5 Things You Didn’t Know About Your HVAC System

Want to get to know your HVAC system a bit better? It’s a good idea — as it can lead to you being able to take care of it and understand problems it could develop better as well. For example, do you know what HVAC stands for? HVAC is an abbreviation for HEATING, VENTILATION, & AIR CONDITIONING. Keep reading for more important and interesting facts about HVAC that you probably didn’t know before. 

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5 Things You Didn’t Know About HVAC

Most of us have an HVAC system, but that doesn’t mean most of us understand them on a mechanical or historical level. We’re not going to be talking about how they work here (don’t worry), but instead will cover some things that are particularly interesting or that are distinctly useful. 

#1: Dirty Filters Significantly Reduce Efficiency & Airflow

Unfortunately for everyone, air filters don’t clean themselves. However, many (if not most) people never or only rarely clean or replace their air filters. When these become dirty, they make your system have to work harder to achieve the same level of comfort. If your energy bill is slowly rising each month, don’t be so sure it’s your energy company raising prices. It might just be that your HVAC system is in need of a cleaning. 

#2: Closing Your Vents Doesn’t Actually Redirect the Airflow

Contrary to popular belief, closing vent registers around your home does not redirect warm or cool air to the other vents. All it really does is cause added stress to your HVAC system, increasing the chances that it needs maintenance. 

#3: The First Air Conditioner Was Invented in 1902

In 1902, a 25-year old engineer from New York, Willis Carrier, invented the first modern type of air conditioner. It had water cool coils and was designed not to keep humans cool but to control the humidity levels of the printing plant in which he worked. This first unit was massive! It wasn’t until 1922 that Carrier added a centrifugal chiller, which allowed for a central compressor and a reduced size. Early public implementation of the air conditioner was in movie theaters, grocery stores, and other places where large groups of people visit. 

#4: The Temperature of Your Bedroom Can Impact Your Sleep

You likely were already aware that when your bedroom is too hot or too cold, it can make it difficult to sleep. The science behind this is particularly interesting. According to one 2012 study, room temperature is one of the most important factors for achieving a good night’s sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep is strongly tied to your body’s internal temperature shifts throughout the day and night — i.e., your circadian rhythm. Before going to bed, your body will begin to reduce in temperature and continue cooling down until around daybreak. If the temperature is too hot or cold, this process of temperature drop before sleep can be disrupted, leading to greater difficulty and potentially lower quality sleep. So what is the ideal temperature? The general scientific consensus on sleep temperature is that around 65°F (18.3°C) is ideal in most cases. 

#5: Your HVAC Technician Should Always Be Licensed

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technicians are a type of tradespeople who install heating and cooling systems. We also maintain and repair said systems whenever any problems arise. All SWAN Heating & Air Conditioning technicians are licensed, which means they have taken classes in preparation for an exam from the International Code Council (ICC), who develops the exams and in many states are in charge of on-site testing. Anyone who wishes to represent themselves as an HVAC technician should be licensed. There are types of further licenses that can be awarded, ranging from Class D to Class A, largely varying on the types of systems one is prepared to work on. SWAN Heating & Air Conditioning technicians are able to take care of a variety of different types of HVAC systems. Contact us online for more information…

Serving All Your Heating & Air Conditioning Needs

SWAN Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. offers top-rated, local HVAC services all around Northern Colorado. Based in Loveland, our team is ready to help you get the benefits and critical support you need to keep your HVAC system running smoothly and efficiently year-round and for years to come. SWAN Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. was founded more than 10 years ago, and since then has served more than 50,000 satisfied customers. We are proud to provide home-owners in Northern Colorado with a full range of residential HVAC repair services.

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To schedule a service or to get answers to any of your HVAC questions, feel free to reach out to us at (970) 355-3555, or send us a message online!

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