Difference Between A/C, Air Handler, Furnace, Heat Pump, Minisplit, Etc.

What is the difference between a minisplit, an air conditioner, heat pump, HVAC split system, hybrid unit, geothermal heat pump, air handler, furnace, boiler, radiant in floor heating, packaged units, rooftop units, PTACs, floor mounted air conditioners, and all the rest? In this video I explain what it is, the difference between all these HVAC heating and air conditioning systems and how they differ one from another. This is by no means an exhaustive list so if you know some that I missed, let us know in the comments!
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➡ Here are the HVAC systems I go over:
- Air handler
- Straight air conditioner
- Straight furnace (oil, gas, or electric)
- Air conditioner and gas/propane furnace
- Air conditioner and electric furnace
- High velocity mini-duct system
- Ductless mini-splits
- Floor mounted A/C
- Heat pump
- Hybrid split system
- Packaged Units
- Rooftop Units
- Boiler
- Radiant floor or hydronic heating
- Geothermal heat Pump
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⬇ Other Helpful Videos:

How A/C works for Dummies:
Difference Between A/C and Heat Pump:
Top 5 Furnace Problems:
Top 5 A/C Problems:
10 Easy Ways to Connect Wires:
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⚠️ Disclaimer:
This video is for educational purposes. All appliance and HVAC repair work should be done by a trained professional. Word of Advice TV is not responsible for any possible damages or injuries caused by the use or misuse of the provided information.
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#furnace #airconditioner #appliancerepair #heating #airconditioning #hvac #wordofadvicetv

[WordofAdviceTV]

⬇ Other Helpful Videos:

How A/C works for Dummies:
Difference Between A/C and Heat Pump:
Top 5 Furnace Problems:
Top 5 A/C Problems:
10 Easy Ways to Connect Wires:

[rzh]

Very informative. My son’s condo has 4 mini split “heads” fed from one outdoor compressor. This was done, as usual, to avoid constructing a duct system. After two years of operation, the system is adequate heat wise (Mass. weather) for all but a few days in winter. Cooling is good, but humidity control is lacking. We’ve tried a number of experiments (turning one or two off to make the working units move more air longer, etc.). The HVAC company really had no answers. He finally bought a dehumidifier to run in the hot weather. Temperature diffusion is ok ( a damper rotates automatically to redirect airflow). My house has conventional gas forced air (two stage) through ducts. Temperature differential between floors was always a problem. I bought and installed the Ecobee thermostat ( I don’t work there) and also a few extra room sensors. What a difference that made. Not perfect, but much better and I saved some money, particularly thru the cooling season. I suspect the end of fossil fuel HVAC is coming, but it will be like pulling teeth and too expensive for many. I have seen some locals doing geothermal. Theory is good, but there are a lot of moving parts to maintain- a basement full of equipment and probably upgraded electrical service. A local guy has special equipment to drill in very tight spaces/ back yards and is busy all the time.

[Wrenchingdaily]

Glad to see you making new content. Keep it coming brother. This is the best HVAC channel on YouTube 👍🏻

[brucemoriarty]

I always learn something from your shows. Love it ! Thanks 🙂👍

[JohnDoe-ejlw]

Hey Jay, ive had a high velocity unit (unico) for 8 yrs now and you are right they can be noisy most of the time....blessings my friend 🙏 🙂

[kennethiman]

Could you do a video on whether to add a soft start to your central air system?

[fmly]

Thank you. This was very informative. I had been out in the desert years ago. Where i was they cooled buildings with sometimes called a swamp cooler. I'm curious to understand how they work.

[lawdog]

I always take something away from everyone of your videos, thanks Brother

[sheekya]

We have a geothermal heat pump at my dad’s house and I was wondering how it worked thanks for the info!

[curthauburg]

Great explanation on minisplit, I installed one and it works except mine doesn't have a heat pump

[NeoEon]

I just want to comment to keep encouraging you. Excellent, honest and concise explanations. Well done.

[mahmoudalafify]

The VRF system is a wonderful system, it saves energy and gives more options

[Eddy]

Great info Jay ... And as for grandpa, have you checked on the greeters at Walmart? Aloha my friend

[shonuffnuff]

Grate video bud! I switched careers recently (went from Project Management to HVAC). I took a crash course in HVAC, passed the EPA608 and got a Universal Cert. Now I’m in the real world doing HVAC maintenance. BUT matching Work Order paperwork against the “actual units” that I’ve worked on has been a PAIN in the pants😵‍💫, bcs I’m still learning what these difference are (the ones you explained in the video). Thanks a million🫡👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[jamesroscoe]

I think a more clear way to explain all of this is to separate the distribution system (eg forced air, in floor radiant, radiators etc) from the heat source (oil furnace, gas furnace, air source heat pump, geothermal, etc). Basically any of those heat sources can be paired with air or water distribution.

Geothermal is more efficient than air source partly due to the more consistent temperature but also due to the greater heat capacity of water and the ground vs air. In terms of payback, geothermal makes the most economic sense in cold climates where a cheaper air source heat pump starts to struggle in the depths of winter. That said, there are more modern units that work alright down to around -25C.

[gtpforever]

A lot of times people forget that geothermals since they are a heat pump still can't operate the greatest when the ground temperature changes. It can only do so much and since they are smart systems they switch on heating elements when they ran too long. So the electric bill goes up

[davidmckinney]

Hello 👋 good buddy Jay. Thats a extremely good educational video on the different types of heating sources i read some comments and I truly agree 👍 your channel is the best for hvac. My uncle is back in the hospital he wasn't taking his potassium medication and sodium chloride and it caused his body to reject food and water and his daughter in law found him on the floor and called the ambulance 🚑 and when they got there he flatlined and they shocked him and brought him back and gave him different shots of stuff and took him to the hospital and he is in acidosis because his kidneys and liver was shutting down and it makes your body build up gas in the blood thats acidosis but he is stable now and feeling a lot better they are still trying to clean up his blood and getting him fixed up. I haven't been feeling well just really tired and some chest pain here and there but im making it is the important thing trying to get ready for spring ive already been mowing. Tell everybody I said hello 👋 Jay much love to you and your family my friend. May God bless you and keep you and your family safe.

[borshardsd]

Cool video Jay.

A friend recently asked about adding ductless units. She only wanted ac, no heatpump but it's harder to find an ac only that saves her enough money. =b idky she can't take the added benefits of a reversing valve.

[jackphillips]

Question for you. Our heating system will not come on. The old Honeywell thermostat shoe -AC. The instructions for the thermostat says this means it is missing AC power. There is power to the heating unit in the garage. This is an HVAC unit.

[hermanchow]

never heard of air handler, thinking it’s the authority ( government) controls how much air we can breathe, thank god it isn’t and thanks for the explanation !