HVAC Category - Air Care Cooling & Heating

Air Care Blogs

People rely on their heat pumps to be running without problems during the wintertime. Even if the weather sometimes is Read more

The Ductwork

It is not necessary to become a certified HVAC technician, but a homeowner ought to have an understanding of the Read more

Air Conditioning and the Environment

A primary concern for any maintenance inspection of an air-conditioning unit is whether or not there is a refrigerant leak. Read more

Heat Pumps for Mild Weather

Heat pumps provide the best energy efficiency if they are the right model for a given environment. A geothermal heat Read more

Take Advantage of a Tune-up Opportunity

Holiday shopping takes a lot of attention away from other projects. A homeowner should take advantage of the opportunity during Read more

Getting Better Heat Efficiency in the Cold Months

The not so good news is that we still have a few more weeks of winter. There will still be Read more

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People rely on their heat pumps to be running without problems during the wintertime. Even if the weather sometimes is mild during the day it can get extremely cold at night. And that is the wrong time for the heat pump to malfunction. However, there are times when heat pump service is not as good as it could be. So addressing heat pump problems is important.

Erratic Temperature

The most common problem that will arise is when the thermostat is set for a given temperature. And yet the house registers a few degrees cooler. While this is not a state of emergency, it is a condition of inconvenience. And the heat pump may not be working efficiently. The homeowner may want to take a look at the environment surrounding the heat pump first. It may be possible that the house is poorly insulated or snow and ice are covering the outside unit. Both require very easy maintenance to correct. If after adding insulation or removing the ice there still is some difficulty with the temperature that might be the heat pump mechanism itself.

The Need for Professional Attention

Anything that involves the internal workings of a heat pump is something that may be above and beyond the capabilities of a homeowner. It is possible a new thermostat may be needed because the present one has some calibration problems. Refrigerant is a serious matter because there may be leakage and that can affect the environment. The compressor valves could be malfunctioning or the compressor itself may not be running. These are all situations where an HVAC technician is the best alternative. That individual has the skill set and the tools necessary to see to it that the heat pump service is back to where it should be.

Maintenance of the heat pump during the winter can be easy or require experienced hands. The first thing is to always check to see whether or not it is the heat pump or something in the house such as poor insulation that is creating the chill. The inner workings of a heat pump should be something that only an HVAC technician should address. A homeowner could make a mistake in trying to fix the heat pump and cause even greater problems as a consequence.

It is not necessary to become a certified HVAC technician, but a homeowner ought to have an understanding of the air-conditioning system that cools his or her home during warm months. The ductwork is not something out in the open that visible, yet it plays a most vital role in keeping the house at a comfortable temperature.

The Basic Operation

The air will be drawn into the air conditioning system by fans, and within the Air Handling Unit (AHU), the air is cool. Then, the air will circulate back into the living space through the ducts. And returned to the air-conditioning unit through the ducts. It is the circulation that can cause some of the difficulties commonly experienced with this part of the HVAC system.

Problems in the Ductwork

It is possible that dirt and dust can accumulate in the ductwork, and these create obstacles to the airflow. They can require the system to generate more energy to get the air circulating. And that becomes a cost to the homeowner. Perhaps a more sober problem would be leaks in the ductwork that allows cool air to escape. It can also cause warm air from the outside to enter the circulation system. Either can generate additional costs for the homeowner.

The problems are not dangerous in and of themselves, but they do create a situation where the air-conditioning is not performing as well as it can. This can be a problem in the summer when the air-conditioning is in continual use. Moreover, the problem with ductwork will generate higher utility bills and less efficiency. A certified HVAC technician is best qualified to take care of cleaning the ductwork. This person has the proper tools and skill set necessary to do a good job. An annual inspection of the ductwork can also identify problems that should be settle before they are serious. And saves a homeowner a significant amount of money in the long run.

A primary concern for any maintenance inspection of an air-conditioning unit is whether or not there is a refrigerant leak. People may wonder why this is so important and it has a lot to do with a safe environment. Refrigerant has properties that may be detrimental.

Trouble With The Ozone

Much of the environmental danger is concerned with the ozone. A measure of the threat to the ozone layer is the Ozone Depletion Potential or ODP. The less value registered by the ODP, the less of a threat refrigerant is to the environment. Another measure is the Global Warming Potential or GWP. The lower value registered by the GWP the safer for the environment is the refrigerant.

There is a chlorofluorocarbon compound known as R11. This has both a high ODP and high GWP. Refrigerants are measure against R11, with R11 having an ODP of one. This is critical for determining whether the refrigerant is safe or not.

Various Refrigerants

There is quite a few refrigerants use and they have different ODP and GWP ratings. Refrigerants such as R134A, R407C, R410A, and R417A are safe refrigerants to use and some alternative refrigerants that can be in an air conditioner include R290. All of these do not pose a threat to the ozone layer, but a refrigerant leak still is something that does require attention as soon as possible. The possibility one of the older air-conditioning units may have a refrigerant with a high ODP is reason enough to attend to the problem immediately.

