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HVAC - Page 19 of 36

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning — where that well-known acronym HVAC originates — is an interconnected mechanical network of pipes, wires, ducts and appliances that conditions the air inside a house. The system provides heat in the winter, cool air in the summer, and year-round fresh air for good health. Whether you live in the sultry South, the arid West, or the hot-and-cold Northeast, a well-designed, well-tuned HVAC system is what makes a house both healthy and comfortable.

HVAC systems can include a wide variety of components — air conditioners, attic, fans, whole-house fans, furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, and dehumidifiers. That is, anything that affects the condition of indoor air can be included. As energy-efficiency has become a more pressing issue for both builders and buyers, houses have become better insulated and better sealed. HVAC equipment that was fine in a leaky, under-insulated house from the 1950s doesn’t work very well in today’s airtight building enclosures. In this new building reality, new products have emerged, such as heat-recovery and energy-recovery ventilators and mini-split heat pumps. And as high-performance builders increasingly veer toward all-electric designs and get fossil fuels out of the house, choosing the right components becomes even more important.

Putting it all together is the job of an HVAC contractor. The job requires more than hooking up a gas furnace and calling it a day. Today’s systems have more moving parts and pieces that should be designed into a working whole, installed correctly, and, finally, “commissioned” to make sure everything works the way it’s supposed to.

It’s a brave new world for HVAC contractors, as well as the builders and homeowners who take on some of those jobs themselves. Fine Homebuilding’s library of videos and articles will help you sort it all out.

 

  • Stylish, High-Volume, Low-Speed Ceiling Fans

    How can a company with such a ridiculous name make such great products? Or, how did a company that makes something as prosaic as ceiling fans come to have such…

  • What’s the Difference: Whole-House Fans vs. Powered Ventilators

    We regularly receive emails at Green Building Advisor from homeowners with questions about attic fans: What’s the purpose of the fan in my attic? How often should I run it?…

  • Hiding ducts in conditioned space

    Ducts, furnaces, and air handlers belong inside a house's conditioned space

  • Sharing the Flue

    Q: I know that most building codes require separate exhaust flues for each combustion appliance. I am curious why, and if it would be OK to use the flue that exhausts…

  • Range Hoods You'll Remember

    Sorpresa collection range hoods Manufactured by Broan-NuTone, LLC. 800-558-1711;BestSorpresa.com Cost: from $1500 to $3150 Last year, luxury range-hood manufacturer Best debuted its Sorpresa collection of Italian-inspired hoods (BestSorpresa.com). Named for…

  • When is a House Tight Enough to Need Mechanical Ventilation?

    Building Scientist John Straube explains the basics of systems that bring fresh air into a house, including when you need one, how much air it should move, and what types of ventilation systems can get the job done.

  • How it Works: Air-Conditioner Efficiency

    Because air-conditioning systems typically are sized to keep a home cool on the hottest days of the year, they waste energy most of the time.

  • What’s Cool in Air Conditioning?

    Understanding the technology behind today's systems improves your chances of installing the right one

  • HVAC Ducting: Rigid Metal vs. Flex

    In our Texas climate a well installed HVAC system is a must for a new home. I'm surprised by how few builders are using Rigid Metal ducting anymore. Come see…

  • Cost-Conscious Heating for Remodels

    For remodeled spaces both large and small, stand-alone electric systems can be an affordable heating option.

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Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop

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