What Type of Comfort System Does Your Home Have?
For most of us, setting our thermostat at home and expecting our comfort system to either heat up or cool off our surroundings is about as much as we know about our heating and air conditioning system.
Sure, we know whether our system uses electricity or gas (or both), but other than that? Our knowledge is pretty limited. For instance, does your home have a packaged system, a split system or a heat pump? Is there a furnace either in your basement or attic or somewhere else in your home? Do you have a duct free split system?
Your answer to these questions might be, “Who cares”? As long as it works, it really doesn’t matter. However, when you need to call a repair technician, usually the first question they will ask you is, “What type of comfort system do you have”? For you to be able to answer that question (and just for your general curiosity) we’ve listed the most common systems below.
Split Systems
The most typical and traditional heating and cooling systems are split systems. With a split system, you
have products that reside both inside and outside your home. A split system includes:
• Furnace with variable speed blower to circulate conditioned air.
• Air Conditioner-Cools refrigerant. In case of the Heat Pump, also extracts heat from outdoor air.
• Evaporator Coil (cooling coil) inside furnace or Fan Coil-Converts refrigerant
• Ducts-Carry the air throughout your home
• Control or Thermostat-Your interface for controlling your system
• Optional Air Quality Accessories such as Air Cleaners or Ventilators-Clean your air before it circulates throughout your home.
Hybrid Heat Split System
A hybrid heat split system is a more energy-efficient variation of the traditional heating and cooling split system. The inclusion of a heat pump allows the option of electricity-fueled heating and cooling, in addition to gas furnace heat. A cost-effective hybrid heat split system includes:
• Heat Pump -Cools and/or heats refrigerant
• Furnace and Evaporator Coil -Converts refrigerant and circulates air
• Ducts -Carry the air throughout your home
• Control or Thermostat-Your interface for controlling your system
• Optional Air Quality Accessories such as Air Cleaners or Ventilators-Clean your air before it circulates throughout your home.
Duct-Free Split Systems
Duct-free systems can be installed in places where conventional ducted systems cannot go, or are an ideal complement to your ducted system. Duct-free systems offer a matched combination of:
• Heat Pump or Air Conditioner-Cools and/or heats refrigerant
• A Compact Fan Coil-Converts refrigerant and circulates air
• Refrigerant Tubing and Wires-Connects outdoor unit to fan coil
• Control or Thermostat-Your interface for controlling your system
• Optional Air Quality Accessories such as Air Cleaners or Ventilators -Clean your air before it circulates throughout your home.
Packaged Systems
If your home does not have the space for the multiple separate products typically found in a split system,
a packaged system may be what you have. From one-room units to entire home systems in a single package, packaged systems offer a variety of options, including:
• Packaged Products – A heat pump or air conditioner combined with a fan or evaporator coil in a single unit. All you need is a control or thermostat and any air quality accessories you’d like. Packaged Systems may be located on the exterior of your home.
So now you know. All you have to do is look at your system and compare it to the notes listed above and you will know what kind of comfort system your home has.
Or better yet, call the professionals at Garrison and Garrison Heating and Cooling and after we ask you a question or two, you’ll know what kind of system you have. If you are having issues with your home’s comfort system, feel free to call us at 256-859-8500 or email us at [email protected]
Garrison and Garrison is a licensed and insured HVAC contractor located in Huntsville, AL. We have been serving the HVAC needs of Madison County and the surrounding area for more than 45 years, and we’re still going strong.