Refrigerant leak maintenance is not really a good do-it-yourself project. It is far better to have people who have experienced and trained in dealing with these compounds because an HVAC technician would have the proper equipment to deal with the situation successfully. Preserving the environment has become an increasingly more important part of HVAC technology and practice. The idea is to provide as much air conditioning or heating service to make a residence comfortable while at the same time leaving as little an impression on the ecology as is practicable.

Heat pumps provide the best energy efficiency if they are the right model for a given environment. A geothermal heat pump in mild weather does the job. But it isn’t really necessary for a location where temperatures are ordinarily above freezing. The best heat pump service in a warm or hot climate comes from an air – source heat pump.

How They Operate

There are a compressor and two coils within the heat pump along with aluminum fins to facilitate the movement of heat. The refrigerant in the outer coils will pull heat from the environment and evaporate it. The inner coils let out heat from the refrigerant as it goes back into a liquid state. The latest models of air–source heat pumps have thermostatic expansion valves and improve coil design to be more efficient. They also may have a split system where there is one coil indoors and one outside of the house. Depending on the need, cool or warm air comes from the ductwork which will pass through a wall or even the roof of the house.

The air–source heat pump works best with temperatures above 40°F. And those with a demand – defrost control will reduce the amount of energy used to defrost the coils. Any heat pump placed outside should have a means of obstructing the wind which could either be a fence or shrubbery. Overall, the heating efficiency of an air–source heat pump is determined by the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF). And the cooling efficiency is determined by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)

Air–source heat pumps are becoming even more efficient with advances in technology. Currently, an all-climate heat pump is being perfect that has a chance of reducing energy costs by as much as 60% depending on circumstances. Air–source heat pumps provide a great deal of energy efficiency in warmer climates. And the optimal use of energy reflects substantially to lower utility bills.

Holiday shopping takes a lot of attention away from other projects. A homeowner should take advantage of the opportunity during the winter to schedule a tune-up. It’s a practical idea because most air conditioners are not used quite often in the winter. And the AC check-up probably will not be that expensive. The best way to do some maintenance on equipment will be extremely important when the temperature starts to climb.

Getting Ready For Summer

Air conditioners get a lot of use in the summer. And the tune-up repairs done in the winter help keep the air-conditioning running efficiently when the weather becomes unbearably hot. The HVAC technician will do simple things like calibrating the thermostat, check on the condenser. Be sure that the condenser fan motors and blades are in good working order, and see to it the evaporator coil is clean. The actual cleaning is one of the biggest benefits of an AC check-up in the winter. The grime and dust that can harm efficiency are swept away and equipment is fine-tuned for the high-demand season. The HVAC professional can also spot situations where the equipment is starting to wear down and need replacement. It is far better to replace worn-out belts and wires now than have to do it in the summer.

Curbing Expenses

An air conditioning unit that has a tune-up is one that does not require much energy to generate the cooling air. The obstacles to efficiency have been removing. And the systems don’t have to put as much effort into maintaining the desired temperature. That translates into lower energy costs and smaller utility bills. Another reason why taking a break from the holiday shopping to schedule an AC check-up is really a great idea.

The not-so-good news is that we still have a few more weeks of winter. There will still be a chance of very cold nights or when that will drive the wind chill factor down. Yet, a homeowner still can do a little energy-efficient work in the house that will allow for better use of heat. The good news is this kind of maintenance isn’t all that expensive. Therefore, let’s take getting better heat efficiency in the cold months.

Do the Easy Things

Greater energy efficiency may achieve just by changing the furnace filters. A homeowner may want to consider using a permanent filter to insert disposable ones. The difference is that an electrostatic filter can trap twice as much dirt as a disposable fiberglass one. Ceiling fans can circulate warm air simply moving switched to running clockwise, and that brings the warm air down into the living space from the ceiling. Recommend tune-ups and it is possible that the local public utility will provide a free annual checkup. There may be a few appointment openings left, and make sense just to call and find out. Window insulation is a buffer against drafts and a kit is easy to buy at the local hardware store.

Consider Some Routine Maintenance

Putting insulation in the attics encourages efficiency. The ductwork may need to be sealed and cleaned so that less energy is used to create heat. Putting in a programmable thermostat will also help maintain the right level of temperature at a reasonable cost. Some other home improvements may need the assistance of an HVAC contractor. Those who are certified through the ENERGY STAR program are proficient in improving the use of energy in the house. They can provide not just assistance but also advice on how to further economize on energy during the winter months.

Winter will soon be over and it will not be as much need for heat. Just a few tweaks can the house be a little bit more energy efficient as the colder months draw to a close. There is no need to waste a lot of energy keeping the house comfortable. Some minor adjustments can provide all the work that is necessary and conserve energy at the same time.