Matt Ridler asked:




If your air conditioning unit is not performing well or you are considering replacing it, read on to find out how you can best manage the situation.

Many home and business air conditioners require routine check ups. Unfortunately, many homeowners and business owners neglect their Air Conditioning equipment and let outstanding problems go unattended for too long. As a responsible homeowner or business owner, it is imperative that you maintain regular check-ups on your air conditioning system. Air conditioning and refrigeration repair procedures should also be performed by qualified technicians.

Some central air conditioning problems can be resolved with basic solutions. You may simply need to adjust your thermostat or let your unit cool down for a short period while you wait for it to restore to its original setting. Also, you might check the unit itself for any debris blocking air flow or other obstructions within the air conditioner unit and by checking the condenser on the outside of the building for obstructions.

Air conditioning problems can crop up out of nowhere and when you least expect it, especially if you do not stay current with your troubleshooting and maintenance processes. Nothing is worse than coming home to an overheated house or apartment on a hot summer day only to find your air conditioning unit is not working. After adjusting your thermostat to cool off your living space, your unit could refuse to turn on or fail to properly lower the temperature as you would usually expect.

Air conditioning troubleshooting is an important first step in any air conditioning repair procedure. While simple troubleshooting steps may help with the most basic problems, you should always hire help for working on your air conditioner. As the owner of the Air Conditioning unit, you will need to be absolutely sure that you choose only the right company with the best technicians with proper certification. You will also want to work with an air conditioning repair company that provides prompt service and flexible calling times.

Caffeinated Content

Ricky Lim asked:




Home air conditioning repair is one of those few difficult tasks you must repair with care. For repairing the air conditioner of your sweet house, you need to first know how an air conditioner works.

Model Partition of an air conditioner

Generally, an air-conditioner has two different working parts on which it actually functions. These are the evaporator and the condenser. While the condenser of an air-conditioner is placed outside the room or the location it is used for, the evaporator is placed inside the main cabinet of the air-conditioner.

Most people connect their air conditioners to the air distribution system and so, and they have a common motor, ductwork and blower for heating as well as throwing cold air outside. Home air conditioning repairs is not a one time activity as you would need perform it all throughout the life of the air conditioner so knowing the technical operations of a air conditioner is of utmost important.

When you switch on the air conditioner, the hot air present in the room is sucked and channeled to the furnace from with help of return duct. The hot air then moves to the evaporator coils present in plenum which direct it towards the cooling house. Plenums are special coils for air circulation and ventilation. All the working of an air conditioner depends on the set of plenum which facilitates the air channel. So, if your air conditioner is not cooling the room, it is likely to have a problem in its air distribution channel or plenums.

While do-it-yourself repair service is doable for small or minor faults in an air conditioner, for specific faults or breakdowns, you should call a technician for serious home air conditioning repairs. Cleaning of the evaporator and other menial tasks may be performed by you but make sure you do not try your hands at something you are adept at.

Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress

David Faulkner asked:




A career path that includes the field of heating and air conditioning, will take you far. Whether you choose to work on the repair and installation end of the field or more directly by helping to design new products and systems, the career choice is a good one. Today’s modern technology makes the learning of the heating and air conditioning trades an especially interesting and rewarding one.

An essential part of every industrial, commercial or residential building, heating and air conditioning systems help to control humidity, temperature and the quality of the air we breathe inside those buildings. Because of the public’s dependence on these systems, a career in heating and air conditioning is a stable source of financial security. As long as there are people who need to be either warmed up or cooled down, there will be a need for technicians who can keep these heating and air conditioning systems operating smoothly. It is also important to remember that repair technicians may have to make several service calls within a single day. On hot, summer days, lugging repair equipment and tools may not be for everyone.

The technician field is very popular, offering training that allows you to install, maintain and repair these heating and air conditioning systems. Another choice of career in the field may be better for creative types. The design and invention of new products is an exciting and satisfying field in itself and whether this involves new inventions or re-designing of existing products and equipment, new technology is incorporated into all products and systems. With days spent within laboratories and research stations, these technicians enjoy the designing of products and new equipment. In addition, the courses you take will be interesting and rewarding. Designers and innovators have an essential role in the field of heating and air conditioning.

