Choosing the Right Air Conditioning System for Your Home or Business

May 27, 2015

A number of factors will determine the type of air conditioning system that will be recommended for your home or business. These factors include the size and overall temperature of the area requiring air conditioning. All correlated criteria are taken into account before recommending the most appropriate system that can be used inside a particular area or space. Window Air Conditioning Units The most common type of air conditioning unit for single rooms is the window-type air conditioner in which a box contains all the parts of this air conditioning unit (the condenser, evaporator, expansion valve, cooling coil, and compressor). This type of air conditioning unit is installed through an opening on the wall or on the window sill of a room. Split-Type Air Conditioning Unit The split-type air conditioning unit is made up of two components, the indoor component and the outdoor component. The indoor component is made up of the cooling fan and coil or evaporator. The outdoor unit is positioned outside the room and is made up of the condenser, expansion valve, and compressor. It is not necessary to provide an opening on the wall for these types of air conditioning units. Modern split units are creatively-designed...

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Mold Prevention and HVAC Maintenance

May 26, 2015

Mold is often hard to deal with, as it can easily resurface after being dormant for several years. Mold and HVAC Systems Contrary to what some people might think, HVAC systems are not exactly responsible for mold. It is especially hard for this growth to thrive on these systems due to the nature of their surfaces, which are usually metallic. But their use can enhance the growth of mold when these systems are not properly maintained. To avoid issues, it is important for you to ensure your system is properly designed and installed to guard against dampness in your home. It should also use effective filtration techniques for clean air, with maintenance work carried out on it periodically. Prevention of Mold Growth If you are building a new home, it is important to ensure appropriate architectural, design, and building techniques are used for your home to guard against excess moisture. You may be exposed to a mold problem as a result of defective flashing, doors, windows, balconies, and vapor barriers. You should also have the exterior parts of your building inspected at least once annually. Breaches in building envelope, roof flashing and caulking should be repaired. It is important to...

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Investing in the Future: Geothermal Heating for Your Home

May 15, 2015

After wind and solar energy, geothermal energy is gaining the attention of homeowners interested in green energy. The most common application for geothermal energy is in heating residential homes and commercial establishments. Listed below are five key points about geothermal heating that everyone should be aware of: 1. Geothermal Heating Is Gaining Recognition Geothermal heating technology is not just more available, but it is being used widely across the nation. A popular online resource that connects contractors and homeowners published a report stating that the requests for geothermal systems have increased by over two times in the past year. According to estimates provided by the United States Government’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Consumer Guides, there are almost 50,000 geothermal systems installed in the U.S. every year. 2. Geothermal Heating Saves Money While the upfront cost of installing a geothermal system might appear steep, it’s a smart long-term investment due to significantly reduced operational expenses. According to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy consumer guide, homeowners typically recoup the initial investment within a relatively short period, usually around 5 to 10 years, through substantial energy savings. As societal consciousness about environmental impact grows, the allure of eco-friendly HVAC systems becomes more pronounced. Homes equipped with...

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Maintaining Your Air Conditioning System

May 6, 2015

Preventative maintenance of your HVAC system is necessary to ensure that your air conditioner will serve you well this summer. A preventative maintenance program will reduce the need for unanticipated repairs and minimize expenses. Increase your knowledge about the HVAC system as well as become familiar with how preventative maintenance is performed. This knowledge will allow you to find out which maintenance work you can perform yourself and which maintenance work will require a St. Louis HVAC repair professional. Become Familiar With the System All central air conditioning systems have two main parts, the condenser and evaporator. The air conditioning condenser unit is normally located at the side or rear portion of the home. The evaporator coil is positioned on top of the furnace along the duct junction. A forced-air distribution system is also connected to the air conditioning system. The house is heated using the same motor blower and ductwork used in keeping it cool. Maintain the Air Filters Maintaining the air filters of the air conditioning unit is the easiest preventative maintenance measure. It will extend the life of the HVAC system and allow you to avoid expensive repairs. The fan may become clogged up if the air filters are blocked with...

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Heating and Cooling Your Home Using the Earth’s Largest Resource

April 24, 2015

Heating And Cooling With Geothermal Heating Your home is sitting right on top of a huge, relatively untapped source of heat. Just a few feet past the foundation is a renewable energy resource in the form of heat that is naturally abundant under the ground. This heat generated from the earth, or geothermal, can be harnessed and used as a natural way to keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. What Is Geothermal Heating? Deep inside the earth, temperatures soar to over 9,000 degrees. This heat rises to the surface and is stored in between pockets of rock below the surface of the ground. Water is a great conductor of this heat as can be seen with naturally occurring hot springs and geysers and can also be used to help bring that heat up and straight into your living room. Since the heat is always being generated, this is a naturally renewable form of heat that can be harnessed and used as a home heating source. To accomplish this, an experienced HVAC company would install a geothermal heat pump for your home. Using long pipes that are buried below the frost line, a mixture of water and...

