When looking into commercial heating and cooling systems, you will often come across the term HVAC. But what exactly is a commercial HVAC unit, and can it be used for heating or cooling – or even both? Read on to find out more.
What does HVAC stand for?
HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
What is HVAC?
All commercial buildings need a robust heating system or air conditioning unit. An HVAC system is ideal in that it can do both; it heats and cools as needed. Importantly, they also ventilate buildings – enabling moisture to escape and reducing damp and decay.
HVAC is more of an umbrella term than a specific unit. The word HVAC can be used to describe a combination of different heating, cooling, and ventilation units, which collectively form an heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit.
For example, any of the below can be used in combination to create an HVAC unit:
- Air conditioning units
- Ducts
- Moisture vents
- Boilers
With this in mind, it means that not all units will necessarily have air conditioning as a part of their system – but it is an option. Air conditioning is part of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning umbrella term, but it is only part of some HVAC units.
Do HVAC units heat and cool?
HVAC is a term that includes both heating and air conditioning; i.e. it can do both. But, as mentioned above, air conditioning is an optional element of an interconnected heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit. Some units do not include it, and whether you need air conditioning or not of course depends on the specific needs of your business and commercial space. For many, evaporative cooling is a more efficient commercial cooling system.
How do HVAC units work?
As heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units combine different systems, there are often times when each component is working independently. However, in combined systems that include both heating and air conditioning, every component works in harmony to keep your business ventilated and maintain a comfortable interior temperature.
Fundamentally, HVAC units are generally a combination of the following components that, together, make up a complete HVAC system.
1. Thermostat
Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit will be controlled by a thermostat, which can be set to automatically activate your interconnected HVAC system when the interior temperature of your business falls above or below a certain point.
Modern thermostats are generally easy to use and can be set to kick your heating or cooling system into action before your staff arrive, so your business is at a comfortable temperature for the entire day. Some heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems can also be linked to smart thermostats, enabling your system to be monitored and operated remotely.
2. Boiler
The heart of your HVAC’s heating system, your boiler uses a heat source (e.g. gas) to heat up the air that is then distributed throughout your commercial space via ductwork.
3. Air conditioning unit
Air conditioning units remove hot air from within your commercial space, and replace it with fresh air drawn in from outside and cooled before it is dispersed within your building. Some air conditioning units also have heating functions as well.
4. Air ducts and vents
The hot and cold air supplied by your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is delivered throughout your commercial space by air ducts and vents, also sometimes called ductwork. These ducts and vents should not be blocked, as this will impair the efficiency of your HVAC system and prevent it from being as effective as it could be.