Because the field is a very competitive one, it is important that employees and trainees have the best possible education behind them. To stay ahead of other students in your courses, it is important to have the proper educational background. The field of mechanics and engineering usually requires the students to have a degree from college, certification of a respected program or an apprenticeship certificate from an accomplished and recognized professional.

College degrees in mathematics and the sciences can greatly assist any designers of heating and air conditioning systems or products. Engineering careers usually require the employees to have scientific and mechanical degrees as well.

You need to be dedicated to the field you choose and strict study habits are needed. As you learn the trade, you can also become an apprenticeship, which allows you to work the trade and earn while you learn. Not all people who choose this profession can complete the program; therefore, the apprenticeship helps you before wasting valuable time.

Create a video blog

Boris Sherman asked:




If you are in the market for an air conditioner or a heat pump, you’ve heard about SEER. You’ve seen it in every flier, you’ve heard about it from every salesman. Are you still asking “What is SEER”? You won’t be after reading this article. Also, you will be able to easily calculate cost of air conditioning.

In a nutshell, a SEER rating tells you how much heat (BTU) an air conditioner can remove from a house with 1 watt of electricity. Comparing heat and electricity may seem like comparing apples and oranges, and that is why a “raw” SEER is mostly used to compare two air conditioners – the bigger the SEER, the better (more efficient) the unit.

To calculate anything else, math has to be used. At the bottom of this article there is a link to a page with a spreadsheet, which will handle all the math.

How to use the spreadsheet. It’s really very simple. Just enter how much heat you’d like to remove with the air conditioner and press “Enter.” That’s it! The spreadsheet will tell you how much it would cost to remove the heat using three different air conditioners, from an old 8-SEER unit to the top-of-the-line 16-SEER unit. The numbers account for one hour of cooling, and the electricity cost is assumed to be 6 cents per kw.

The spreadsheet does not take all the factors into account, but gives you a ballpark estimate of the electricity costs for air conditioning needs. There are three examples in the page, just follow them. One of the examples deals with cooling down a party – play with the numbers yourself and enjoy!

Now there’s no more guesswork. You know your air conditioning needs, and with this spreadsheet you can tell if savings will make up for a higher price tag on a more efficient unit.

Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress

Bill Whitworth asked:




Analogous to change in technology and the ever-increasing pollutants in the atmosphere, home air filtering technology has undergone a massive change. Today, many home air filters are layered with chemicals for killing the mold and dust spores, and sanitizing the filter to dispel impurities.

If you live in a heavily populated vicinity, there is a high possibility of dust particles collecting in your air conditioner. These filthy dust particles may probably hold up the condenser of the air conditioner and compel it to work intensely. As this would hamper the longevity of the air conditioner and affect its performance in the long run, make sure you steam-clean the air conditioner at least once in two years. Besides, if you live in a highly polluted area, a yearly clean up would do you good.

Furnace filters and air conditioning filters not only screen out debris and unwanted pollens from the heating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, but they also increase its productivity. If you replace them often, your air would stay healthy and clean without any allergens and all other types of bacteria that could be harmful to the lungs. Moreover, fresh replacements help in keeping the HVAC system running efficiently by prolonging its lifespan and reducing the utility bills after regular maintenance. Make sure you check your furnace filters and air conditioning filters, the need for replacement or cleaning every month and particularly during cooling or heating season when the system is continuously used. If these filters were not changed on a routine basis, your system would have to work extra hard, increase expenses and reduce performance.

Following are some common steps followed for changing the furnace filter or air conditioning filter:

• Turn off the HVAC system and look for the service panel. You could either use a screwdriver or your hand for removing these panels

• Locate the home air filter close to the intake-outtake blower; it might be behind a panel or door that swings or lifts open. Remove the filter.

• Before you install the new filter, look for an arrow (arrow indicating the direction of airflow) along the edge of the new filter. Install the filter, ensuring the arrow is pointing toward the blower motor and other related machinery. Make sure you don’t install the filter in a backwards airflow manner as this decreases the efficiency of the home air filter.

• Turn your system on and check whether it is functioning properly.

Conforming to the above given steps you would easily be able to change the home air filter. If you are unable to change the air filter, call for a heating contractor and watch how they change the filter.

