Standard split systems remain the most popular residential HVAC system today. Split heating and cooling systems are the most common types of HVAC systems used in residential buildings. They consist of two separate components, one for heating and the other for cooling, and they use a traditional thermostat to control the temperature of the entire structure. In most buildings with split systems, the heating unit is located in a basement, utility closet, or other indoor storage space.
The heater runs on gas and uses an evaporator or fan to push heat through the ducts of a building. On the other hand, the cooling system is located outside and is connected to the ducts of a building through a series of tubes. It uses compressors, coils and refrigerant to generate cold air, and a fan directs hot air out and away from the building. A hybrid split HVAC system has the same structure and cooling unit as a split system, but it doesn't rely solely on gas for generate heat.
While your heater can burn gas, it can also switch to electrical power. Electric heating is often slower and less powerful than gas heating, but this option gives building owners greater control over their energy consumption and can help reduce energy costs in warmer climates. Packaged heating and cooling systems are less common than split systems, but their smaller size makes them more suitable for small buildings that lack additional storage space. The heating and cooling components are housed in a single unit and are usually stored on a roof, in an attic, or near the foundation of the building. Packaged HVAC systems connect to the supply and return ducts of a building, often through a single hole in the wall.
Depending on the climate, building owners can choose to install an integrated heat pump containing evaporator coils or an air conditioner integrated with an air controller with optional thermal separation elements. Both systems cost less to install than split systems and are easier to maintain. Ductless mini-split systems are installed in individual rooms and are common in multi-family homes, office buildings and hotel rooms. Also known as mini-split systems, these electrical units include an outdoor compressor and condenser, refrigerant, an indoor air treatment unit, a heat pump, power cables and a thermostat for each zone. Copper tubing connects interior and exterior components, and a compressor can be connected to up to nine indoor air treatment units. Split heating and cooling systems are by far the most popular type of HVAC unit used in residential buildings today.
True to its name, this type of system has two separate components - one for cooling your home and another for heating it - that work together to keep your home comfortable all year round.
Hybrid or hybrid split systems
are similar to a split system in terms of configuration; they also work basically the same way. Also known as mini-split or mini-split ductless systems, a ductless system has individual air conditioning units in each room of the house instead of two large units like those found in split systems. This configuration makes them more expensive than traditional split systems - especially when it comes to installation costs - but they offer greater control over temperature in specific rooms. If you've ever enjoyed underfloor heating in a hotel bathroom, you're probably familiar with underfloor heating - also known as hydronic heating. This air conditioning system uses liquid instead of air to control temperature; a boiler heats liquid (water or a glycol solution) that flows through flexible pipes under floors.Hydronic heating works best under concrete floors but is ideal for anywhere you want warmth under your feet; as the floors heat up, so does the rest of the room. Wouldn't it be practical to have an air conditioning supply on wheels? It turns out that this is completely possible with a portable air conditioner. These units have wheels and work like a fan when sucking in ambient air; in a portable air conditioning unit, the refrigerant cools the indoor closed-circuit coil which cools the ambient air as it passes through the system before entering your room. Portable ACs are also incredibly durable; their ground circuit lasts more than 50 years while their interior components last about 24 years.
