How HVAC Systems Work
Your HVAC system keeps your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. But there's a lot more you should know. Click on the tabs below to see how different components work.
Packaged System: Air Conditioner
Duct-Free Mini-Split
Split System
Gas Furnace
Heat Pump
Heat pumps don’t burn fuel. Instead, they use electricity to circulate energy so they’re an environmentally sustainable technology. They’re three to five times more energy-efficient than conventional heating systems and can deliver zero-emission heating when running on renewable electricity.
Heat Pumps
Heated or cooled air is forced through the home’s ductwork via a mechanical blower.
The conditioned air travels through ducts and is controlled through your thermostat.
Split System
Heating and air conditioning split systems include an air conditioning unit or heat pump installed outside your home and a furnace or air handler installed inside.
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An indoor unit is wall-mounted and cools or heats the air directly into the living space.
Duct-free mini-split air conditioner: One indoor unit is connected to an outdoor compressor via a small pipe where refrigerant flows through.
Duct-free mini-split heat pump: They have two main components — an outdoor compressor/condenser and an indoor air-handling unit. They’re linked by a conduit that houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing and a condensate drain.
This is an ideal solution for older homes that aren’t equipped with HVAC ducting. They are installed directly into the areas of the home that require heating and cooling (typically a single room).
Duct-Free Mini-Split
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The unit’s internal components cycle through refrigerant using electricity.
A fan pulls in warm air, and as it passes over evaporator coils, it cools.
Via ductwork, the cooled air is pushed into different rooms in your house.
The system design consolidates all the components of a traditional, split HVAC system into a single unit that sits outside your house (which is great if you don’t have a basement or you need rooftop equipment). There are many types of packaged equipment: packaged air conditioners, heat pumps, gas-electric and dual-fuel.
Packaged System: Air Conditioner
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Natural gas is pumped from outside your home to the unit, which is controlled by a valve.
When the fuel burns the heat enters the heat exchanger. Cold air flows across the outer surface and absorbs the heat.
The furnace blower blows warm air to the rooms in your house through ductwork.
Return air ducts re-circulate cooler indoor air back to the furnace.
We have a vast lineup of single-, two-stage and variable speed gas furnaces. With a YORK® gas furnace, you’ll find AFUE levels as high as 98%. We can help you save money on utility bills without sacrificing comfort.
Gas Furnace