HVAC Systems: 4 Basic Facts You should Know

HVAC systems have become more and more commonplace in the United States. You can see these units in commercial buildings and homes. However, the issue is, most people still don’t know how to handle these machines properly. Some even think that such units do not require any kind of maintenance. Here are some four basic facts you should know about an HVAC system to get the most out of it.

What is your HVAC system?

An HVAC system refers to a commercial or residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit.  Technically, this includes the entire structure. The focus of this article is on whole-structure systems since they are the most popular, cost-effective and efficient. These systems normally comprise of an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a web of duct work and a filter.

Fact 1: Not all systems are created equal

You have a variety of HVAC systems available for installation including those with AC/furnace combinations, heat pumps, and gas furnace hybrids that depend on heat pumps. The efficiency and quality of the HVAC can vary greatly, even when they are all required to follow performance guidelines.

Whether you are looking to buy a new HVAC system or are giving an upgrade to your older unit, it is extremely important to hire a professional service provider who can suggest the most efficient and reliable units available.

Fact 2: You can save money on utility and energy bills if you’re smart

The concept of ‘comfortable temperature’ varies from person to person, but the need to save money on the utility and energy bills is global! Saving more cash is as simple and easy as increasing the temperature through the thermostat. Using the right components along with proper insulation can save considerably on the heating and cooling bills.

Fact 3: HVAC maintenance is extremely important

Never underestimate the significance of regular, scheduled maintenance of your machine. Proper upkeep means fewer dollars spent on repairs and more money saved on utility and heating costs.

Early summer and spring are the best months for AC check-ups and maintenance. Fall is best for heating maintenance. Stay prepared with optimal operating efficiency before you need your HVAC in full blast.

Fact 4: Using dual fuel heat pumps is more beneficial

The effectiveness and productivity of heat pump HVAC systems is growing steadily in popularity, because they have the ability to do it all: they offer cooling during the warmer months and heating during the cooler months, that too at a reasonable price.

Program the dual heat pump system to function with the outdoor temperatures. Decide an upper range to activate the electric heat pump and decide on a lower range to trigger the other fuel pump.

Apart from keeping these facts in mind, it's always a good idea to contact a local HVAC contractor for tackling any concerns or questions about your HVAC needs. They will make sure your needs are well taken care of. One of the best ways to search for reputed HVAC contractors is to search online.

The Various Types of HVAC systems You Should Know

You have already performed an energy efficiency assessment of your house and have gotten some extra insulation done. The next thing on your mind is to call an HVAC expert and decide on the right HVAC unit.

Before taking an expert’s advice, you must perform a quick research on the types of units available today. In fact, you have a range of options that newer systems provide which are briefly listed below.

Air Conditioning and Heating Split System

This is believed to be one of the most traditional HVAC systems. With a split unit, you have parts located both outside and inside your house. An advanced split system comprises the following parts.

1. A/C: Cools refrigerant
2. Evaporator coil and furnaces, or fan coil: circulates air and converts refrigerant
3. Ducts: transports the air throughout the house
4. Control or thermostats: an interface that helps in controlling the system

Hybrid Heat Split System

A hybrid heat split system is an energy-efficient substitute of the conventional air conditioning and heating split system. The availability of a heat pump provides the option of electricity-fueled air conditioning or heating. A competitively priced hybrid heat split system comprises the following.

1. Heat Pump: heats and cools refrigerant
2. Evaporator coil and furnaces: circulates air and converts refrigerant
3. Ducts: transports the air throughout the house
4. Control or Thermostat: an interface that helps to control the system
5. Accessories: such as air purifiers, air cleaners, humidifiers, ventilators and the like, to maintain air quality.

Duct-Free System

Duct-free systems are the ones that can be installed in spaces where the normal ducted systems are hard to fit. In fact, they are the best complement to a ducted system. These units offer a combination of the following.

