066 - Types of HVAC Systems and How to Choose

There are a lot of different types of HVAC systems, and if you're studying for the ARE or coordinating with mechanical engineers, you need to know what each one does and when to use it. In this episode, Layla breaks down every major HVAC system type into four categories: all-air, water-based, refrigerant-based, and packaged systems. She covers VAV, fan coil units, VRF, rooftop units, PTACs, radiant floor heating, chilled beams, DOAS, split systems, and more. Then she walks through how to match each system to different building types, which is exactly how the PPD and PDD exams test this material. If mechanical system questions have been tripping you up, this one's for you. 📝 Key Topics Covered: VAV systems: the workhorse of commercial office buildings Fan coil units: individual room control for hotels and apartments VRF systems: flexible refrigerant-based zoning for mid-rise and retrofit projects Rooftop units and PTACs: simple packaged systems for retail and hotels Radiant floor heating: when forced air can't reach the occupants DOAS: why ventilation gets its own dedicated system Matching HVAC systems to building types for the ARE ⏱️ Chapters: (0:00) Introduction (2:32) How to Think About HVAC (4:17) All-Air Systems (7:47) Water-Based Systems (10:32) Packaged and Refrigerant Systems (13:13) Matching Systems to Buildings (18:22) Wrap Up 📖 Read the full blog post with diagrams and a building-type matching table: Types of HVAC Systems and How to Choose 📝 Download the free HVAC study notes: Free HVAC Study Notes 🎯 Join ARE Boot Camp, our 10-week coaching program: ARE Boot Camp 📚 Get access to all ARE courses with the ARE 101 Membership: ARE 101 Membership Individual ARE and CSI Exam Courses: Mechanical Systems 101 PPD 101 (Project Planning and Design) PDD 101 (Construction Documents and Specs) Building Codes 101 CDT 101 (Construction Documents Technologist) CCCA 101 (Construction Contract Administration) PcM 101 (Practice Management) PjM 101 (Project Management) CE 101 (Construction and Evaluation) PA 101 (Programming and Analysis) AIA Contracts 101