Your Complete Guide to HVAC in Sacramento, CA

Are you living in or around the Sacramento area? Do you have questions about HVAC, probably because you’re looking to make a home upgrade in the near future? You’ve found the right place.

Right off the bat, this guide can also help you if you don’t live in Sacramento. HVAC systems follow the same rules across the country, and the answers to common heating and cooling questions don’t change if you live in a different state.

But that’s where we’re based here at CABS, so that’s who we talk to most often about their home comfort issues. Regardless, this guide will take you through all major equipment and processes for installation, repair, maintenance, brands, technology, and accessories for HVAC in your home.

What Does HVAC Stand For?

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

Importantly, a lot more goes into each one of those subsystems than most people realize, and it’s also important to think of an HVAC system as a unified system.

Specifically, ventilation is often overlooked. Without good ventilation, the other two parts of the equation (heating and cooling) are going to suffer.

Additionally, a lot of equipment in your HVAC system is used in both the heating and cooling processes.

Types of HVAC Systems

Some processes work the same regardless of your system type, but there are several distinct types of HVAC systems:

1. Split Systems – this is the most common type, with an indoor and outdoor unit, with lines running between them.
2. Ductless Systems – as opposed to split systems, which rely on a network of ducts to circulate air, ductless systems heat or cool a particular space or room. While rare, entire homes can be heated and cooled by multi-unit ductless systems.
3. Packaged Systems – these are rare for residential use, though not unheard of. Packaged systems include all major equipment in a single casing, which is usually located outside the home, in an attic, or on the rooftop of a business or other commercial building.
4. Geothermal Systems – Only available in some areas and from some contractors, these eco-friendly units are becoming increasingly popular in some parts of the country.
5. Oil, Corn and Nontraditional Fuel Sources – most HVAC systems use gas, electric, or a hybrid of both. Particularly in rural areas, though, you’ll often see units with oil, propane, corn or other alternatives as a fuel source. These tend to be lower efficiency and worse for the environment and are not seen as often, particularly with new installations.

For the purposes of this article, we’re going to focus mainly on residential heating and cooling, since that’s what our customers are. This will mainly be central air, split systems, but we’ll also touch on ductless and some other alternative options.

The underlying technology for commercial HVAC remains the same, but installation practices, pricing and contractor considerations will vary for these types of units.

What Goes Into an HVAC System?

Here’s a list of major elements of an HVAC system. It doesn’t include every major part or piece of possible equipment, but covers the most frequent and largest pieces of equipment.

• Air conditioner or heat pump (cooling)
• Furnace or heat pump (heating)
• Ductwork and ventilation outlets
• Evaporator coil
• Condenser coil
• Blower fan
• Compressor and condenser
• Heat exchanger
• Line set and refrigerant line
• Electrical connections
• Thermostat
• Filter
• Whole-home humidifier and/or dehumidifier
• Accessories such as air purifiers, thermostat sensors, etc.

Each of the items listed above is necessary to ensure proper airflow and temperature management in the home.

Below we break down several of these items, and the processes they’re involved with, in more detail.

Ductwork Design and Airflow

A lot of times when homeowners think they have an issue with their AC or furnace, what they really have are issues with the ductwork.

Ductwork needs to be wide enough to house the correct air pressure coming from the blower fan.

It also needs to funnel sufficient airflow to each room or area of the house, some of which will have different heating and cooling needs. A 2nd-floor master bedroom that’s situated above a non-air-conditioned garage will be much more difficult to cool in the summer, for instance. Does your ductwork account for this, or is the airflow the same that’s entering a hall closet?

Insulation – or lack thereof – can also be a source of energy loss. Insulating ductwork properly can be expensive, but the alternative is spending hundreds more per year on heating and cooling costs for the next 10-20 years or more!

Ducts can also leak over time, requiring professional sealing to avoid energy loss.

Best case scenario with leaks is that it requires a bit more energy (i.e. runtime) for your HVAC system to regulate the temperature, and you’re accidentally heating and cooling your crawlspace or some similar room. Worst case is that you have entire areas of the home that are impossible to keep comfortable in the hottest and coldest months of the year.