1. Compact Fan Coil: circulates air, converts refrigerant
2. Air Conditioner or heat pump: heats or cools refrigerant
3. Refrigerant wires or tubing: connects the fan coil to the outdoor unit
4. Thermostat or control: the interface that helps control the system
5. Accessories: such as air purifiers, air cleaners, humidifiers, ventilators and the like, to maintain air quality

Packaged Air Conditioning and Heating System

In case, your house does not have enough space to fit in multiple separate products of a split system, several companies offer packaged solutions. The options include the following.

1. Packaged Products: an air conditioner or heat pump combined with an evaporator coil or fan coil in a single unit
2. Thermostat or Control: the interface that helps in controlling the system
3. Optional accessories: for indoor air quality such as air cleaners, humidifiers, air purifiers, ventilators or UV lamps.

Zoned Systems

Zoned HVAC systems are used for heating or cooling individual areas of the house by controlling zone dampers and valves inside the ductwork or vents that block the airflow selectively. Zoned systems have the ability to save you money and energy by only cooling or heating certain spaces, as needed.

HVAC systems today come in a variety of sizes and types, and the one you choose to add or upgrade should depend upon the size of your house and the climate of the area where you live. It is best to seek advice from HVAC experts before choosing a system.

Improving the Quality of the Indoor Air You Breathe: Four Great Ideas for You

Most of us may think of air pollution as something outside our homes and offices – haze, smog, low level ozone etc. The fact is the air inside our houses and offices can be as polluted as the outside air. The invisible culprits are household dust (lead), fire-retardants, formaldehyde, radon, chemicals from fragrances in conventional cleaners and fresheners and even deodorants and synthetic perfumes.

Four great ideas for you to improve indoor air quality

1.Keeping the floors fresh

• Vacuum: Allergens and chemicals can start accumulating in household dust. By using a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate arrestance filter, you can reduce lead concentrations in your house. You can also get rid of other toxins, such as, PBDEs (brominated fire-retardant chemicals) and allergens like pet dander, pollen, and dust mites. 
• Mop: Mopping helps to pick up dust left behind by vacuuming. Use plain water to catch any lingering allergens or dust. Advanced microfiber mops are known to capture more dirt and dust than the conventionalones.

2.Maintaining a healthy level of humidity

Mold and dust mites thrive in moisture. Keeping the humidity levels around 30%-50% can help you control the air pollutants. An air conditioner and a dehumidifier are extremely beneficial in reducing humidity indoors. Air conditioners also help reduce indoor pollen count -- another benefit for allergy sufferers.

Other tips for dehumidifying a house: 

• Open your windows or use an exhaust fan when cooking, bathing or running the dishwasher.
• Fix leaky plumbing.
• Do not overwater the houseplants.
• Empty the drip pans in your dehumidifier and window A/C.

3. No smoking inside your house

One of the reasons for indoor air pollution is cigarette smoke. It contains more than four thousand chemicals. As per research, secondhand smoke can increase a child's risk of developing respiratory and ear infections, cancer, and asthma. For a smoker, this addiction can cause breathing problems, cancer, stroke and heart attacks.

If you wish to stop smoking, nicotine-replacement therapy, support groups, and other medications can be very helpful. Find a way out that works best for you.

4. Checking your HVAC system for leaks:

One of the biggest causes for indoor air pollution is a leaking HVAC system. There can be times when a unit starts to emit carbon monoxide and other deadly gases inside the house. Being odorless, carbon monoxide is hard to detect and can only be evident through the detrimental health effects it begins to have on the members of the family. To avoid this situation, it is best to get your HVAC system checked and cleaned every season. You must also install carbon monoxide detectors within the house to be on the safer side.

It would be good for you to hire an expert HVAC cleaner to make sure your system is working efficiently and is at its best potential.

These little measures can go a long way in helping you keep your house fresh and your family healthy. Let in fresh air as often as you can and use chemical-free cleaners to clean the house.

