valves, including the expansion valve, are used to control the flow of refrigerant and to promote energy-efficient cooling.
- Air handlers distribute cool air throughout your home through ductwork.
Each of these elements are necessary to produce reliable cooling for your home during the hot and humid summer months in Alabama.
How do furnaces and heat pumps work?
Most furnaces consist of four basic elements. The burner is where oxygen in the air, fuel and flame combine to create heat. The heat exchanger allows that heat to transfer directly to the air, which is then distributed by the blower motor. Gases produced during the combustion process are vented through a flue pipe to the outside.
Heat pumps, by contrast, work in much the same way as air conditioning systems. During the summer months, heat pumps extract heat from indoor air and vent it to the outside using refrigerants. In winter, however, heat pumps reverse this process to extract heat from outdoor air and to deliver it indoors to you and your family.
What type of thermostat or control system should I choose?
Programmable thermostats are recommended by ENERGY STAR and the Department of Energy as a practical way to manage energy use inside homes and businesses. Programmable thermostats can be preset to adjust temperatures during times when no one is at home or in the business. Smart thermostats go a step further to allow you to adjust thermostat settings from anywhere by using a smartphone or other connected device. Upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat can provide you with added flexibility when managing indoor temperatures and can promote the lowest energy expenditures for your home or business.
Why are ventilation systems important?
Maintaining good indoor air quality is essential for you and your family. Poor air quality has been linked with serious health issues. Making sure that your home is properly ventilated can ensure a steady supply of fresh air and can improve your indoor air quality to a significant degree. Exhaust fans, air intakes and filtration systems can help you enjoy the benefits of cleaner air without the risk of outdoor pollutants. The ventilation system for your home is an essential part of your HVAC system and can reduce the concentration of pollutants inside your home, which can help you lead a happier and healthier life.
How does ductwork fit into the HVAC system?
Once your HVAC system has produced warm or cool air, it must be distributed to the various areas of your home. Your ductwork consists of several components, each of which helps to move air throughout your indoor spaces:
- The supply ducts transfer cool or warm air from your heating and cooling system to the ductwork inside your home.
- Return ducts, as their name suggests, return air from your indoor spaces to the HVAC unit to be heated or cooled again. This ensures consistent indoor temperatures inside your home.
- Registers are designed to cover the outlets for ductwork and to prevent items from falling into this component of your HVAC system. Many registers or grilles can be adjusted to point in the desired direction.
