How Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pumps Work

February 29, 2016

Today, homeowners have an unprecedented array of choices when the time comes to replace a heating/cooling system. For example, instead of installing a standard centralized system, you can opt for a new type of system arranged around something called a ductless mini-split heat pump. Here are a few details that help explain why this temperature control system has a broad-based appeal. Heat Pump Basics Heat pumps don’t directly generate heat like a traditional furnace or an electric furnace. Instead, they pull heat from the surrounding environment, concentrate that heat and conduct it into your home’s interior. Depending on the model in question, a heat pump may pull heat from the ground, from the outside air or from a lake or some other water source. Despite their names, heat pumps can also cool your home in the summertime. They achieve this goal by reversing the direction of their air flow and pulling warmth out of the interior of your home. Ductless Systems Most homes in America have a standard, centralized indoor ducting system that carries air to and from all connected rooms at the same time. The individual ducts in this type of system are usually placed behind walls, above ceilings...

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Choosing the Right Size Heat Pump for Your Home

February 26, 2016

Heat pumps are energy-savers and can operate effectively in a wide range of micro-climates. These dual-purpose appliances make functional and affordable additions to just about any type of HVAC system, and in places that don’t experience temperature extremes they may be able to handle the entire heating and cooling load. However, heat pumps are an efficient and sensible choice only if they are properly sized. If you buy and install a heat pump that is too powerful or too weak you will undoubtedly live to regret it. So how does one go about choosing the perfect size heat pump? By hiring an installation company that uses a method called Manual J, which we will explain more fully in the next section. What is Manual J and How Does it Work? Manual J is the standard procedure used by HVAC professionals to evaluate a home’s potential for heat loss in cold weather and heat gain when it is warm. Once they know what your true heating and cooling needs are, then and only then will HVAC technicians be able to make a correct determination about what size heat pump you actually need. The parameters HVAC installers use to make Manual J-based...

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Maintenance Checklist for Your Home HVAC System

January 27, 2016

Maintenance is extremely important for your HVAC system, can you remember the last time your system was serviced? If you can’t then I would say it is time for your to make a simple call and have us come and have us perform a Quick and Simple HVAC System Maintenance on your unit. We service the greater Dayton, Ohio area.

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Home Heating Myths You Should Avoid

January 13, 2016

We have neared the winter season which means heating systems are primed up to work overtime for the same level of warmth. But instead of worrying about monthly utility bills, there are some changes you can make to save on energy and money. One has to do away with these home heating myths. Myths about Fireplaces Fireplaces or modern wood stoves seem cool and classy for heating the home, but they aren’t so kind on one’s wallet. The wood furnace needs oxygen for combustion and if the indoor heater is on, the supplied air from the heater goes directly to the wood furnace. This means your electric heater works twice as much to provide the same level of warm air, thus higher utility bills. Cranking the Thermostat Turning the thermostat all the way up never means your house will get heated quicker. This is totally false and never works at any point. The HVAC systems, at least the modern ones, are equipped to automatically regulate heating with relation to room temperature. Cranking the unit up will only make the heating system provide excess and unnecessary heat which will result into a waste of energy and high energy bills. Leaving a...

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What Is Two-Stage Heating?

December 21, 2015

Single-stage heating furnaces are popular in hot, humid areas as well as those with cold winter climates. These are designed to offer indoor comfort for very hot and cold days. This means that the HVAC systems operate at full capacity, even when it’s not necessary. This is where two-stage heating and cooling units come in to help save resources. What is Two-Stage Heating? Single stage units are designed to offer the maximum heating level that the furnace can yield, irrespective of outdoor and indoor temperature levels.  This means that when the furnace turns on, it disperses the maximum amount of energy it is designed to produce. As such, this could result in high energy bills. Multi-stage HVAC systems are named according to the number of levels of operation. Unlike their single stage counterparts, 2-stage HVAC units have two levels of cool and heat output. When the temperature is mild, the systems operate on low and can adjust to high if conditions change. The first stage of such furnaces operates most of the time in many climates, and usually runs at about 65% of the unit’s capacity. The second stage provides additional heating when the first stage becomes insufficient to heat...

