Technician setting up HVAC sensor

Types of HVAC Sensors

You might put together a seemingly perfect interior décor and sit back waiting to enjoy your time in your indoors. Without the right temperatures, nonetheless, this will remain a pipe dream. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are an essential part of your indoor comfort and enjoyment. Since property owners know this, virtually all properties now feature different types of HVAC equipment. Furnaces, packaged systems, heat pumps, duct-free systems, and split systems are the leading choices in the HVAC market.

Heating and cooling equipment for your property in Knoxville, TN, encompasses different elements. Most people focus on picking the visible elements of their equipment, including vents, grilles, and diffusers to match their interior décor but forget the hidden components. Sensors are the primarily hidden workhorses of your HVAC system that allow everything to work smoothly. These will compare the condition of your rooms then adjust the system appropriately to create your desired indoor ambiance. Here are the types of HVAC sensors that will determine your indoor comfort.

Temperature Sensors

These are the renowned sensors in HVAC units. The thermostat, as the temperature sensor is known, maintains a preset temperature in your interiors. It is generally a simple polymer or ceramic thermistor with wires that detect a temperature resistance change and adjust your HVAC system’s operation as needed. Semi-conductor thermostats have been the mainstay in HVAC systems, although digital and smart sensors have largely replaced them. The latter is easier to operate compared to semi-conductor thermostats and guarantee optimal energy efficiency.

Pressure Sensors

These will be used in boilers, heat recovery systems, coolers, variable air volume systems, compressors, and burners. Pressure sensors will monitor the pressure in your interiors to regulate the airflow into different rooms. This way, they will optimize your interior airflow, cooling, and heating and reduce your unit’s energy use. If the air pressure, for instance, falls below a certain level, your system’s airflow will be decreased since there is minimal indoor resistance.

Occupancy Sensors

Passive infrared sensor

These in their most basic sense identify the presence of people in rooms. They will significantly boost your unit’s energy efficiency when used with zoned systems. Passive infrared (PIR) and ultrasonic occupancy sensors are the two categories of occupancy sensors. PIR sensors measure motion and heat via a line of sight aimed at places where people might be. They are ideal for open rooms. Ultrasonic sensors, on the other hand, will send high-frequency sound waves that will bounce back when they encounter solid objects and trigger your unit. These are quite sensitive and can pick small movements and pass through solid objects.

Duct Smoke Sensors

HVAC ducts can move smoke, toxic gases and sometimes flames through rooms. Duct smoke sensors are primarily used to avert the possibility of your system spreading smoke through your building. Various regulations guide their installation, but in most cases, they are installed in the return ducts for HVAC units above 2000 CFM.

The above sensors are designed for the energy efficiency and safety of your HVAC unit. They are thus worth considering for anyone aiming for indoor comfort with minimal impact on their energy use and safety. Some new units have the sensors built into them at the factory.

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