How Thermodynamic Principles Can Help You Better Understand Your HVAC System

Your HVAC system is one of those home components that do their part by working quietly in the background. You can feel their effect and how they improve your life, but it’s also easy to forget about them when they’re working the way they should. It’s only when they break down that the scramble begins to get in touch with HVAC companies or technicians to find out what went wrong and what can be done to get your equipment working again. 

The good news is you can take better care of your HVAC system by understanding a few principles concerning thermodynamics. In this post, Cafco Services shares a simple look at what these are. 

Heat Follows Cold

Cold air in an air-conditioned room doesn’t escape when you open the door. Rather, the hot air from the outside rushes into the room because heat desires equilibrium, which means it will enter the cooler space until the temperature in the room is equal to the outside temperature. To prevent this, keep the windows and doors closed and seal any gaps in your air-conditioned rooms. It also helps to regularly maintain your air conditioning equipment so it functions at optimal levels. Using the correct HVAC filter products and making sure they’re cleaned or replaced as needed can also help prevent health issues caused by your indoor air.

Hot Air Rises

The action of hot air rising is called convection. Hot air in your home continues rising and seeking to escape through holes in your ceiling and roof. This is why upper-floor rooms are usually hotter than those on the lower floor. When you’re trying to stay warm in winter but there are air gaps in your ceiling and roof, the heated air will escape, pulling in cooler air at the same time through gaps in the lower areas of your home, such as those under your doors. If you don’t seal such gaps, your HVAC system has to work harder to maintain a warm home.

In addition to sealing the gaps, you should also think about insulating various parts of your home, such as the attic. Heat loss and heat gain can be addressed properly by knowing which parts of your home to seal or insulate.

Cafco Services offers regular HVAC and refrigeration equipment services to keep your home comfortable and energy efficient all year ’round. Call us today at (513) 242-3400 or fill out our contact form for a consultation.