Furnace filters and air-conditioning filters are available in permanent (with metal framing or fiberglass) or disposable (with cardboard frames). Disposable models are very cheap, but need to be replaced within a time span of a month. Therefore, it is better if you have spare filters on hand to save time during the course of the year. On the other hand, permanent brands are cost-effective. All furnace filters and air-conditioning filters come with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Report Value) Rating that denotes the capability of the product in comparison with the other various brands. The higher the MERV rating, the more beneficial your filtration will be.

Create a video blog…instantly.

D. Floyd Kolb asked:




Ductless split air conditioning units are the very best thing for some situations. Of course they can be installed in the place of most any central air unit. They also are a very good alternative to window air conditioning units. I will explore the use of these units more closely and look at how they can be used effectively.

One of the many problems encountered by the professional is when they are asked to install central air in an older home that was never designed with air conditioning as even a possibility. The walls may be very thick stone. Often they have very little or no insulation. The floor structures may be rough cut lumber. The joists spacing may be random.

Walls and ceilings are plaster and lathe. Basically everything is stacked against any type of ducted central air conditioning. Many log style homes also are not very easy to get any kind of ducted central air installed. The open ceilings and the bare log wall design does not allow for any kind of ducting. I’m sure there are other situations. These are the ones that I have come across most frequently.

If you have a home or building that falls into one of these categories you may want to investigate installing a ductless air conditioner. This type of air conditioner can be installed in almost any home or building. The small indoor unit can be attached to the wall with a few screws. Most of the units only require that a three inch hole be bored through the outside wall. In new installations the units can be placed on inside walls with some fore thought and planning. For installation in older homes or homes that are already built you will want to plan the units to be on the outside walls.

The outdoor condenser units can be placed up to one hundred feet away from the indoor units. One outdoor unit can be used for many indoor units. Up to four indoor units can be attached to the same outdoor condenser. Some very advanced electronics will control the operation of the condenser and compressor to supply the refrigerant to the indoor air handler units that are running at the time. With variable speed technology the compressor and the condenser fan will only run as fast as needed. This technology has become very efficient in the last few years. You do not have to give up any efficiency with these ductless split units.

Another advantage to these mini split air conditioners is that they can be controlled to run only in the rooms that you actually need air conditioning in. If you are not going to be in a room you can shut down the unit. The units also have timers that can be set to turn the air conditioning on or off at preset times. If you are not going to be home all day the air conditioning can be setback or turned off.

The timer will turn on the air conditioning so that you return to a cool house. Central air conditioning is very hard to zone effectively. Also with large central air conditioning systems the outdoor compressor will be running at full capacity even though only a few rooms may be calling for cooling. There are some central air conditioning systems that are do some staging and variable speed technology. These are not as efficient or as effective as the ductless split technology.

Ductless split heat pumps are another great idea to look at. For a few dollars more you can also very easily have heat from your air conditioning mini split. Then especially in the mild spring and fall weather you can have some very efficient heat with out starting up that big monster of a furnace or boiler in the basement. In southern climates the heat pump version of the ductless split system may provide enough heat year around.

Ductless split air conditioning is definitely something that can solve many problems for some homeowners. Add to that the many advantages of these units and you will find that they are worth every penny that you will invest into them. As with any project like this make sure that you screen your contractor. These units are not for do it yourself people. There are many things that need to be done correctly for these units to work properly and efficiently. A refrigeration license is also required to install these air conditioners.

By doing a little research and hiring the right person you will enjoy many years of trouble free service from your new ductless mini split system.

Caffeinated Content

Donald Munn asked:




Pleated filters are one of the more common types of filters used in air conditioning and heating systems today. Not only are they used in heating and air conditioning equipment but they can be found in many other applications like oil filters in our automobiles, water filters in our homes and process filtration just to mention a few.

Pleated air conditioner filters are usually made with a cardboard frame which is bonded together with glue. This kind of construction is more than adequate for normal applications where these filters would be used.

When shopping for pleated air conditioner filters you should look for one with a high MERV rating. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. The higher the MERV rating the more efficient the filter will be at removing dust and contaminants from the air.

Pleated filters are available in a range of thicknesses from 1 to 6 inches and can be ordered to fit any application. They are also the top choice among home owners. Over 40 percent of home owners choose pleated air filters in their heating and air conditioning equipment. Pleated air filters are even more popular commercially. They are the filter of choice by more than 75 percent of air conditioning contractors.