Four Essential Things You Must Know about HVAC Maintenance

A properly functioning and clean HVAC system is essential to both your respiratory health and comfort. Heating and cooling system manufacturers recommend that your HVAC be inspected regularly. By having your system cleaned and calibrated, you can improve energy efficiency, keep fuel costs to the minimum, and prolong the life of your equipment.

One of the best ways to keep your heating and cooling system at its peak performance is by hiring a contractor to perform annual check-ups.  A typical maintenance check-up from an expert must include the following. 

General maintenance 

There are certain standardized checks that every good contractor will perform on your HVAC, such as:

1. Checking the thermostat setting to ensure that the heating and cooling system keeps the house at a comfortable temperature,
2. Measuring voltage, and tightening all electrical connections to ensure safe operation and increasing life of the components,
3. Lubricating the moving parts: components that lack proper lubrication can create friction in motors and increase the consumption of electricity,
4. Checking out the condensate drain in the furnace, heat pump, and central air conditioner:, a blocked drain can create water damage and upset the indoor humidity levels and
5. Checking system controls to ensure safe and proper operation: inspecting the starting cycle of the system can ensure that the system starts, functions, and shuts off correctly.

Heating inspection

Apart from performing some standardized tests, good contractors will also check to see if your heating system is working fine. This will include checking all oil or gas connections, burner combustion, gas pressure, and heat exchangers. Gas/Oil connections that function in an abnormal manner can be hazardous to your health. Also, a cracked heat exchanger or dirty burner can lead to improper burner operation. Both can cause the system to function less efficiently and safely.

Cooling inspection

Cooling becomes a necessity during the peak summer months. In order go make sure that it is perfect throughout the season, you must oversee whether the professional performs the following actions:

1. Clean the air conditioning and evaporator coils: dirty coils can decrease the machine’s ability to cool a house, cause the thermostat to run longer,  reduce the equipment’s life and increase energy costs.
2. Checking the air conditioner’s refrigerant level and changing it if required: excessive or low refrigerant will make the machine less efficient, reduce its life and increase energy costs.
3. Cleaning and adjusting the blower components for proper system airflow: airflow problems can decrease the efficiency of the system by almost 15 percent.

Do-it-Yourself HVAC Ideas

Apart from seeking expert help, you can also perform certain actions on your own to make sure that your HVAC remains in good working order, all year long. Inspect the system’s air filters and clean or change them once a month. If you don’t know how to do this, ask your contractor to show you the right way to perform the action. A dirty filter can damage your machine, and lead to increased energy costs.

Peak summer and biting winter are the busiest seasons for HVAC contractors, and so it's best to get your cooling system checked in the spring and your heating system during the fall. Remember, you can plan to your advantage the annual maintenance around time changes during spring and fall.

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Health and safety issues related to HVAC

Whether due to damage or improper maintenance, your HVAC unit can quickly become a health and safety hazard. Here are a few HVAC-related safety and health issues you and your family must be aware of.

Carbon monoxide poisoning

The most common safety concern of an HVAC is carbon monoxide. Poisoning due to carbon monoxide can be serious, and in some cases fatal. Since carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless, it is impossible to identify until you or a loved one becomes ill. The first signs are normally similar to the flu —nausea, headaches, and fatigue — so they are often ignored. However, long-term exposure can be fatal and human beings with chronic health problems are specifically at risk.

A damaged heat exchanger is a common cause of carbon monoxide, particularly in older furnaces. One of the best ways to avoid the poisoning is to have your unit serviced and inspected by a trained professional. You must also place a carbon monoxide detector within your house for safety purpose.

Incorrect air filtration

Bad air filtration can also be a hazard to the health of your family. Low indoor air quality -- because of allergens, dust, or airborne irritants – is a common contributor to respiratory illnesses and problems. People with underlying respiratory problems such as allergies or asthma are particularly vulnerable. Several health issues can occur due to poor air quality, ranging from minor headaches to serious breathing difficulties and allergic reactions. Regular replacement and preventive maintenance of air filters is important to keep the indoor air of a home safe.

