HVAC Equipment can be a confusing area to understand, especially for the novice homeowner, who does not have a formal background or education in the field! This page serves as a reference point to explain most of the different Major Components of a Central HVAC System, so you can determine which apply to you.
Central HVAC Systems use a combination of a heat source, combined with a blower unit that drives the conditioned air through vents in the walls, ceilings, or floors of your home.
HVAC Central Heating Equipment
The equipment providing heat to your home relies completely on the fuel sources your builder chose, and in most cases, these can be broken into one of the categories listed below:
- Natural Gas Furnaces
- Liquid Propane Furnaces
- Heating Oil Furnaces
- Electric Furnaces
- Heat Pumps with an Auxiliary Electric Heating Element
HVAC Central Cooling Equipment
All cooling equipment relies on electricity to operate, and generally comes in only one of two forms:
- Air Conditioning Condensing Unit
- Heat Pump Condenser Unit
HVAC Packaged Units
Packaged Units are often associated with Mobile Homes, since none of the equipment is actually located within the conditioned space of the home. These units can be gas heat/electric AC or electric heat/electric AC, and fit into the following classifications:
- Gas Packaged Units (Gas heat, Electric AC)
- Packaged Heat Pump Units (Electric Heat and AC)