The science behind ductwork design can include a lot of complex geometry and calculations of airflow rate and static pressure. Ignoring these is to ignore, arguably, the most important aspect of your home HVAC system.

Cooling Equipment

For a lot of people, even homeowners, “my air conditioner cools the house” is enough of an understanding for them. A lot more is going on, though! It can help to understand this process, because it can lead to better decisions for your home comfort.

Air conditioners and heat pumps don’t actually produce cold air! This seems counterintuitive, but it’s true. It can sometimes be more useful to think of it as heat removal.

In fact, what’s happening is that the refrigerant in your cooling system is absorbing heat in your home, which is pushed over the condensing coil, absorbed, and then taken to the outdoor unit where it is expelled.

The air is recirculated after this process and is cooler as a result. This is done until the home’s internal temperature meets the assigned value on your thermostat.

If you’re keeping score at home, everything above includes thermostat, condenser and evaporator coils, blower fan, both indoor and outdoor units, and your ductwork. A lot of parts are working together to make it happen!

HVAC Equipment Staging

Generally speaking, air conditioners and heat pumps come in one of three primary types:

• Single-stage
• Two stage
• Variable speed

This is also true of furnaces, though multi-speed furnace units often don’t have as many stages as top-end air conditioners.

This relates to the blower motor and its capacity to operate at different speeds. A single-stage AC, for example, can only ever be off or 100% on. Being able to also operate at 60% (two-stage) or dozens or even hundreds of different stages (variable-speed) allows for better cooling and energy conservation.

These more sophisticated units will cost more, but they provide the best possible comfort that modern technology has to offer.

Heating Equipment

A similar process happens for heating, with air circulating through the main unit (usually in a basement, closet or attic) to be heated and recirculated.

If you use a heat pump to heat your home, the process is the reverse of what we described above, with heat absorption from the outside air transferred inside.

If you use a furnace, air will either run over a heat exchanger or electric coils to heat up before recirculating.

Dual systems are also common, with a heat pump providing some of the heating, and a furnace supplementing during the coldest periods. This hybrid heat can be very expensive on your energy bills, but it’s also only used during the worst of the winter season.

Depending on the type of system you have (usually electric vs. gas) your system may also need an exhaust vent for excess heat. This is typical in gas systems, and the efficiency level of your system relates to how much heat is lost in the process.

Technically electric systems are 100% efficient in this regard (ignoring that efficiency can be lost via ductwork, filter blocks, etc.). Some still don’t opt for electric systems, though, because the price of electricity can vary wildly in different parts of the country. Often, it’s cost-prohibitive even though it’s technically more efficient.

To offset this, some states, counties and cities will offer rebates for electric systems. We’ll talk more about these later.

Humidity Control in HVAC

One big thing we didn’t mention is just how big a factor humidity plays in the comfort of your home.

Humidity equals comfort, and to an extent equals heating and cooling. Our bodies experience three degrees of relative humidity as roughly one degree of temperature increase.

Summers tend to be very humid and winters tend to be extremely dry, though this varies some based on region. Additionally, homes with basements or in coastal regions tend to have larger issues with high humidity, whereas the inner US states frequently experience dry weather more often.

High humidity can lead to mold and mildew, allergies, bug infestations, and a general dampness to your home, while low humidity can increase the likelihood of catching a viral infection and dry or cracked skin.

For those with such issues, whole-home humidifiers and dehumidifiers are the HVAC recommendation. These can often be attached to your ductwork as well so that they circulate moisture (or remove it) as your HVAC system runs, utilizing its natural airflow to treat the air.

ALSO READ: What’s the Ideal Indoor Humidity Level

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Indoor air quality (IAQ) relates to the overall comfort of your home. The right temperature doesn’t mean much if you’re suffering from allergies, bad smells, or filthy air that can cause respiratory issues.

The best way to deal with home air quality on a consistent basis is through your HVAC system and related accessories. Let’s talk about a few of the most common.