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Revolutionizing Energy Efficiency: The Role of HVAC Systems in Commercial Buildings

April 22, 2015

The overall energy use has come down thanks to the use of more energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems. In the last 25 years, the energy intensity of buildings has decreased by over 40 percent. During the five year period from 2007 to 2012, the energy demand in commercial buildings has come down by about 6.4 percent, according to a study published in Bloomberg New Energy Finance. According to HVAC experts, the decrease in energy consumption in commercial buildings can largely be attributed to the new, more energy-efficient construction, and use of new technology in old buildings including up gradation of HVAC systems. A surprising fact about today’s energy consumption scenario in commercial establishments is that even though the number of electronic devices being employed has gone up substantially, the overall energy use has come down thanks to the use of more energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems. However, this does not mean that there is no scope of any further improvement. Building owners and facility managers can still take some measures to improve energy efficiency, and further, bring down utility bills. According to Energy Star, the largest operating expense in any commercial establishment is that of energy use. Apart from the economic impact of energy use, the environmental impact is also huge. Commercial...

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What Can Cause an Air Conditioner to Blow Warm Air?

April 9, 2015

Is your air conditioner heating up your home instead of cooling it? There are numerous instances when homeowners find that their air conditioning unit is heating the house up instead of cooling it. Although this is an issue that needs urgent attention, it does not automatically indicate a major problem in the air conditioning unit. Check the Thermostat Settings Hot air blown by an air conditioning unit can be linked to problems with the thermostat. In some cases, the problem can be quite complicated such as the failure of communication between the air conditioner and thermostat, and it can be resolved only by an HVAC technician. However, if the thermostat is not set properly, it too can cause the air conditioner to blow warm air. It is necessary that the thermostat is on COOL mode and not on HEAT mode. The fan setting should also be in AUTO mode instead of ON. Although a homeowner may recall setting the thermostat properly, it is possible that another occupant of the house would have changed the setting. It is also possible that the settings would have reset to its default factory setting after power is cut off during a storm. The Outdoor Unit Should Be Connected Properly A disconnect switch is sometimes found...

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Maintaining Clean Air Ducts

April 2, 2015

Pollutants can accumulate inside your home’s air ducts, reducing the indoor air quality of your home. Most residential and commercial structures are built with integrated heating, ventilation, and air conditioning or HVAC ducts. Fresh and stale air does not normally circulate together through these ducts. This will result in the accumulation of pollutants inside the air ducts and will lower the indoor air quality of the building. Those who suffer from respiratory ailments may experience aggravated symptoms from the pollutants. Maintaining Healthy Indoor Air Pollutants in the air ducts can be minimized or eliminated if the HVAC ducts are cleaned, resulting in a healthy environment inside the house. However, it is also possible that the air ducts will be damaged if they are cleaned too often. A regular cleaning schedule should be established. Although numerous recommendations are available for cleaning the ductwork, it is important to hire a St. Louis HVAC company to clean them properly. Aside from an improvement in air quality when the duct is clean, rodents will be also kept away. How to Clean Air Ducts A number of modifications have made in industry standards as well as duct cleaning methods over a number of years. The cleaning quality has improved with the developments...

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How to Fix a Noisy Air Conditioner

March 30, 2015

An air conditioner makes your living space comfortable; however, if your air conditioner makes too much noise, it becomes a source of irritation. Has your air conditioner always been this loud or has it recently started making a lot of noise? If the noise has started recently, then the problem may be mechanical and you should get the unit inspected to locate the defect or the source of the noise. Using a Soundproofing Blanket Central air conditioners have an outdoor compressor and condenser unit which has moving parts that may become noisy with time. The most effective way to reduce noise for an outdoor unit is to install a soundproofing blanket on the compressor. Compressors generally have an internal cooling system and hence the problem of overheating due to soundproofing may not arise. However, first, check with the unit’s manufacturer regarding any warranty violations due to the use of a soundproofing blanket. Anti-Vibration Pads The noise of an outdoor unit can also be because of excessive vibrations. This can be resolved using anti-vibration pads. These are inexpensive rubber pads that can be installed under the feet of the compressor – they dampen the vibrations and decrease the noise levels. Another option is to install a ‘soft start’ controller...

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How an Air Conditioning System Improves Indoor Air Quality

March 26, 2015

The role of an air conditioning system is not limited to circulating cool air inside a house. The latest air conditioning systems, particularly high-efficiency systems, also help control the indoor air quality in a house. Indoor air quality combines clean air with temperature, odor, and humidity control. Indoor air quality is significant to the well-being, health, and finances of a homeowner. The following suggestions will help you to maintain fresh, clean, and healthy indoor air inside your home. Replace Air Filters Every Three Months Filters prevent pollen, dust, spores, and other pollutants from entering the house. Replacing the filter is necessary since dirty filters reduce airflow, which affects the efficiency of the system and increases the operating expenses of the system. Dirty filters may also result in overheating of the system along with other issues that can permanently damage the system. Verify the recommendation of the original equipment manufacturer for proper scheduling. Install a System with a High SEER Rating To ensure good air quality inside the house, a longer air circulation period is required to allow air to continuously flow through the filter. High efficiency systems use low power at extended periods of time. They also ensure continuous air flow inside the house while enhancing both...

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