HVAC and AC: What’s the Difference?

In 2018, the world demand for AC was over 111 million units. As our climate changes, we will see the need for heating and cooling services increase. You may hear the terms HVAC and AC used more often than before.

People use the terms HVAC and AC interchangeably when talking about air conditioning within a home or business. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, whereas AC just means air conditioning.

So, even though the terms get shifted about, they have different purposes. It is important to know the difference between HVAC and AC. But how do they actually differ, and what job does each unit do?

Read on to discover how HVAC and AC differ from each other so that you can talk about the topic in the future without as much confusion.

HVAC Units

An HVAC unit is a multi-purpose installation that can often be quite complex and contain several elements. One major difference between an HVAC and AC unit is that HVAC often contains a furnace to provide central heating.

An HVAC furnace is usually in the basement or outside of a home. It burns fuel to create the heat to keep your home warm. The heat travels around the internal piping and gets released via vents into each of the rooms. Furnaces tend to be more common in colder climate areas and are not present in all HVAC systems.

Another key HVAC system is the heat pump. The heat pump will provide both cool and warm air to the property. They come in two forms: packaged or split units.

A split unit heat pump will have the evaporator coil inside the property whilst the rest is outside. However, in a packaged heat pump, everything remains outside.

So one of the key differences is that an HVAC unit will have an air conditioning unit, but not all ACs are part of an HVAC.

AC Units

An air conditioning unit can be installed entirely separately from an HVAC. This is ideal for climates where heating is rarely needed. There is no sense in installing a full HVAC when all you need is AC.

There are two main types of AC: window AC and central AC. Window AC is used in a single room to keep it cool. Central AC runs throughout the house via ventilation ducts and is often part of a centralized HVAC system.

You can also have portable AC units that you can move from room to room as required. They need a ventilation tube which is often stuck through a door or window.

Key HVAC and AC Differences

So, an HVAC unit can contain an HVAC furnace and AC, but an air conditioning unit is just for cooling. It is actually a straightforward difference between HVAC and AC, and one that is often confused and interchanged.

If you are looking for HVAC or AC services and live in the Fort Myers area, we can help you. We provide residential AC and commercial HVAC services in your area, and can help you with everything from design to installation and maintenance.

Please take a look at our services pages to find out more.