Your first line of defense is your filter. It’s also generally the best defense against a host of issues, which is why replacing your filter regularly is so important.

Filter quality varies quite a bit. A simple 1-inch filter is cheap, but won’t actually remove a lot of particles from your air. A higher-quality 3-inch (width) filter will do a lot more and these are generally recommended by most HVAC contractors.

MERV Rating, a funny name that basically stands for filter efficiency, can tell you how effective your filter is. A MERV rating of 13+ is recommended to capture the vast majority of particulates in your airstream, including flu virus particles, bacteria and mold spores, even COVID particles!

Other IAQ accessories can be considered, such as air purifiers and UV lights to kill bacteria. Though usually these are only necessary for homes with frequent air quality problems or for those who are immunocompromised. This can also be useful in a household with lots of pets, smokers, or in an area affected by smog or wildfires.

Ductless and Zoned Heating and Cooling

I promised I’d talk about ductless systems, right? Well here we are!

Ductless systems, sometimes called ductless mini-splits, are individual units that heat and cool a specific area of the home. They have an indoor and outdoor unit just like a traditional system, but there’s no connecting ductwork.

A common misconception is that they only cool. Some models do, but many can act as heaters or coolers.

These are perfect for turning home offices into more comfortable spaces, heating or cooling a finished basement or livable attic, and similarly out-of-the-way rooms.

Zoned systems are another variant. This can be when you have a large enough home to warrant multiple full systems, or when you have different zones controlled by different ductless units.

These zones will generally have discrete ductwork (if it’s central air) and different temperature controls. In the most complicated zoned systems, you could theoretically set a different temperature for every room or area in your home!

FAQs About HVAC Systems

You should have a nice idea of the general flow (pun intended) of an HVAC system by now, but below are some of the most common follow-up questions we receive from customers and homeowners.

What is the Cost of an HVAC System?

The full cost for a typical HVAC system can range between about $8,000 and $30,000. This is inclusive of labor costs and any fees.

If that seems like a wide range, you’re right. That’s because the cost of living can alter pricing by thousands in some areas (here in Sacramento, it’s usually more like $12,000 to $28,000), and the type of equipment makes a huge difference. A variable-speed air conditioner can cost twice as much as a single-stage air conditioner, for example, and the same is true for furnaces and heat pumps.

The other thing to watch out for are prices that only cover equipment, since labor costs can be around half of the total cost. If someone’s advertising a full system that’s significantly less than this, chances are they’re omitting labor and additional fees.

This is the type of question that’s easier to answer individually when we visit a home. There, we can give you an exact quote based on measurements taken in your home. At CABS, this estimate is free and comes with no obligation.

How Long Will My Equipment Last?

You should expect your HVAC system to last you 10-15 years.

The slightly longer answer is that well-maintained HVAC equipment can often last a lot longer than that, up to and beyond 20 years. But it’s difficult to predict that on an individual basis, because it’s dependent on a quality installation, regular maintenance, and may require that you get lucky and don’t need a major repair to a large piece of equipment like a heat exchanger.

A costly repair, when also factored into the efficiency upgrade you’ll get from replacing a system that’s 10-15 years old, often means that a full replacement is the more cost-effective option in these situations.

How Old is My Current System?

Your indoor and/or outdoor unit should have a serial number on it. Searching online for your brand and model can help you identify where this serial number is, or you may be able to ask the contractor who installed it.

Calling the manufacturer directly with your serial number will give you this information. Many manufacturers also have online portals where you can look up your unit’s age without a phone call.

Do I Have a Manufacturer’s Warranty?

Most major equipment comes with a manufacturer’s warranty, but the more pertinent question is whether or not your equipment is still under warranty.

Sometimes to maintain your warranty, you need to be able to show a service record of tune-ups from licensed contractors. Contacting the manufacturer directly with your serial number and requesting warranty information is often the quickest way to see if yours is still in effect.

What Is Smart Home HVAC Technology?

