What Type of Heating and Air Design Will Work Best for Your Home?
Many people are unaware of the four different heating and air design systems available for homes and businesses. There is an infinite number of floor plans for houses and commercial buildings and offices. For example, some are one level (ranch style), while others are three levels.
If you are looking to know more about your current residential HVAC system or need a new one installed, it’s good to gain some heating and air design knowledge about what is available.
Heating and Air Design Systems
The chart below breaks down eight different types of heating and cooling designs available. We categorized it into ducted and ductless.
| Ducted Heating and Air Design
Air is distributed through a series of air ducts. Residential and commercial buildings use this design. |
Ductless Heating and Air Design
Space is heated and cooled without air ducts. They are most common in short-term work sites and small buildings. |
| · Split system
· Hybrid split system · Packaged heating and cooling (air) · Zoned system
|
· Mini-split
· Hydronic heating Only used in Commercial Settings, not explained in further detail below: · Portable spot cooler · Portable heat pump |
The Most Common Heating and Cooling System
Ducted Heating and Cooling Split System
This is the most common type of HVAC design, especially in homes. The system is constructed of two separate units. One unit heats and the other unit cools with indoor and outdoor components. The cooling unit is placed outside and uses coils, compressors, and refrigerants to cool the air and force hot air out. Comparatively, the heating unit is usually in the basement and uses gas to heat space. One thermostat controls the temperature for both the heating and cooling.
Ducted Hybrid Split System
This system is becoming more popular in homes because of its reduced energy consumption compared to other systems. Its hybrid heating system helps lowering energy costs. Even better, it can switch from gas power (faster and more complete) to electric power (more efficient and quieter). A homeowner can decide how to heat or cool the home on any given day or week.
Other Ducted Heating and Air Design Systems
Ducted Packaged Heating and Cooling
This system is smaller than split systems and less money to install, making it great for small buildings, such as apartment buildings, without much storage space. A single unit holds both the cooling and heating components, usually on a roof or attic space through a hole in the wall.
Furthermore, this system has also been found easy to maintain, which is why many landlords of small complexes choose it.
Ducted Zone System
This system is known for giving a landlord or homeowner greater temperature control for separate rooms or areas in a home or building. For example, large homeowners may want or need multiple HVAC systems to control the temperature on different floors, especially in older homes. Systems are installed separately such as two or more heating and cooling units. Another option is manual or automatic dampers installed in the system’s air ducts to control the airflow in the different areas. The temperature can easily be adjusted from room to room, thereby conserving energy in rooms that don’t need heating or cooling.
Ductless Heating and Air Designs
Ductless Mini-split System
This system is not as common due to its higher upfront cost. Although it offers benefits that other systems do not offer. Ductless mini-split systems are commonly found in hotel rooms, office buildings, and multi-family homes (large homes that have been converted to apartments). Individual cooling and heating systems are installed, much like a ducted zone system. For each outdoor cooling unit, up to four indoor cooling units can be attached. Just like ducted zone systems, it has great independent temperature control.
Hydronic Heating
Unlike other heating and cooling designs, hydronic heating uses liquid instead of air to emit heat. A boiler heats water and then distributes it throughout a space via floor pipes and a radiator or baseboard heater. This is also found in older homes, but many modern homeowners choose this system.
Count on AComfort for Your New Unit HVAC Installation
Are you looking to install a new heating and air design system before the cold weather sets in? AComfort’s expert HVAC technicians are skilled and knowledgeable in a wide variety of brands and systems.
Contact AComfort today to get started on your new unit installation to save money and energy.