How Your HVAC System Works

close up of ac unit

Your heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system keeps your home at a comfortable temperature no matter what it’s like outside. By learning how your heating and air conditioning system works, you can diagnose operational problems and possibly fix them yourself. Of course, they’re situations that legitimately require the services of a professional HVAC technician in Orlando, and you should contact one immediately if you suspect something is seriously wrong.

All HVAC systems do three basic things: heat and cool a space by producing warmed or cooled air, circulate air via ducts and vents by means of a fan, and regulate indoor air temperature by utilizing a thermostat. Your heating and air conditioning unit uses a heat pump—an electrical device that essentially extracts heat from the air in a space and moves it to another space. Heat can either be deposited or extracted from a room depending on whether your HVAC system is heating or cooling. Central AC units rely on a large condenser placed outside the home and refrigerant to cool. A powerful fan circulates warm or cool air throughout your home using ductwork. And your system’s control center is its thermostat, which can be programmed to maintain the most appropriate temperature level.