Smart home tech integrates with your HVAC system. The most obvious point of contact for smart home technology is your thermostat.

The most sophisticated smart home thermostats can communicate with all HVAC equipment, can also monitor and adjust humidity levels in the home, and can help to regulate temperature in every room via remote sensors. Some will even communicate with your HVAC contractor if there’s an issue with the system. Or they might control vent dampeners to adjust temperature individually in certain rooms.

Additionally, most smart home equipment is adjustable via an app for remote access to your HVAC system via a smartphone or other device.

Maintenance and Upkeep of HVAC Systems

Maintenance and tune-ups are vital to the life of your equipment. If you neglect these, here are some of the things that can happen:

• Void your manufacturer’s warranty that covers certain breakdowns
• Operate less efficiently, spending more on energy bills
• Your filter can clog, causing airflow backups and dirty air
• The life of your system will be severely lessened.

Do you want 10-20 years of amazing comfort for a reasonable yearly fee? Or 5-10 years of sporadic comfort before a costly replacement? This is the equation homeowners have to look at when considering how

RELATED: Sign Up For CABS Comfort Club

For some homes, more drastic measures may also be advisable as well, including ductwork cleaning.

Signs Something Is Wrong With Your HVAC System

Is your energy bill higher? Sometimes this is due to increased cost of electricity or gas. Better HVAC equipment can reduce your bill, but 

Other times an energy bill increase has nothing to do with HVAC. Heating and cooling tends to be around 40% to 50% of your total energy bill, though this varies depending on usage rate.

If it’s your HVAC equipment, though, there can be signs. These include:

• Odors in the home when the fan runs.
• Excessive dust or debris in the air, which could require a filter change, full cleaning, or ductwork cleaning.
• Hot and cold spots in the home. This could be the main equipment struggling due to age or broken parts, or a ductwork and airflow issue that needs sealing, insulation or modification.
• Noises associated with the unit starting and stopping.
• Lack of airflow out of one or more vents (be sure to check your vent dampeners first if you have them, though, to make sure they’re open)

Is this a comprehensive list? No, of course not. But it’s a start, and a sign you should contact your HVAC partner.

More importantly, if you’re getting each major piece of equipment tuned up every year (usually Fall for the furnace and Spring for the A/C), you’ll avoid a lot of these issues and minimize the ones that do occur.

HVAC in Sacramento

Basically everything above is true for HVAC across the country. Here in Sacramento, the same considerations apply for your home system.

Some individual offers apply here, though, that are unique to the area.

Energy Efficiency Rebates

This one isn’t even necessarily specific to Sacramento and the surrounding area. Many utility companies, manufacturers, and municipal districts will offer discounts to upgrade

We talked about variable-speed equipment earlier, for example, and it can be a lot more expensive than entry-level equipment. Some of that is the price you pay for better comfort and lower energy bills. But often you can get additional discounts because these units are a lot more efficient and thus more eco-friendly.

SMUD

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District, or SMUD, is a community-owned utility company in Sacramento. They offer tons of rebates and incentives for a wide range of home upgrades.

The purpose behind these incentives is to encourage eco-friendly upgrades to homes. The rebates offered can pay back thousands, and the rebates can apply to HVAC equipment, EV (electric vehicle) chargers, solar panels and more.

To read more, you can check out our article covering all SMUD rebates and incentives.

Your Home Comfort: Choosing an HVAC Contractor

Interested in working with a licensed HVAC company that’s installed and serviced thousands of homes? Look no further. We hope this article has been helpful to you, and we also hope it gets you excited to work

Don’t want to take our word for it? Not a problem. We invite you to check out our Google reviews, many of which we’ve highlighted here on our site.

Still not convinced? That’s ok. We want to earn your trust, and don’t use tricks to earn your business. If you need a list of other reputable contractors in the Sacramento area to compare, we have that as well:

ALSO READ: Best HVAC Contractors in Sacramento, CA

Once you’re ready to take the next step, we’ll be here, and will be thrilled to walk you through your options and help you find the right HVAC solutions for your home!