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Top HVAC Technologies For The Coming Year

November 19, 2015

According to the AHR expo that took place in January this year, the HVAC industry is changing for the better. The expo revealed that business men and women should be taking advantage or these changes that are coming. The main focus is on changing the way HVAC systems are made to become smarter, save more energy and become more convenient than ever before. As expected machines and control are becoming smarter than before. This is the main focus when creating these machines. The smarter these machines get, the efficient they work and the more money they save the customer. Even as construction continues to grow and more houses are being built, so does the need for the installation of HVAC systems. These installations are estimated to be on the rise for 2015. It is also rumored that HVAC service and maintenance will become more efficient via mobile. According to business development companies, HVAC systems will be linked to mobile phones and assist contractors in the preventive maintenance programs. As these HVAC systems become more complex and more integrated with smart phones, the amount and level of maintenance that they will need will also increase. As the construction industry becomes busier,...

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How To Ensure That Your HVAC System Is Free Of Legionnaires Disease

October 21, 2015

You’ve heard of the recent Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in New York. The condition spread so quickly that more than 100 people were affected and ten have died. People living in the infected South Bronx building as well as people living six –seven kilometers away were affected with the disease. You are worried as you have a HVAC system in your building as well and you have a weak respiratory system. How do you make sure that building/residence HVAC systems are disinfected and clean? Let’s find out. Carry out a visual inspection of your building’s HVAC system. Check for particulate matter in the air vents and ensure that there is musty or dusty odor when the system is switched on. Make sure that your filters are replaced at least once in two months. Your HVAC system will have evaporator coils and condenser coils. These are very susceptible to fungus and mold growths. You may not be able to clean the coils at home by yourself. Anti-microbial treatments may be necessary. Regular maintenance is absolutely necessary. For a combined heating and cooling system, a maintenance check is necessary in the spring and fall. For a cooling system, an annual maintenance before the...

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Is A Ductless Split System Right For Me?

September 21, 2015

Though Ductless split HVAC systems have been popular in other parts of the world for many years, U.S. consumers are just starting to appreciate their many benefits. These units provide targeted cooling and heating. They’re often used where conventional HVAC systems would be impractical or too expensive to use. How the Units Work Conventional HVAC systems are often inflexible, complicated and unwieldy. Most buildings need redesigning to accommodate the complex air distribution network. The ductwork usually degrades the equipment’s performance due to inaccurate sizing, leakage and accumulation of debris. Ductless units eliminate the need for registers and ductwork. Each unit has all the components needed to heat or cool a specific room. A ceiling/wall mounted cabinet houses the indoor fan coil with a separate condensing unit set outdoors. Removing the ductwork gives the engineers a chance to expand the building’s design. Ductless air handlers placed in strategic locations also reduces the noise caused by moving air, reduces energy consumption and increases comfort. The equipment can be installed in a short time. Such units are suitable for garage and basement conversions, media rooms and recording studios. In whole-house applications, a single condenser can be connected to multiple air handlers with compatible...

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Surge Protectors And HVAC: What You Need To Know

August 20, 2015

Back in the day, you only needed surge protectors for electronic equipment such as televisions and computers. However, as technology advances, more devices being manufactured are using printed circuit boards, making them more vulnerable to power surges. Modern HVAC systems come with printed circuit boards and can easily be damaged by lightning strikes and power grid problems. Power surges can cause irreparable damage to your HVAC system and other electronic devices if proper precautions are not taken. This article provides information on power surge and how you can protect your devices. Earlier HVAC models were more mechanical in nature than the ones we have today. While this fact made them less energy efficient, it also meant that they were less likely to get damaged by power surges. If these models got damaged, it was easier to repair them since they came with less sophisticated parts. Newer models on the other hand are designed differently and it is more difficult to determine how severely they are damaged by power surges. Some power surges will cause immediate failure to the unit while others will slowly destroy it. Even when your unit continues to operate after a power surge, it is likely to...

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Freon Health Risks – What You Need To Know

June 23, 2015

Within our homes most of us, unknowingly, have at least one and possibly two potential sources of exposure to Freon leaks. This can occur from our fridges or our air conditioning systems. The potential risk of exposure to Freon and health issues should be understood by everyone. The term CFCs is one that many people are aware of due to bad press over the years. This stands for chlorofluorocarbons which come in either liquid or gas form, are color less and generally non-flammable. The main risk is for people who work within the refrigeration or air conditioning industries as they are more likely to be exposed to these gases. It is therefore important that they have at least an annual check up to ensure they remain fit and well. This is particularly important if the worker has any heart related problems as Freon can cause arrhythmia’s, irregular heartbeats. More Freon Health Concerns To Know Freon exposure can also cause dizziness, a reduction in concentration and coordination and eventually asphyxia if the exposure continues. All of this could be picked up at a medical check and the problem easily resolved. When caught early, there don’t seem to be any long term...

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