HVAC technicians are experts in heating and cooling systems, ventilation, filtration, humidity control, and odor removal. They also help promote energy efficiency and a healthier environment. Click the https://hubbardmechanical.com/ to learn more.
Homeowners can help their HVAC system work better by keeping air filters clean and trimming plants around units to keep air flowing. They should also check that AHUs, controls, and exhaust fans are easily accessible.
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Heat pumps are energy-efficient alternatives to furnaces and air conditioners. They use electricity to transfer heat from one place (usually the cool outdoors) into your warm house and vice versa. They operate at a fraction of the cost of fossil-fuel-powered systems and can help lower your carbon footprint.
They use a relatively simple technology, and they work in all climates. In heating mode, they soak up the free heat in the air outside (even when it’s very cold) and pump it indoors. In cooling mode, they take advantage of the same law of thermodynamics by absorbing heat from the air in your home and moving it to the outside.
The way they do this is by exploiting a property of refrigerant. Whenever something is pushed at lower than its boiling point, it gets warmer and then changes state from a liquid to a gas. This happens in a coil called the evaporator in an air-source heat pump, and it absorbs energy from the surrounding air.
That heat energy is then used to generate hot water or to warm the air in the ducts and throughout the house. Some models use a separate outdoor unit that loops piping in a ground loop to extract stored warmth from the earth, which is usually done in homes with lots of open space around the house. Because of the excavation costs associated with this, ground-source heat pumps tend to have higher installation costs than air-source units.
Because of their efficiency, heat pumps tend to have lower operating costs than traditional furnaces and air conditioners. They also require less maintenance and can last up to twice as long as fossil-fuel-powered systems.
They’re heavily incentivized now because of their ability to shrink your carbon footprint, even if you’re using electricity that’s generated in part from fossil fuels. As the percentage of low-carbon energy in the grid continues to rise, heat pumps will have an even more dramatic impact on greenhouse gases.
If you’re considering a heat pump, look for one with an energy-efficiency rating of at least COP 1.2 for heating and at least COP 0.7 for cooling. Your local Carrier dealer can provide more information on the best system for your home.
Ductless Systems
A relatively newcomer to the American HVAC market, ductless systems (or ductless mini-split system) operate similar to traditional ducted systems, but without a large outside compressor and extensive ductwork. Instead, a small outdoor unit is connected to one or more interior wall-mounted or ceiling units with refrigerant tubing. They deliver conditioned air through fans in the indoor units, which can be controlled via remote control. Some models also feature Wi-Fi or voice controls for additional convenience and customization.
Ductless systems can be more cost-effective than a centralized air conditioning system, particularly for homeowners with multiple rooms or buildings that need to be cooled separately. Built-in zoning allows you to control individual indoor units, so you only use energy and cool the spaces that need it. You can even schedule individual air conditioning units to turn on and off at specific times of the day, reducing waste and energy consumption.
These systems also eliminate the need for vents, which can become places for dust, pollen, and other allergens to collect. These contaminants can be blown out of your home’s vents and circulated throughout your house, leading to breathing problems for family members with allergies or asthma. Ductless systems also offer greater energy efficiency than ducted systems, with SEER ratings up to 30.
In addition, a ductless system is typically less expensive to install than a ducted system with existing ductwork. Ductless systems can be a good option for older homes and apartments, where renovations may be difficult or impossible.
A ductless air conditioner uses a special type of refrigerant that absorbs heat from the air, which is then cooled in the evaporator and blower. Most models come with a filter, which reduces airborne particles and pollutants for improved indoor air quality. Some models also include an inverter technology that adjusts the compressor’s speed, allowing them to run more slowly and conserve more energy. If you have a ductless system, it’s important to maintain the outdoor unit by cleaning its condensing coil on a regular basis. You can remove debris, spray it with a degreaser, and apply a fungistat or bacteriostat to keep the coil clean.
Furnaces
The furnace is the workhorse of forced air heating systems. It creates heat that is circulated throughout your home using blower fans and the ductwork in your walls. Furnaces can be powered by electricity, natural gas or oil. Those that use gas utilize a combustion chamber to burn fuel and create heat that is transferred into the air by a heat exchanger. Combustion byproducts, such as carbon monoxide, are vented out through a flue pipe or chimney.
Furnaces have been operated with a wide variety of fuels, including wood, coke, coal, trash, paper, whale oil (for a short period at the turn of the century) and natural gas. The basic design of the system remained the same: a control box, a gas valve, a blower fan and a heat exchanger. Electricity was added to aid air distribution and speed up the movement of heat into the building.
As soon as the thermostat sends a signal that your building temperature is below your desired level, your furnace system is activated to begin heating up. The gas valve opens and natural gas is pushed into the furnace’s combustion chamber via gas jets. The igniter (or pilot light in older models) sparks the gas and it begins burning. This heats the air that passes over the heated metal tubes of the heat exchanger.
The warm air is then pushed back into the building through the supply and return air ducts by the blower fan. The return ducts carry cold air from the living spaces of your home to the furnace while the supply ducts deliver the warmed air back to those rooms.
If you have a single-stage furnace, it operates at full blast until the demand for heat stops. Newer systems offer two-stage operation that allows the furnace to operate at lower speeds most of the time, which reduces energy costs.
All combustion furnaces require a combustible fuel to fire the burners that heat up and the resulting hot air is then circulated through your ductwork. The combustible fuel may be delivered in pipes from a gas, oil or propane tank. The system also requires a ductwork system and exhaust venting, which are usually sized to match the size of the furnace unit.
Air Conditioners
Air conditioners do more than simply cool the air; they remove excess moisture as well, enhancing indoor comfort and health. They work by absorbing warm air over refrigerant coils in an efficient cooling cycle, which also helps to remove pollutants and toxins from the air.
There are several different types of air conditioning systems, based on the size of your home and your budget. Some homeowners choose to install a central AC system, while others prefer ductless systems or portable units. When considering your options, it is important to consider the energy efficiency ratings and other factors that will affect your monthly electricity bills.
The basic process of air conditioning starts with a thermostat that senses and controls the temperature in your home. When the thermostat detects that the temperature has risen, it signals the compressor to begin the cooling cycle. The compressor takes the refrigerant from its liquid state and compresses it. As it compresses, the refrigerant absorbs heat and increases its pressure. This hot, pressurized refrigerant then moves to a big coil outside the house. A fan draws air over the coil, which cools it and rejects the refrigerant’s heat, causing it to change back into a liquid state.
A copper tube runs between the indoor and outdoor unit, allowing the refrigerant to flow between the two. The air conditioner will then move the cooled refrigerant to its indoor evaporator coil. The evaporator coil is designed to absorb moisture from the air, transforming it into cool, dry air. A fan in the evaporator coils then circulates this air throughout the home.
The evaporator coils in an air conditioning system are made of aluminum or copper. Over time, they will wear down and need to be replaced. When you replace your evaporator coils, it is recommended that you use only the highest quality refrigerant available, such as the new generation of hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) such as R-454B. These do not deplete the ozone layer and are expected to be available as an alternative for Puron supplies as soon as 2023. In the meantime, you can safely use HFOs like R-454B to maintain your existing HVAC equipment.