Pleated air filters are also often used as pre-filters in locations where bag filters are used. These are situations where either very clean air is required or where the air is very contaminated and the pleated filter removes the larger particles from the air before the more efficient bag filter removes the smaller particles. When pleated air filters are used they are usually of the less efficient type with MERV rating of 5 to 7.

Pleated air conditioner filters are so popular in fact that you can even get activated carbon filters which utilize the pleated design. These filters are used in applications where odors are a concern. Activated carbon is very porous and traps odor molecules.

The typical pleated air filter is made of synthetic media or other fabrics that will withstand the forces of air passing through them. Some are made with material that will not stand up to the force of air flowing through them so they have wire mesh used as backing to give them extra strength.

A pleated air filter is a good choice for the average home owner and they are a major improvement over throw away filters. Although pleated filters are very popular, they are not all of the same quality. The less inefficient varieties are not much better than a fiberglass throw away filter but the most efficient varieties are well over 90 percent efficient at removing contaminants from the air.

Website content

Jeanie Wong asked:




When performing home upgrades or buying new appliances such as heaters, volts, watts, and BTUs should be factors to consider. Some of you may have noticed that the outlet used to plug in your desk lamp may not be the same as the outlet behind your refrigerator, and without understanding volts, watts, and BTUs, you could be stuck with a heater that doesn’t produce enough heat to warm your area, or worse yet, you may find yourself with a heater that won’t fit in your standard two-pronged outlet.

Voltage

Voltage is measured as the root mean squared value between two slots or holes in an electric outlet of the sort typically mounted in a wall. The purpose of an electrical outlet is to provide an area for you to plug in various electrical appliances in order to supply them with power. Most standard power outlets in the United States are of the 120 volt variety, which have spots for two plugs, and are rated for 15 amps. Therefore, for these standard type outlets, you will be able to use any of the standard 120 volt heaters. However, it is very important to keep in mind that these ratings cannot be exceeded, as the outlet could be damaged or a fire could be started. In addition, if your outlet is only rated for 15 amps, you cannot have a 14 amp heater and other appliances running at the same time on the same circuit, or it will trip the breaker.

With that in mind, larger appliances are powered through 240 volt plugs, and cannot be powered through standard plugs. If they were fed by a 120 volt supply, they would need more than 20 amps of current running through the wires. In other words, the voltage from one hot wire to the other (called line to line voltage) is 240 volts, and the voltage from either wire to the neutral center-tap (called line to neutral voltage) is half that, or of the 120 volt variety as discussed above. These 240 volt outlets can also be found in garages, building sites, and other industrial areas, and this is done to provide the safer, 120 volt power to outlets that need to supply less than 2.4 kilowatts (as opposed to appliances like clothes dryers, which can pull 4 kilowatts).
While a 240 volt garage heater is significantly more efficient and powerful than a 120 volt space heater, this may not be necessary for your home. Though most space heaters are 120 volts, some wall heaters designed for home use are rated at 240 volts and are just as powerful as garage heaters.

Watts

A watt is an SI (metric) unit of power equal to one joule of energy per second. In terms of wattage, almost all 120 volt space heaters are rated up to 1500 watts at the maximum setting, and there is a 10/1 ratio of watts to square feet heated. Therefore, a 1500 watt space heater (120 volts) will be able to heat an area of 150 square feet, and a garage heater rated at 5,000 watts should be able to comfortably heat an area over 400 square feet.

Btus

In terms of Btus, or British Thermal Units, this is also a unit of energy that is used globally in heating and air conditioning industries, but is not commonly used scientifically. Nonetheless, in North America, the term Btu describes the energy value of fuels, and is also used to describe the power of heating and cooling systems such as heaters. When used as unit of power, Btus per hour is the commonly used term, and refers to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. To convert watts to Btus and vice versa, here are the conversion ratios:

1 watt = approximately 3.41 Btu/hour

1000 Btus/hour is approximately 293 watts

For additional information on voltage, wattage, and BTUs in regards to heating, consult the manufacturer of the heater you wish to purchase, or contact an electrician.

Create a video blog…instantly.

Sarah Connor asked:




There are so many home air filters available at the stores for you to choose from. You should know by now that there is really a need for it in every home. You trap dust, pollen and pet dander inside the house. You also cook food so smoke is bound to come out and be trapped inside too.

