HVAC professionals seem to do a very complicated job. It’s not complex, it just requires a lot of specialized training in order to do it right.
To understand what HVAC professionals do when installing a new system into a home is not rocket science. In fact, we’ll be able to teach you in one short article.
This is how HVAC installation procedures are chosen. NOTE: This is NOT a guide on how to install an HVAC system.
Choosing The Right Type of Units
An HVAC system is a web of interconnected components that all do different things. However, there are different types of units that are considered.
Heat pump units have settings that go into “reverse” when it’s time to cool the air. They’re common in more temperate climates with mild seasonal changes.
Package units are mostly installed in commercial buildings, but sometimes are installed in residential multifamily apartment complexes. These units exist on the roof of a building.
Straight cool split systems are the most common in residential homes, and they have separate components for heating and cooling. Usually the condenser, the furnace, and the coil are all separate and are located in different parts of the house.
Selecting The Right Unit Size
The first thing that an HVAC professional will do before installing a new HVAC system is to properly size the unit.
This process requires knowing some things about your home.
- Construction material
- Layout
- Relative location and orientation
- Usage patterns
Choosing the right unit size is much more important than most people know. Simply getting the
bigger unit will cause the air to be heated faster than it can be recycled into the system, and this will lower overall indoor air quality. A system that is too small, however, will end up working harder to do the same job, ending up less efficient while producing worse results.
Figuring Out Where Components Need to Go
There are many different placements for the HVAC system, and all of them have their pros and cons. However, the placement will most likely rely on the actual layout of the home and the type of HVAC system installed.
An HVAC professional will spend some time looking at the layout of the home and deciding the best place to put the most important components of the HVAC system.
They will also take some time to inspect the existing ductwork within the home. Usually, the biggest issue with ductwork is that it had been poorly maintained. However, the ductwork could have been designed and implemented poorly, which may require the HVAC professional to recommend new ductwork. This can significantly increase the cost and time of an HVAC installation.
Once they’ve figured all of this out, they will start doing the actual installation!
Now that you know how HVAC procedures are done, it should shed some light on what your HVAC contractor is doing when he visits your home. Don’t be afraid to ask your HVAC contractor any questions you have!
