FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Everything you wanted to know about AC / Heating

Okay, maybe not everything you wanted to know about air conditioning and heating systems. But at least some of the questions we get! This page describes how air conditioners work, how they cool and heat the air, how you can control moisture in the air, how air can be cleaned,  and how air is blown / flows through rooms.

First you should realize that heating and air conditioning needs are different depending on the season. Regardless of whether you are trying to temper a scorching Texas summer or one of the abnormal cold winters, the "conditioning" of your air can generally be categorized as:

• Summer: cleaning, cooling, and removing moisture from the air
• Winter: cleaning and heating the air
• Year-round: cleaning and control the temperature and the amount of moisture in the air throughout the year

Cleaning or Filtering the air can be done in lots of ways. Some air conditioners force the air through common air filters. Some air conditioners also have pleated filters, high density, or electrostatic filters.

The heating and cooling of air is actually pretty simple. In general air is passed over cold or hot surfaces. Common air conditioners will blow air over large areas of tubes that are filled with low temperature chemical refrigerants. Heating is just the opposite of course; most of the heating units that are used will heat the air by blowing it through a heat exchanger or through electric heat strips. These are the two primary means of heating for residential systems.

Air conditioners control moisture from the air in many ways. Warm air can hold more moisture than cold air. When air conditioners cool the air, the air will pass over cooling coils. Passing air through these coils is the process of dehumidification.

Air flow through your house is controlled by fans. Air is circulated through residential systems by a blower motor. The size and speed of the blower motor in the air conditioner will determine the amount of air that is circulated through a room.