OKC Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning
Knowing Your Heating and Air Conditioning
One thing you learn quickly when buying your home is how inconvenient repair problems are. They always come at the worst time. Whether it’s a vacation or a budgeting issue, it will usually stop you in your tracks.
Knowing the basic components of your home is important for you to be able to make a decision that makes sense for you.
One important system is your heating and air conditioning system. There are five main components for your HVAC system. They are your furnace, air conditioner, thermostat, air filters, and ductwork. Having a basic knowledge of each will give you more insight when you have a problem.
Here’s a quick guide to help you:
Your Furnace is a key component. It provides heat and houses the blower, which moves the air throughout your home and your heating and air conditioner. The main component for your heater is called a heat exchanger. It’s what warms the air as it circulates through the ductwork and inside your house.
It works by burning fuel that is vented through a series of tubes and outside through the roof. Then the inside air is warmed as it circulates through the furnace. Older heaters can be problematic if the heat exchanger is in bad shape. If it rusts through, carbon monoxide will get into the air ducts and the house. If this is left unchecked, it can be deadly.
Your air conditioner/heat pump accomplishes the same goal as the heater, except it cools and dehumidifies the air. It consists of a condenser and an evaporator coil. The condenser is the box with a fan outside of your house. The evaporator coil is in the unit inside the house and is what the air flows through that cools and dehumidifies the air. Some units are not only air conditioners, but they are heat pumps as well. Heat pumps do the exact opposite of an air conditioner, so in the summer, it runs one way, and in the wintertime, it runs in reverse.
They work very well in Oklahoma. When the temperature drops really cold, these systems have a backup heat that will automatically turn on when needed and automatically turn off when it’s not. Heat pumps are the most efficient system you can install.
Your thermostat controls the temperature of your home. It’s a relatively simple component that most people are familiar with. However, there can be problems with its location that could make your heating and air conditioning system work less than it optimally should. There are also many options available. With new Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats, you can monitor your heating and air conditioning system from your smartphone.
Your ductwork is another key component. It directs airflow from the unit to inside your house and back to the unit. One set of ductwork is called the supply, which sends the cooled or heated air into the living space. The other set of ductwork is called the return. It brings the air from inside your home back to the unit to be heated or cooled again.
If you’re having problems with different temperatures in different rooms of your house, there may be an imbalance in the sizing of your ductwork. Most of the time, this problem can be solved by installing and adjusting dampers. There are many registers available with internal adjustable dampers. Your service technician can balance your system for you so you have more consistency in heating and cooling.
Your air filters are probably the most important, the cheapest, and the easiest to take care of, but they are also some of the most forgotten components to replace.
There are many benefits to replacing air filters regularly. Filters are available for allergies and in general, cleaning the air. But another important use is to protect your heating and air conditioning equipment. Dirty air filters are a leading cause of heating and air conditioning problems. You can save yourself a lot of wasted money and time by changing your filters regularly.
It’s easy to remember to change them when you have some on hand, so buy a few extras next time you go to the store.
Your air systems work the hardest during the summer and winter seasons, so you’ll need the air filters the most during these times. Having your systems serviced twice a year will help ensure that they will be in tip-top shape for those hot summer days and freezing winter nights.
Here at Lakeshore Plumbing Heating and Air, we offer top-tier service, the best materials, and the best warranty. Spring will sneak up on you, so call us to schedule an AC tune-up. We can check your plumbing, make any repairs that are needed, and maybe even save some heartache at the same time.
Lakeshore plumbing is among the best OKC plumbing companies in the area. If you need our OKC plumbing, heating, or air conditioning services, reach out to us today! We look forward to serving you.
lakeshoreplumbingokc.com 405-365-7379
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