The terms “forced air” and “central air conditioning” are terms that are often used interchangeably, but are in fact two different parts of a home HVAC system. To avoid confusion in certain situations, Bartlett Heating & Air Conditioning explains the difference between these two HVAC components.
Forced Air Systems
Forced air systems are often referred to as a part of, or even the entire, heating system. While it’s true that a forced air system is used to supply warm air to various parts of the house, it’s merely a part of the entire system. A forced air system is any kind of heating and cooling system that sends temperature-controlled air through air ducts. The air is “forced” to move through the ducts using blowers.
This means that most types of HVAC systems, including furnaces and heat pumps, can be considered forced air systems. Heated air from a furnace is fed into air ducts and circulated throughout the house. By the same token, warm air from a heat pump can be fed into the same air ducts. A system of blowers, vents and dampers control the amount of air blown into each room.
Central Air Conditioning
Central air conditioning refers to the type of air conditioner that provides cooling to an entire house. The term “central” refers to the air conditioner being a singular unit, as opposed to window-mounted and mini-split units that provide cooling to individual rooms. Like the heating systems described above, a central air conditioner can work with a forced air system to distribute cool air in a house.
Central air conditioners are independent of furnaces, but both can be installed concurrently and utilize the same forced air system, since you won’t be using both your heating and cooling system at the same time. Some air conditioners also double as heat pumps, since they’re essentially the same type of system that utilizes compressed refrigerant to generate both warm and cool air.
Call Bartlett for Your HVAC Needs
Searching online for “heating and cooling companies near me”? Call Bartlett at (630) 372-7640. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Bartlett, IL, and surrounding communities.