Improper humidity moisture control

This has become an important consideration for an HVAC unit. Lack of humidity during dry climates or the winter months can lead to breathing problems, dry lips, cracked skin, sore throat and other such health issues. Dry nasal passages can leave a family prone to respiratory illness and infection, and can deteriorate flu symptoms. Apart from impacting your family's safety and health, dry air also has the ability to damage your house. Cracking hardwood floors, furniture and molding are just a few expensive results of improper humidity. You can contribute towards your family’s health and to the longevity of your home by installing a humidifier that regulates the moisture levels inside the house.

Electrical problems

Electrical issues can also pose several risks. A very common problem is a water leakage within the system. It is very common for the condensation drain of an A/C to become blocked. This can lead to water draining onto the system's components, leading to equipment failure, and creating the hazard of electric shock. Therefore, air conditioner restoration is not something an immature homeowner should take care of. An experienced contractor will be aware of likely risks, and take the right precautions. Preventive maintenance on a regular basis is required to avoid electrical risks.

Your HVAC unit, if not properly monitored and maintained, can make you sick or further aggravate your health problems. Regular attention to air quality and professional maintenance are the best ways to avoid many safety and health risks posed by HVAC systems. However, the information provided is not meant to substitute for the medical advice and expertise of a healthcare provider. It is best to discuss any decisions about care and treatment of your medical condition with a healthcare provider.

How to keep your HVAC system energy efficient

Most homeowners in the United States shell out thousands of dollars every year on heating, ventilation and air conditioning bills. The truth is that you can lower your energy expenses by improving the efficiency of your HVAC system. Here are some simple energy-saving tips that can help you cut-back. 

For Heating

Heating accounts for almost 60% of our energy use. There are three main ways of reducing heating expenses:-

• Turn it down: Even by decreasing the set points by one degree has the potential to lower your yearly heating bill by almost 8%.
• Replace inefficient boilers: Replacing unproductive boilers with higher efficiency models can help you gain better savings through a heating system that is more energy efficient.

For Ventilation

Proper ventilation is extremely important. It offers fresh air and also assists in protecting a house against condensation and dampness. Needless ventilation, on the other hand, can lead to energy wastage and can cost you a lot of money.

• Time settings: Try to make sure the fans are not running when not required. This practice will not only help you save energy, but will also keep the hot air from venting out of the house.
• Motors: When you buy a new motor for your ventilator, always stick to a higher efficiency model as it can easily save you up to 5% on energy costs.

For Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is known to increase the energy consumption and related carbon emissions by almost 100%. Fortunately, there are some easy, low-cost ways that can help you save energy and make your A/C more efficient.

• Temperature control: Make sure your A/C does not function below 24°C. Also, your cooling and heating systems should not be competing with one another as it is a complete wastage of money.
• Variable speed drives: Do not generate more cooling than you actually need - this can waste energy and money. Variable speed drives can fluctuate the system’s output to meet your requirements all through the day. This can help you in saving money on energy.
• Free cooling coils: It utilizes outside air (if it is cool enough) as a source of lowering the temperature within the house. This helps in reducing energy bills because you won’t have to utilize as much energy to generate cooling for the AC system.
• Keep windows and doors shut: Keep the windows and doors closed during the day to save energy. Reopen the coverings at night or early morning to let in cool fresh air from outside.
• Leaky ducts: Request for a complete inspection of your ducts. Leaky ducts are extremely common and reduce the effectiveness of a system. Remember, small modifications to these units can help save a lot of time and money.

If you are experiencing problems and your unit is more than ten years old, consider buying a new HVAC system. A new efficient system, when properly installed and sized, will turn out to be more cost-effective in the long run. Buying a unit of the right size and installing it correctly is critical to comfort and efficiency.  Ask for help and guidance from a local HVAC expert, and make sure a qualified professional installs the new system. Also, have your system professionally serviced every season. Request for a tune-up periodically that includes cleaning the coils, checking the refrigerant for charge and a complete inspection of the duct system.