While our heating and cooling service in Melbourne deals with many different types of systems, in our eyes, the best type of system to provide year-round comfort is HVAC heating and cooling.
There are many reasons to choose with HVAC over older heating and cooling technology:
- No need to keep windows open (like evaporative cooling)
- No risk of a gas leak (like in gas ducted)
- One system that does it all (enjoy year-round comfort!)
And of course, you can’t forget its ability to provide powerful cooling in summer, as well as effective heating during the summer months.
For a city with weather as unpredictable as Melbourne, is it any wonder that for most homes, HVAC is a straight upgrade?
There’s a reason the vast majority of new home construction and renovation projects now choose HVAC over traditional heating and cooling systems.
But what exactly does it involve?
What are the basics of HVAC?
Standing for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, HVAC systems do it all – it’s in the name, after all!
Capable of delivering powerful heating come winter on top of effective cooling in summer, HVAC is the most versatile and powerful heating and cooling option for homeowners in Melbourne.
Like most things heating and cooling related, most homeowners don’t really get what HVAC looks like, or how it works.
And that’s exactly what we’re here to explain today!
What’s the difference between HVAC and AC?
Simple: HVAC doubles up as a heating system when winter rolls around!
While there are a number of other differences, this is by far the most important one.
The cooling (and heating) process, explained
Evaporation: that’s the key element of any cooling system.
When water evaporates, it takes heat along with it – this is the principle that powers your cooling and is also why many older systems are referred to as evaporative coolers.
If you want, you can experiment with this principle yourself on a hot day. Simply hang a wet towel in front of an open window – while nowhere near as powerful as a dedicated system, it’s still the same principle in action.
When your system runs warm air from inside your house between wet evaporator pads, some of the water evaporates. And that takes some of the heat out of it, leaving you with cooler air to pump back into your house.
What HVAC systems do is replace the water with specially-designed refrigerants that do the same thing, only much more efficiently thanks to lower evaporation points.
On top of having a lower evaporation point (and thus requiring air to be cycled fewer times to reach target temperature), these refrigerants are also designed to work in reverse. Cold air makes vapours solidify into drops, releasing their stored heat.
That’s what allows your HVAC system to both heat and cool your home!
What does an HVAC system include?
The main parts of any HVAC system are as follows:
- Compressor – the part of your system responsible for keeping the all-important coolant circulating
- Evaporator coil – this is where the cooling (or heating) process itself occurs
- Condenser coil – where refrigerant is restored to liquid form in order to facilitate further cooling
- Expansion valve – regulates the amount of refrigerant in circulation at any given time
Each of these parts work together to keep refrigerant flowing, and thus ensure that your home stays comfortable.
Any issues with an individual part may result in your home getting unbearably hot (or cold).
While there are many other parts we weren’t able to cover, these are the main ones, and the ones which will cause the most problems should something go wrong.
What are the types of HVAC systems – and what’s the difference?
When choosing an HVAC system for heating and cooling installation in Melbourne, there are two main choices:
- Split systems
- Ducted systems
The basic principles are the same between split systems and ducted HVAC – they use the exact same process of running warm air through evaporator coils, where refrigerant and coolant evaporate and take heat with them.
All that changes are the details!
Specifically, in a ducted system, all of this happens outside, before being piped back into each room of your house via ducts.
With split systems however, the process is, as the name suggests, split – while the cooling itself happens in the outdoor unit, it’s distributed using a second system inside your property (your wall-mounted unit).
While a single do-it-all unit might sound more convenient, there are a couple of things to consider. Not only are these systems larger, but air needs to be distributed using ducts, which requires more installation work.
Of course, they make up for it in sheer power and coverage!
By contrast, while split systems are less powerful, they’re also typically less work to install owing in part to their smaller size, and fit in a wider range of properties and applications, making them more versatile.
What’s the average life of a HVAC system?
When you arrange heating and cooling installation in Melbourne, you’ve got your eye towards a number of factors:
- System type
- Energy requirements
- Cost
One thing that you probably aren’t paying an awful amount of attention to is its useful life.
And really, we don’t blame you – the average life of most systems is measured in decades, so relatively few homeowners ever need to face the prospect of having to replace their system.
For most HVAC brands, 10-15 years is the minimum amount of time your system will last for, though often, it can go for many more with regular inspections and timely repairs!
Of course, the condition of the system itself is only one part of the equation – it’s also important that you consider the “life” of your system after installation as well.
While your system might still be good for another couple of years, spare parts can dry up once your system is no longer in production, making it more economical to replace it outright with a new system.
Our team works with reputable brands with extensive support networks, including for older systems that haven’t been manufactured for a while.
For example, choose Bonaire or Mitsubishi reverse cycle ducted air conditioning, and you’ll be able to enjoy a steady supply of parts and support throughout your system’s life.
Melbourne’s leading team for HVAC installation and repair
So now you know how HVAC systems work – now it’s time to find somebody to install yours for you.
This step is more complex than you might imagine – after all, HVAC installation can be quite complex, with so many different factors to keep in mind!
To ensure that heating and cooling installation goes smoothly, you’ll need to start by choosing an experienced team.
Alpha Air’s team of heating and cooling specialists will help you by:
- Choosing the right type of system
- Connecting you to trustworthy and reliable brands
- Tailoring it to match your requirements
- Maintaining your system once it’s installed with regular, ongoing service
Working with both households and businesses, our team has the expertise needed to ensure that your home is comfortable all year-round.
When it comes to heating and cooling in Melbourne, there’s only one team to call!
Get in touch with Alpha Air today by calling 1300 954 525 or request a free quote.
