Providing homeowners with the finest air conditioning advice since 1990.

Heating Information

- Understand how split system heating works.

Anaheim Heating

Residential heating is done typically two ways: A gas furnace or a heat pump.

A gas furnace runs off electricity and natural gas (or even propane for remote areas that do not have gas lines). Gas is used for the actual heat/flame while electricity is used to power the fan (blower) motor. When running, flames heat up the heat exchanger (a type of metal grid). The fan motor pulls air from the home (return air) and pushes it through the heat exchanger, thus warming the air. The warm air is then distributed through the home via ductwork. When the air is heated, this also removes moisture which makes a whole home humidifier a key ingredient to comfortable air during the winter season.

A heat pump runs off electricity, and is actually an air conditioner that can heat as well. Heat pumps have a higher heating energy efficiency than a gas furnace in milder winter climates. Installations are normally a "split system" design where the system components are split indoors and outdoors. The indoor unit is called a fan coil or sometimes an air handler and it contains a coil system and a fan blower motor. The outside unit is the actual heat pump, and also has a copper coil system in it. When running, it absorbs heat from the outside air and compresses it into the refrigerant contained in copper coil (even cold outside air has heat energy in it). The "heated" refrigerant is sent inside to the indoor coil system. As air from the home is forced through the indoor coil system, the air is heated and then sent back into the living areas via ductwork.

In the cooling season a heat pump acts like an air conditioner: read our air conditioning page for more information.

Hybrid System is used in areas with a more extreme range of seasonal temperatures for the best heating efficiency possible. Heat pumps are all electric devices, and are cheaper to run than a furnace when the temperature is 40° degrees and above. When the air temperature drops, the gas furnace is then used instead because it is more efficient at colder temperatures.

A Variable Speed Fan Motor is a term that you will hear mentioned if you are looking at a new system. A variable speed fan is quieter, more efficient and also keeps the home climate more comfortable due to an ability to regulate fan speed based on humidity and temperature requirements. Old school fan blowers just crank on and run at one speed, are less efficient and can be much louder. This matters when your unit is not down in a basement, but in the ceiling or hallway closet.

Typical Anaheim Heating System
Below is a diagram displaying what we presented above. In a heat pump installation, there are no flames in the indoor unit.

Green Solutions Really Do Matter

Technology makes life easier for humans, but it can also hurt the life of our planet. The new rave is "Green" and it isn't a fad that will go away. More and more people are realizing that if they want their grandchildren to have a planet to live on, they need to help change the way we all live.

The Hit Of HVAC

A home HVAC system is responsible for up to 50% of the total monthly utility bill for a family. Hair dryers, stoves, play stations and computers all fall short of the energy drain of a home cooling system.

What You Can Do

New solutions are advancing that make it possible for homeowners to really make a difference. Geothermal and Solar Voltaic are leading the way in efficient power, air conditioning and heating. If you can't swallow the initial investment of a geothermal or solar solution, don't worry. Modern HVAC systems are operating more efficiently than ever before. From higher SEER ratings to variable speed fans to ventilators that exchange stale air without losing energy - many options exist to you as a homeowner that will save you money, and help preserve energy resources.

Empower Your Contractor

When an Anaheim HVAC contractor steps into your home for HVAC repair or maintenance, what is their goal? To give you the best price and service? That's a good goal. To do their job correctly in the least expensive way possible? Maybe not the best plan. "But I need to save money and wasn't counting on this repair!" We know. We're homeowners too.

You need to empower your local contractor to suggest newer, more efficient solutions for you. Often they are beat down by customers who just want the cheapest solution. You can demand a great price, but don't make them take the cheapest route to resolve your needs. That will end up costing you more anyway. Take baby steps - a new programmable thermostat can actually save you a lot of money by allowing precise temperature control. Going that route instead of purchasing a cheap thermostat is a Green Choice. One decision at a time leads the way to a better tomorrow.

If you don't have a local contractor you can depend on, check out our recommended dealer list for local shops that can do the job right: Anaheim HVAC Dealers

Why Use Get More Comfortable?

GetMoreComfortable.com is a completely free resource for learning more about home indoor comfort systems. We stay on top of HVAC technology like no one else. Why? Because we're owned by the largest private HVAC distributor in America.

Since this site is sponsored by America's largest, privately owned distributor, you can trust that it will have great information that is not one sided for a particular brand. Look through the site and you'll see no attempts to push a certain manufacturer on you. Why? Because there are a lot of manufacturers out there making great product. We believe in pointing you towards the right information, and the right HVAC contractors in your hometown.

Get More Comfortable wants to empower you as a homeowner to learn things you didn't know about HVAC - "cool" things. Much more than just the time each month to change your air filter. We know you'll think differently about HVAC when you understand the purpose of an evaporator coil, or how an advanced air cleaner can not only purify your air but help your system run better.

If you have specific questions you can simply send us your request on our home page contact form. We are not selling your information, or adding you to some monster SPAM list. We'll simply route the request to a local specialist that will get you a solid answer.

We hope that by using this site, you will truly be able to Get More Comfortable.

"My wife and I had a hybrid system installed for our home since fuel prices are pretty high in our area. The dealer we used didn't install it correctly, and for an entire year we didn't benefit at all from the extra expense we paid for hybrid heating.

I talked to the Get More Comfortable team, and they recommended a new thermostat that would handle my existing system. I ordered it, had it installed, and now for the first time we are truly saving money with our home heating system. I highly recommend them!"

- Kory & Sonshine / Johnson City, TN