In order to feel comfortable in a house, it needs to be heated and cooled at a comfortable constant temperature, surrounded by fresh air and kept at a comfortable and safe humidity level. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems work together in a home to provide and regulate these important conditions. In order to plan for an efficient, reliable, safe, and comfortable home heating and cooling system, you will need to understand how these three systems work together.

Depending on what region you live in, your cooling system may be more important to you than your heating system. Traditional air conditioning units remain popular and include stand-alone units and central air. If you are only planning to cool one or two rooms then a stand-alone unit will typically work fine. However, if you are trying to cool down the entire house, it is recommended that you invest in central cooling. Additional cooling methods include hybrid heating and cooling systems which provide both heating and cooling needs. Other alternative sources include geothermal pumps and active and passive solar systems.

Creating heat, circulating it and regulating it are three tasks that are all closely intertwined. The entire process involves the furnace or boiler, the fuel, the carrying agents (ducts, pipes or fans) and the way in which the furnace delivers or withholds heat. If you are considering adding heat to your home, it is important for you to first determine where the heat source will be located, what type of heat source will be most efficient, which areas you would like to have heated and what distribution pathways you will use.

When adding heat to an existing system, you have the option of extending the existing system or supplementing it with a more energy/space-efficient mode of heat. When adding to an existing system, you need to consider whether it is best to add a duct run in a wall, add a stand-alone room heater, add a radiant panel or add baseboard heat. Keep in mind that different materials are required for different types of heat. For  you may use metal duct to supply the air. For hot water heat, you will need copper pipe or PEX. Also, you will need fans to distribute the heat or additional heaters for supplemental heat. Below are the most popular home heating systems:

• Boiler Radiator
• Forced Air Heating
• Heat Pumps
• Hydronic Heating
• Radiant Heating

Working hand in hand with your heating systems is the ventilation. Ventilation is a system or means of providing fresh air. In the case of the furnace, it needs fresh air in order to function. There are two main ways to provide ventilation to your furnace and home. The first way involves a furnace that pulls the air it needs directly from the house. The second way includes a direct vent to the outside of the house. The option you go with and the amount of ventilation needed will also play a role in the determination of your heating system. For example, a new, energy-efficient home holds in air tighter than an old drafty house, which makes ventilation even more crucial.

Why is ventilation important?

• Air is required in houses for certain appliances to safely function as designed.
• Air moving through the house can increase the longevity of the building materials.
• The house needs air exchanges to provide fresh, clean air for the family to breathe.
• The walls, attic, basement, bathroom and furnishings need moisture kept under control. Excess humidity can cause damage, moderate to severe, to structures and people living within those structures.

All of these concerns center on ventilation which is linked to your heating system. The idea is to always have both of these systems functioning together and properly. In order to make this work, careful planning is required and ventilation needs to be constantly checked to make sure it is functioning properly.

Heating and cooling your house is an important aspect of your home life. You'll want to make sure you are choosing the right custom home builder for your new house and your budget. We offer Free Heating and Cooling Price Quotes from local, prescreened air conditioning service experts.