Examine the Culprits

What kind of pollutants is trapped inside your house? These are everyday things that come in and out of the house. You may not realize it but you cannot stop dust and pollen from coming into the house. They are just small particles that go in unnoticed. And because your house is most likely closed doors they stay there. You and your family will keep breathing them in. This will be bad for your respiration. If you or anyone in your family is sensitive to such things then they could trigger allergy or asthma attacks. And then if you have a dog or a cat, it can also drop pet dander everywhere. This again adds to the problem.

Choosing the Right Air Purifier

The first thing to consider is where you are going to put it. If you are going to use it in the bedroom then it should be very quiet so it will not disturb your sleep. Also, you should be able to put it in the proximity of an electric outlet. And don?t forget that you have to have ample space between your air purifier and the wall to give way for air circulation. About 3 inches would be enough.

Then you have to consider the size of the room on which you are going to install it in. The larger the room the more capacity you would need. Usually there?s a recommendation for every room size so you should check what chosen brand suggests you buy.

Next comes the filtration. The more stages of filtration it undergoes the better. It will have better chances of effectively cleaning the air in your house because the more filtration it does the more dirt is screened. Air cleaners that use HEPA filters are most effective because it has be proven to clean the reduce air pollution inside your house by 98%.

You should think twice before using air cleaners manufactured by less popular brands. While there might not be a problem when it comes to quality you may encounter one when it?s time replace the filters or when you have to replace a part. Not all stores will have that brand so you will have a difficulty finding them.

It would be good to check whether the unit you are buying has got good MERV and CADR ratings. The first indicates the air purifier?s efficiency to clean air while the second tells you how well it gives you clean air.

The better brands of home air filters may be more expensive but they may be worth it as well. If you have a clean air to breath, you will also ensure your family?s good health.

Create a video blog

Mike Selvon asked:




As temperatures start to climb outdoors, it often becomes very uncomfortable indoors for working, relaxing and sleeping. At these times there is generally a surge in interest in finding ways to cool down homes, apartments and offices. Often, this is when people decide that central air conditioning would be an attractive choice, because it offers a convenient way to control the indoor environment, as opposed to single room air conditioners that might not be the most efficient way to go.

A centralized cooling system does its job by utilizing a “split system,” which is able to condense the air as well as compress it. Additionally, these systems use an evaporator that is connected to the mechanism that handles it, such as a forced-air furnace. The entire unit is then put together as one complete system and installed exteriorly, usually on the roof of a commercial building or in a mechanical unit outside of a house.

As the central air conditioning begins to work, the cool air is sent throughout the building through a series of ducts that allow airflow into different rooms. The temperature in rooms of a house or different parts of a building is achieved by setting the system controls that come with the unit.

However, there is also the possibility that some centralized air conditioning systems do not come with such controls. In these instances, the controls must be purchased at an additional cost and should be installed at the same time as the complete unit. It is important to clarify this upfront with company that is selling and installing the unit so that there are no surprises during the installation process.

One of the reasons why most homeowners prefer centralized, air conditioning equipment is that these systems are able to keep the noise associated with running the air conditioning outside. Even the newer room air conditioners can be rather noisy, especially when running at night in bedrooms.

Such systems position the equipment that is responsible for the majority of the noise on the outside of the house. This allows the interior of the home to stay nice and quite even though the air conditioning unit might be working hard to keep things cool.

Central air conditioning tends to be a fairly complex system and the equipment is typically installed when a building is under construction. These heating and air conditioning systems supply the heating, cooling, air filters or air purifiers, and ventilation as needed to keep the environment of the home or office building comfortable and healthy. A centralized system utilizes supply and return ducts that are placed throughout the structure in order to properly circulate air.

If you are considering installing a new central air conditioner or simply need to replace an existing one, then make sure that the contractors who bid on the job perform a detailed “cooling load calculation” so that the proper system for your home will be installed. It is best not to use a simple “rule of thumb,” which tends to result in oversized equipment.

At the same time, they should not simply replace the old system with a new unit of the same size. The reason for this is because the existing system may have been the wrong size to begin with, or the home may have had added insulation or more efficient windows put in since the original system was installed.

All of the air conditioning manufacturers must have the equipment they produce rated for efficiency, according to the law. The rating for a central air conditioning unit is called the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, or SEER. Heat pumps carry an HSPF, or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, rating. The higher the number of the SEER/HSPF rating, the more efficiently the equipment uses electricity.

Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress