What type of equipment does your HVAC unit consist of?

Before buying or repairing an HVAC unit, it is important to know what it consists of. HVAC offers three functionalities (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) that are combined together to form a single system. The system has been developed to adjust to the modern construction requirements for business establishments and homes. HVAC units have evolved with time and have been able to adapt to the changing needs. The most general problem that was linked to traditional systems was the cost. However, more and more homes and establishments are enjoying these units today because they are cost-effective and energy efficient.

Here is a comprehensive list of products under the HVAC system:

HVAC blowers and fans 

 

HVAC blowers and fans are those fragments that are used for air movement. They make an important part of the air handling system as they help in bringing fresh air into the rooms. They can be mounted above a ceiling or on top of an outer wall. In some circumstances, they may also be utilized as part of a duct fun. Products that can ascribe to this category include plenum fans, ventilation fans, duct blowers, roof fans, inline fans, vane axial fans and centrifugal blowers.

Chillers and controllers 

 

HVAC controllers and chillers are also a popular part of HVAC units. HVAC chillers are essentially refrigeration systems that are employed in industrial and commercial establishments. These systems work with the help of refrigerants, water, oils and other such fluids. HVAC controllers, on the other hand, are those parts that are used for monitoring environmental factors indoors. They can monitor heat and temperature which leads to regulation of coldness and warmth of air flowing within an establishment.

Other important HVAC parts:

1. Circuit boards - comprising of timer panels and control panels.
2. Compressors - used for pressurizing and compressing air that can be released in quick bursts.
3. Thermostats - responsible for keeping the temperature constant.
4. Accumulators - a common part of the HVAC system. They are the suction lines on an air conditioner.

HVAC units use a variety of technologies to perform their functions. While some cool and heat using electricity to change air temperature; others are hydronic systems that heat water and circulate it through in-floor pipes and radiators in order to offer warmth to the rooms. When looking to buy a HVAC unit, it is important to consult a professional to get a basic understanding of the functionality and efficiency each brand offers.

How to winterize your air conditioning unit?

The air conditioning system of your house is a huge investment and plays an important role in your family’s comfort, quality of life and safety. As the winter season approaches, you may want to winterize your unit to secure it against the chilly weather conditions and save it from catching rust. Performing a few tasks will ensure that your unit remains in top working condition all year long.

Shut down your unit properly

Proper shut down of your air conditioning unit is very important if you want the machine to survive the tough winter months. Cutting the main power off will prevent someone from accidentally turning your machine on and will also prevent unnecessary damage to the unit.

Clean out the space surrounding your appliance

Make sure there are no sticks, leaves, branches, clutter, bushes, or debris in the two foot radius around your AC. This should help in preventing rust damage and clogging. Apart from this, it will also discourage any animals from taking on a cozy residence within your system. Install rubber pipe and tubular foam insulation with elbows and tees around pipes to secure against freezing.

Fact – animal damage is the main reason of harm to AC units.

Cover the unit

Cover the machine with a vinyl or plastic sheet. Some manufacturers sell covers designed specifically for air conditioning units, but you can also use vinyl or plastic covering that fits your unit. Wrap ropes or cords around the AC cover to keep it protected. Make sure the sheet is secured tightly so that it does not blow away during extreme weather conditions.

Also, check your AC covering thrice a month to make sure it is absolutely secure. Brush snow, ice and water off the unit. Remove pinecones, twigs, and other debris from the cover.

Pay equal attention to your furnace

Once your AC unit has been secured, it is time to pay attention to your furnace. Before turning on the heat during the cold winter months, perform a complete tune-up of your heating system. One of the best ways to ensure the furnace is performing well is to have your unit cleaned by a professional.

In order to make sure your precious HVAC is performing well throughout the year, it is important to take good care of it. By following the aforementioned DIY tips, you can definitely save yourself a lot of repair fee later on. It is also wise to get in touch with an expert for help.

How to maintain your heating and cooling system?

Ventilating, air-conditioning and heating systems, also known as HVAC systems, are not only important for maintaining "thermal comfort," but can also ensure "good air quality.” However, without proper servicing and cleaning these machines may lose their efficiency and may eventually stop working. Experts believe, with proper know-how anyone can take necessary steps to keep the systems running.

How to perform regular HVAC maintenance?

Filter inspection:

Start by inspecting the HVAC filters and changing them with new ones every six months. In case you notice blockages on your filters during the monthly inspection, change them straightaway rather than waiting till six months.

Also, when replacing filters, it is important to choose the right brand. Not all brands offer the same efficiency. Talk to an expert about the best filters available in the market for your HVAC system.

Disinfect evaporator coils:

Damp evaporator coils are prone to molds and mildew. Use a solution of bleach and water to kill any 

growth on the coils. Once disinfected, clean the coils thoroughly. Indoor and outdoor evaporator coils have a tendency to get caked with dust deposits and debris. Scrub both the coils with the help of an acidic cleaner.

Make sure you wear gloves and a mask to secure yourself from both the airborne mold spores and bleach. Also, turn off the HVAC system for your safety.

Clean up excessive water:

Get rid of stagnant water pools near the air-intake vents, particularly those close to or on the roof. You can clean up the excessive water with the help of a rag to prevent molds. Some buildup is fine, but if you find pools of water accumulating near your HVAC system more often than once in six months, there is a good chance that your system has other issues.

Inspect the fans:

Another important regiment is to inspect the HVAC fans, bi-annually. Fans have a tendency to fill up with debris and dirt, lowering the air flow and efficiency. However, make sure you turn the system off to keep away from injury from the rotating fan blades. Clean up the area with a damp rag in case of minor dust deposits, or with soapy water for dried dirt.

Get professional help:

It is wise to hire a HVAC technician to inspect and clean your system every year as part of your maintenance regiment. Professional cleaning can give the best results, and a meticulous inspection will let you know about any major problems that need attention.

Central cooling and heating units play an important role in maintaining a comfortable temperature. To make these systems work flawlessly the whole year round, it is important to take good care of them. Clean and change the components regularly. Also, in case of a fault, call up a professional to handle the problem. It is advisable not to attempt repairs of your HVAC system on your own.

What Does Your Air Conditioner Expect From You?

If you are someone who cannot imagine spending time indoors without the air conditioner, you need to look after your cooling system, just as you would take care of your pet.

The air conditioning system is a unit that has some expectations from you. If you want it to work well, work with efficiency and keep you comfortable, you need to do a few things to keep it in good shape.

Periodic Professional Maintenance: When you get your system installed for the first time, you can speak to your technician to undertake periodic maintenance and cleaning. A routine cleaning and maintenance once in every quarter is recommended. However, if you would rather not do so every quarter, an annual maintenance is a must. The checks conducted by the technician must include adjusting or replacing fan belts; inspecting coils and cleaning them; checking blowers and fans for any repairs and cleaning them; lubricating the bearings and motors; refrigerant and pressures and checking if they are right; inspecting all controls; and verifying operating temperatures. This will help to detect repairs early and save you a lot of trouble by preventing a complete shutdown.

Clean Dirty Filters: The filter needs the most attention. It is fixed in the front portion of the system thus exposed to air coming in and going out. Cleaning the filters every month will ensure that there are no clogs. Clogged filters can seriously affect your air conditioner’s working efficiency. Either clean it every month, if it is the washable type or replace it every month if it is not a washable filter. Keep checks on the filter’s MREV which should range from 1-12 for units at home. The AC’s performance will be better if the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value is high.

Program the Cooling: If your preference is to keep the air conditioner at low temperature, go ahead and do so - but only when you are at home. When you are away at work, there is no need to have the air conditioning on. But if you prefer to keep it on, program it in such a way that it is set at a higher temperature if you are away and lower when you are in. A programmable thermostat will help you do so. The recent models have built in timers which will help you set the required temperature for the period when you in and also for when your away.

Clean the Ducts:If theducts, through which the air moves, are dirty, it will affect the efficiency of the unit. Dirty ducts can be responsible for upto 30% loss of the airflow, especially in window air conditioners. Ensure that the ducts are well sealed with foil tape. This will prevent air leaks. For window units, use stuffing foam or similar materials between the system and the window frame to keep it secure.

Ensure the SEER is right: The seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER) and the energy-efficiency ratio (EER) are two measurements recommended by the federal law for air conditioning efficiency. The law makes it mandatory that the SEER for a central air conditioner be 13 and the EER for a window should be 8.

Draw Blinds, Run the Fan: Keeping the blinds drawn during the day will keep the indoors cooler and facilitate less work for the air conditioner. For optimum cooling efficiency, keep the ceiling fan running. This helps air circulation inside the room and less work for the air conditioning system too.

Know Your Air Conditioner

“Why should I know my air conditioner?”

“All I need is cool air inside my home and office and there is a machine that provides just that. Isn’t that enough?”

“I don’t need to know how the stuff works and what is inside it.”

“This knowledge is for the techies! After all they are always there when I need them.”

Do any of these lines sound familiar? Have any of these thoughts come to your mind? If you said yes to even one of them, you must read on.

Everyone likes a peaceful haven that a cool, dry house offers during summer. Like kids and pets, your air conditioner also needs a little love and care. For this, you need to know a little about your air conditioning system. Here are ten most important things you need to know about your air conditioner.

• Basically, an air conditioner moves the heat from inside your home to the outside. It pulls out the hot air and brings in cool air.
• There is an evaporator coil which is filled with a liquid known as the refrigerant. This refrigerant changes from liquid to gas in the process of absorbing heat from the air.
• When you start the air conditioner, the refrigerant is pumped out of the house and into another coil. Here it releases its heat and changes back into its liquid form.
• The coil that is outside is called the condenser as condensation (cooling of gas and changing into liquid) takes place here, just like moisture that forms on a cold window.
• The energy for all this activity comes from a pump, the compressor. It provides the energy to move the refrigerant from one coil to the other and change the refrigerant pressure. This is how the refrigerant evaporates or condenses in the coils.
• All air conditioning systems have a filter upstream of the evaporator coil. The work of this filter is to remove particles from the air stream. This keeps the air conditioner clean and the air indoors also clean.
• The coils, also called ducts, need to be clog-free. Leakage of the duct can sap 20-40% of the energy from your air conditioner.
• The thermostat displays the room temperature and a few other adjustments you can make to monitor indoor cooling comfort. A programmable thermostat is very useful as it saves energy. 
• Your air conditioner needs to be maintained periodically. Filters need to be cleaned and the duct kept free of clogs. Depending on the usage, a service by a professional may be required.
• Last, but not the least, ensure you have a voltage stabilizer if you live in a hot region. Places with tropical heat typically suffer from power fluctuations. A stabilizer adjusts the flow of energy thereby reducing or increasing it so that the compressor does not get affected.

These air conditioning maintenance tips will help you understand the working of your system. It is a good idea to clean the filters, brush the dirt and obstructions that get caked onto the coils and also clean the drains at the beginning of every warm season.

Air Filters Need Attention Too

Most homes in San Jose have air conditioning. For some, it may be a luxury, but for many, air conditioning is a necessity. These systems do not come cheap and need a lot of power to run. They need periodic maintenance for long life and performance efficiency as well. Every person who owns an air conditioner should have some knowledge about its parts and how they work.

The main parts of an air conditioner are the compressor, filter, condenser coil, evaporator coil, and the ducts. While you need professionals to look after most parts, it is the filter that is easy to maintain all by yourself.

Almost all air conditioning systems have a filter in front of the evaporator coil. The filter may be in the return grill or placed within special slots in the duct system. The job of the filter is to remove particles from the air stream so that the system remains clean and the air that flows out of the air conditioner is clean too.

When the system works, all parts, including the air filter are at play. As the filter does its job, more and more particles get loaded on it. When this happens, there is resistance caused and continuous resistance will reduce the airflow. So, what you can do here is:

1. Clean the filter based on the manufacturer’s instructions, usually given in the user manual. 
2. Replace the filter with a new one. 

