Seasons change in Australia from freezing winters to scorching summers. In such weather changes, you need to invest in a sound HVAC system to ensure comfort when the temperatures get to the extreme. You need a heating system during the cold weather. Did you know that the 2020 summer had parts of Sydney hit 48.9C? Well, you need an AC unit for such heat.
Investing in a sound HVAC system should be determined by many factors. One of the crucial factors that are also less discussed is the type and amount of furniture in your home. The choice of the furniture, including the material, will affect your HVAC system. In this guide, we are looking at ways furniture affects the HVAC system and vice versa
1. Airflow Issues
One of the ways that your furniture can affect the HVAC system is the airflow into the house. The furniture placement can significantly affect the effectiveness of the heating system to keep the room warm. Similarly, it can affect how your air conditioning system is cooling the room during the hot season. Do note that air conditioning installation factors in the location of the evaporator coil.
If a piece of large furniture is placed near the vent or evaporator coil, it will alter the airflow path into the room. The vent placement is designed so that the coming air, whether cool or warm, will get into the room without obstruction. The HVAC system’s effectiveness will be affected by the blocking of the airflow. It will not heat or cool as expected.
2. Solar Shading
Solar shades have a significant impact on the HVAC system. The amount of sunshine that gets into the house determines how hot the room gets. The more sunshine you allow into the room, the hotter it becomes. This means, during the cold season, you can reduce the cost of heating by opening curtains to let more sunshine.
If you have furniture blocking the path of sunlight, it will create shadows in the house. This means the room will get cooler and will make it easy to keep the house cool during summer. If the path of sunlight is blocked during cold seasons, it will cost you a lot to keep the room warm. Therefore, you can play around with furniture to get the most out of the HVAC system depending on the season.
3. Quality of Air
Your furniture could affect the quality of the air that the HVAC system is circulating in the room. Some components of the furniture can pollute the air, especially for new furniture. Some of these components could be producing hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which have been classified as dangerous air pollutants. Some of these compounds are also classified as irritants and are likely to cause allergic reactions.
Some of the major culprits of air pollution are the glues used for the making of furniture. Other raw materials such as leather are produced through chemical processes, and thus, some of the chemicals can find their way into the house. The paints and finish products on the furniture could also be the source of poor air quality. You need to check the condition of the furniture and the materials used. Avoid buying newly made pieces of furniture.
4. Component Wear
Most people have no idea that their furniture could be accelerating the HVAC system rate of wear. A good example is the corrosion of the air conditioner parts, such as the evaporator coil. Most of the polluting gases produced by your furniture are acidic. When the coils suck the gases during the cooling process, they combine with moisture forming on the coils.
What is formed is an acid on the coils. As the furniture releases more and more toxic gas, the acid becomes more concentrated. The acid will corrode these coils, and they start developing leaks. If you are lucky to clear the acid early, you will have already increased the coil’s rate of wear.
5. Cooling/Heating Load
The HVAC system load also includes the pieces of furniture that you have in your home. Do note that furniture also absorbs heat. If the day has been freezing and you need to warm the room, the room’s amount of furniture will add to the heating load. The heating system will need to heat the furniture for the room to have a comfortable temperature.
The material used for the construction of your furniture will determine the cooling and heating load. For materials that absorb heat from sunshine, they will help reduce the heating load. Similarly, they will increase the load during summertime since it will take longer to cool the house. But if you have wooden furniture with very little leather and other materials, the impact on cooling and heating will be negligible.
6. HVAC system performance
The HVAC system comes in all sizes, depending on the load factor. However, most people forget the load and keep adding pieces of furniture into the house. With every piece of furniture added into the house, the HVAC system load is increased. This means if the system can only handle a small amount of furniture, you would be overloading it.
The load for the heating and cooling system affects the unit’s performance. When too much furniture is put in the house, you could be overstretching the system. This means a reduced performance as the system works harder. The heating or cooling will take longer than it should because of the reduced performance.
7. HVAC system Efficiency
The other way that furniture can affect the HVAC system is efficiency. If the system is overworking due to overloading, the efficiency will start going down. Poor efficiency has numerous effects on the cooling and heating system.
First, low efficient unit increases energy consumption. This means you will be paying more to heat the same house. Second, low efficiency accelerates the rate of wear and tear. That means high maintenance cost. Make sure that you have the amount of furniture to avoid overloading the HVAC system.
In conclusion, it is recommended that you work with a professional plumber when installing the HVAC system. Work with the top rated Sutherland Shire air conditioning company in Sydney for quality and reliable services. They will help you get the right HVAC system for your home.