You hear the term thrown around a lot: HVAC. But what does it mean? What does it stand for? Where do these HVAC specialists work and what do they work on? And to what benefit?
Well, we have your answers—and then some!
If you’re a business owner or homeowner, you’re going to want to know how the HVAC industry works and what all it entails. At some point, you’re going to have to deal with the air quality or heating and cooling in your building, and pursuing HVAC services will be among the first tasks you’ll need to complete because of it.
In this article, we’re going to walk you through the basics of the HVAC industry, introduce the machinery that specialists like Entek are in charge of, and what to expect out of the industry in the near future.
What Does HVAC Stand For?
That’s an easy one.
It’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. This obviously includes those small AC units you use in your windows, but it also includes intricate central systems that run throughout a residential or commercial building. These systems can have ducts or be ductless. They can heat or cool or do both with the same system. There are a number of different types of systems you may have and not even know it.
But when we’re talking about HVAC, we’re talking about more than just staying comfortable in your building. The HVAC industry is as much about air quality and health as it is about cranking up the air conditioner on a sweltering summer day. So listen up. Your sinuses depend on it.
What Do HVAC Systems Do?
You may already know that air conditioners make the room cooler and heaters make the room warmer, but you might not know that these systems aren’t as simple and cut-and-dried as just blowing hot or cold air around.
These systems have to filter and clean the air before it enters a room. HVAC systems often take air from outside and filter it as it’s brought into the home. As you know, there are plenty of floating particles and debris in the natural outside air, so it must do its job of stopping dirt and other sinus-inducing allergens from floating freely into your rooms.
Once the air is clean, it’s sent into each room in warm or cold bursts to help the room reach its desired temperature. If you’re fearful that your HVAC system may be acting inefficiently, make sure you contact an HVAC specialist to have them inspect and repair your current system or recommend a new system for you. You shouldn’t try doing it alone, as these systems are often complex, and messing with the wrong thing can potentially result in further problems.
What Types of HVAC Systems Do Specialists Work On?
There are several different types of systems that a specialist can help you out with.
For air conditioning, there are single units that you can place right in your window, and there are also central units that use ducts around the space to keep all your rooms at the right temperature. But there are also systems without ducts, and there are some that do both the heating and air conditioning for you in a single system, such as a heat pump.
All of these systems are unique, so if you’re not sure what you’re working with, it might be helpful to reach out to an HVAC specialist.
Did you know that sometimes people add another letter to the acronym? HVAC&R includes the ever-useful Refrigeration systems. HVAC specialists are pros at knowing ventilation systems, and so they’re occasionally included on tasks that deal with industrial refrigeration systems. You can usually find those at restaurants and other spaces that need large refrigerators or freezers.
What Types of Services Do HVAC Specialists Provide?
Do you need to install a new HVAC system in your commercial or residential space? No problem. HVAC specialists are on the case.
How about if you need to repair your current HVAC system? They have you covered again.
Even if you want to play it safe and schedule regular maintenance on your HVAC system, specialists can help with that. This is actually a pretty great idea if you own a building. You can get regularly scheduled maintenance so that you can rest easy knowing your system is working well regularly, rather than waiting for the day it goes wrong. If you wait until your HVAC system is already running inefficiently, you’ll have to get things fixed as soon as you can. But if an HVAC specialist is keeping an eye on it, you might be able to see a problem coming before it impacts the occupants of your building.
Air quality is terrifically important to your health, your family’s health, and your employees’ health. If you want to make sure you’re placing those you care about in the most comfortable and safe physical space, you’ll want to seek an HVAC specialist’s help for regularly scheduled maintenance.
HVAC specialists can even help you out when it’s the ducts that are working improperly, such as when they need to be sealed or cleaned.
Why It’s Important to Know About HVAC
As a business owner or homeowner, it’s terrifically important to stay on top of your HVAC systems and understand what makes the industry tick. As a matter of fact, the industry is actually expecting an increase in services over the next five years due to COVID-19, so understanding the state of the industry could prove helpful when you’re considering construction on a new place. Your local service provider may be busier than usual, so it may be a good idea to contact them sooner rather than later.
If you need to install, repair, or replace your HVAC system and live in the Pacific Northwest, make sure to check us out at Entek. We’re happy to help.
Lisa Eclesworth is a notable and influential lifestyle writer. She is a mom of two and a successful homemaker. She loves to cook and create beautiful projects with her family. She writes informative and fun articles that her readers love and enjoy.