Are there some questions that come to your mind now? Here are the answers to some common ones.

How do I clean the filter?

Most filters can be cleaned with plain soap and water. This is the best way to unclog the netted surface. Holding the filter under a jet of water will be most effective in cleaning all the pores so that they open up fully. Then, you just need to wipe them dry and fix them back.

How long does it take to clean a filter?

Not more than a few minutes. However, this depends on how dirty the filter is and how long since it was last cleaned. If the cleaning exercise is sufficient to open all the clogged pores, it is fine. On the other hand, if the filter is not fully clean, you may need to spend a few minutes on it with an old toothbrush.

What happens if I don’t want to clean the filter?

You need to replace your old filter with a new one. This is not the only thing that can happen. The air flowing out of the air conditioner will also get affected. If you don’t clean or change the filter, there will be obstruction in the air flow and lesser and lesser air flows out. This will bring down the performance of the air conditioning system. Additionally, a dirty filter becomes a source of air pollution.

Can I remove the filter completely?

If you decide to take the filter out completely, the low air flow problem will be solved. However, the particles will now start building on the evaporator coil, causing it to fail eventually. This repair cost will make a hole in your pocket. The particles that the filter would have taken out will now build up on your evaporator coil and eventually cause it to fail. It is better to get a new filter to replace the old one rather than let your machine run without a filter.

These points on filter maintenance can help you breathe pollution-free air as well as keep your air conditioner running smoothly and efficiently.

Advantages of a Modulating HVAC System

The HVAC industry is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to best serve the needs of people with an eye for comfort and luxury. One such product in the air conditioning environment is the modulated scroll system. Modulated scroll systems are revolutionary air conditioning units with the latest technology that offers the features and benefits quality-conscious consumers are seeking.

Variable-speed or modulated air conditioners ensure even room temperature. Gone are the times when you used to feel that your housing is old and freezing when the air conditioner is on, or too warm when the unit gets started. These air conditioners are less expensive as the energy consumed for operation varies.

Modulated air conditioning systems help to control the indoor humidity. It is not the temperature that makes people feel hot and sweaty, it is the humidity levels that are responsible for the sultry hot feeling indoors when the air conditioner is off. This humidity, when controlled better, makes the room more comfortable.

What is Modulation?

Modulation is a technology with which it is possible to modify the performance compressor according to the changes in ambient conditions. You can eliminate swings in temperature and also the RH levels of the house.

This means that the compressor capacity can be closely matched with the demand for cooling. A modulated compressor when fitted in an air conditioner operates at a reduced compression ratio, thus reducing the energy consumption.

Let's look at some of the advantages of a modulated air conditioning system.

1. Lower energy consumption compared to standard fixed-speed compressors
2. Comfort – individual set point control can be achieved.
3. Higher system operational efficiency with total airflow.
4. Lower maintenance costs compared to other systems. All that a modulating system needs is changing the filters and cleaning the coils
5. Controls humidity. Lower humidity allows the homeowner to raise the thermostat temperature. This saves energy and at the same time you cannot really feel a difference in the air temperature.
6. Track the load more closely, when compared with normal air conditioners, modulated air conditioning systems cycle on and off less frequently, thus increasing the amount of moisture taken out from the air.
7. Longer lasting and less intense airflow. This keeps the room at a more precise temperature and allows for better comfort and control while sleeping as the on and off cycles are fewer than a fixed speed unit.
8. Better in-home comfort and livability. These systems also provide tangible benefits as they help you sleep better, and in turn – live better.
9. Energy savings is equal to more money in the pocket. A modulated system can save more than $870 per year by way of reduced energy cost.
10. No more hot or cold spots, just even and comfortable cooling.

To sum up, when temperature and humidity control are just right, life becomes easy and homeowners are happy. While a normal, fixed speed HVAC system only runs at full speed, the modulating system can run with two or more speeds. This provides consistent air conditioning that is simply what every home requires.