Skip to content
Home » Blog » What does ‘central air’ mean?

What does ‘central air’ mean?

At Buck’s Heating and Air, we don’t believe your HVAC system should be a mystery anymore! Maybe your system needs repairs, or you’re thinking of upgrading your equipment, or maybe you’re a first time homebuyer who’s trying to do their due diligence to maintain their home. No matter what your circumstances are, if you have a central heating and air system, you will want to get familiar with how it works eventually.

So first things first, what does central air mean?

This is a common term used in the heating and air industry that describes most residential whole-house systems. Conversely, this term wouldn’t include space heaters, window air conditioners, or mini-splits. But chances are, you probably have central air if you have ducted vents coming out of your floors or ceilings and a thermostat on the wall.

Are there different types of central air?

Yes! Central HVAC systems can be split into two categories -split systems and packaged units. While they function similarly, the equipment they use is set up differently.

A split system is the most common and it is pretty much what it sounds like, a system that has been split into two parts. You’ll have an indoor unit typically in a closet or attic, and an outdoor unit.

A packaged unit is a single outdoor unit that combines the function of both parts of the split system. This type of system can be a good option when there is limited space.

An example of a split hvac central air system
This is the outdoor unit of a HVAC central air conditioning split system.

What are the main components of a split hvac system?

  1. Indoor unit – commonly called a furnace or air handler
  2. Outdoor unit – either an air conditioner or heat pump
  3. Thermostat – the module that allows you to control your system
  4. Filtration system
  5. Ductwork to disperse and circulate the air throughout your home
Packaged Unit HVAC
This is a HVAC central air packaged unit.

What are the main components of a packaged unit?

  1. The fan, condenser coil, compressor, and fan coil are all combined in one unit.
  2. Thermostat – the module that allows you to control your system
  3. Filtration system
  4. Ductwork to disperse and circulate the air throughout your home

If you would like to know more about central air and how it works, check out these links from some of our favorite companies:

Lennox – Central Air Conditioning

Carrier – What is Central Air?

If you have questions or if you would like to schedule a service, maintenance, or estimate appointment for your system, please give us a call or reach out to us below!