How Does an HVAC System Work?

An HVAC system is made up of many components that work together to circulate air, regulate the temperature, and maintain air quality in an indoor space. But how an HVAC system works also depends on which type is running. Let’s go over the different HVAC parts, what they do, and how your heating and cooling units operate. 

HVAC Parts to Know About

To further understand how an HVAC system works to cool or heat your home, we also need to familiarize ourselves with some key components: 

• Thermostat: The thermostat is the component used to control the air in your home. It can turn the HVAC system on, adjust the temperature and humidity, and so forth. 

• Ductworks: Ducts are installed throughout your home as part of the ventilation component of the HVAC system. They are responsible for transporting air from your heating and cooling units to the rest of your interior spaces.

How Does the HVAC Work?

How the HVAC system works differs depending on whether it’s heating or cooling your home. 

The Heating Process

HVAC systems often include a furnace that is used to heat your home. When you adjust the thermostat to a higher setting or when it detects that the air is too cold, the thermostat sends a signal to your furnace to start the burners. When the furnace begins to burn fuel in order to provide sufficient heat, a blower motor engages and circulates the air throughout the ductwork.

The furnace will keep creating more heat until it reaches the desired temperature for your home.

The Cooling Cycle

Air conditioners don’t produce cold air—they remove heat from the surrounding indoor air and transfer the heat outside. It starts when the evaporator coils in your indoor unit absorb the heat using a liquid substance called a refrigerant. As the refrigerant takes in more heat, it turns into gas. The air around the coils cools down and gets blown back to the room through the ducts.

The refrigerant then moves to the compressor, which compresses the refrigerant so it can travel through the refrigerant lines. The refrigerant transfers to the condenser unit outside your home, where the heat it carries gets absorbed by the outdoor air. This cools the refrigerant down until it liquefies and heads back indoors to the evaporator. The AC will repeat this cycle until it reaches the temperature you’ve set in the thermostat. 

We’ll Take Care of Your HVAC Needs in Utah

One of the best ways to learn how an HVAC system works is by asking your trusted HVAC professional. The folks here at Superior Water & Air are always happy to answer your questions about your home’s heating and cooling systems. Our technicians can even give tips on how to tell if your HVAC isn’t working properly. 

Superior Water & Air has served Utah and selected service areas in Idaho and Colorado for over 65 years. Apart from our HVAC solutions, our team also offers water treatment and plumbing repair services. Let our professionals handle your HVAC needs today by calling 801-559-7381! We’re open 24/7 for your convenience.

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