by admin | Aug 28, 2014 | National Air Warehouse
An air handler is an important part of the heating and air conditioning system in a house or commercial building. It contains a fan that is able to distribute the cool and heated air. This is considered a “split” heating and cooling system. They are designed to operate quietly and be cost effective.
Applications
Air handlers can be used to maintain the temperature within a commercial building or home. They can also provide smoke control and maintain air pressure in rooms. They are able to provide humidity control, as well as heating, cooling and ventilation.
Function
Air handlers have both commercial and residential applications. A commercial air handler is large and may be placed outside a building or in a building’s mechanical room. In a residential situation, an air handler can be used with air conditioners and furnace units. They are connected to duct work and distribute air through the building. Smaller units consist of a coil, air filter and blower. Larger air handler units are designed to serve big buildings. The larger units may use only outside air and no air is recycled. Some units are able to supply and return air to a specified space without duct work.
Systems
There are three main types of heating and cooling systems that utilize an air handler. The split air conditioner and furnace system. In this system, the air conditioning unit is outside. The furnace is inside. The air handler is contained within the furnace. There is the split heat pump system. With this system, the furnace isn’t utilized. A unit is placed outside a building and will be able to do both the heating and the cooling. An air handler will be used with these systems to move the cooled and heated air through the air ducts. There is also the rooftop or packaged system. With this system the air handler is combined into the outdoor unit, and they operate as one piece.
Cost Effective
When an air conditioner and heating system is constantly stopped and started, an air handler system will operate less efficiently. A variable frequency drive can be added to an existing air handler. This will make the system run better. It is designed to adjust the speed of the air flow. This makes it possible to run the unit for a longer time and be extremely efficient. It also reduces the wear on the fan and motor. This lowers operating costs and will decrease a home’s energy bill.
Materials
An air handler is usually made from single skin metal infill panels. The metal is usually galvanized. This will provide long-term protection as well as prevent corrosion. If the air handler is located outside, it will come with a waterproof lid. This construction is effective in preventing excessive heat loss or gain. An extract and supply air handler can be connected. This will increase operational efficiency.
Air Filters
The air filter for an air handler is designed to remove dust particles and more from the air. It will prevent dirt and other types of particles from entering the air handler. This will keep all of the working parts of the unit clean and operating effectively.
by admin | Aug 27, 2014 | National Air Warehouse
An evaporator coil is one of the key components needed in order for a central operated air conditioning system to work properly. This type of coil is used to turn liquid Freon into a gas, and it actually absorbs the heat created from this process. The type of evaporator coil someone needs depends on the installation style.
Goodman and Rheem are two of the top manufacturers for evaporator coils on the market today, but they each have their own specs for making these coils. Below is a brief description of these two companies, and to show their differences, there will be a comparison review of two evaporator coils, one from each company.
Goodman Evaporator Coils: Goodman has been in the business of heating and air units since the early 1980s. They pride themselves on making affordable evaporator coils, but although they cost less than some of their other competitors, they are still one of the top brands. Although they do make a few types of evaporator coils, most of the evaporator coils manufactured by Goodman have a horizontal configuration. All of their products are designed for quick and easy installation, and they offer some of the best warranties on the air conditioner and heating market.
Rheem Evaporator Coils: Rheem Manufacturing Company has been offering their well-made products since the mid-1920s. Evaporator coils are just one of the products that are manufactured by Rheem, and although their products are high priced, they offer their customers a great and long lasting product. Rheem is one of the top manufacturing companies not only because of their quality products but their world renowned customer service as well. They are known for making multi positional evaporator coils.
Review between the Rheem RCFL-HM3617CC and the Goodman CHPF-4860D6
Both of these products are good, but the Goodman model is considerably cheaper. However when buying products, the most expensive product isn’t always better. It is best to fully compare the products fully, because some lack where others succeed.
For instance, the Rheem model has a multi-positional configuration, while the Goodman has a horizontal configuration. This is an important aspect, because if one is replacing an evaporation coil, making sure that it fits in one’s existing air condition system is essential.
The other big difference between Rheem evaporation coils and Goodman evaporation coils are the style that they make. With these two examples, the Rheem model uses a multi-flex style, and the Goodman model uses an A-coil. Both of these manufacturers make their evaporation coils with a lot of the same specs and parts. For instance, both of them generally use a 3/8″ liquid line, and they both can use the same type of refrigerant.
However, this is where Goodman offers their customers a bit of variety. Their evaporation coils can use the same R410A refrigerant that Rheem uses, but their evaporation coils can also use the R22 refrigerant. Goodman and Rheem both value their customers. Therefore, they both offer up to a 10 year warranty on their products like the two mentioned above.
by admin | Aug 21, 2014 | National Air Warehouse
Its rare today to find a home that doesn’t have air conditioning. We have all become so accustomed to having cool air on demand that we seldom think about the unit that creates that cool comfort until it no longer works. Air conditioning units are mechanical devices and, as such, need a little thought and routine maintenance to keep them working properly. The best time to think of this is before problems arise. Replacing a unit that could have been saved with just a little effort is both expensive and time-consuming.
Just as you go to a doctor for routine yearly exams, a qualified AC professional should be called in to give your unit a thorough check. By doing this, small issues may be found and corrected before becoming larger, more expensive to repair issues. The best time to schedule the yearly check is before hot weather arrives. Most AC technicians aren’t as busy and can get to you faster, plus any needed parts are easier to come by than when demand is higher.
Good air flow is essential to the efficient working of an AC unit. Filters should be changed monthly or more often if there are animals or a large amount of dust in the area. Filters are cheap but can help prevent major problems with the unit. Be sure not to block the filter area.
A simple quick vacuuming of the indoor part of the unit keeps the coils clean and better able to cool. Think about doing this at the same time as your filter change; it only takes minutes but can help save you hours or days of uncomfortably waiting for a repairman.
When outdoors, think about spraying the outside part of the unit with the water hose. Again, this cleans the coils of dust, dirt, and any yard debris that may be blocking air flow. Once a week is not too often to do this during hot, dry weather.
If your thermostat is old, it may need to be replaced as it has a direct effect on the unit as a whole. Thermostats are affordable and easily replaced here at National Air Warehouse. The newer, digital thermostats are proven to work better and more efficiently. Some are programmable to raise or lower the temperature at certain times – there’s no need to keep the house at 72 degrees if no one’s home!
Air conditioning units are designed and built to withstand many years of use with just a little thought from you about the small do-it-yourself things you can do to keep it at peak performance.
by admin | Aug 18, 2014 | National Air Warehouse
Determining the right size air conditioning unit for your home can help you to have trouble-free climate control without frequent breakdowns and shortened lifespan. Bigger is not necessarily better in air conditioning, and the right unit will help you to save money and frustration as time goes on. Although a number of “rules of thumb” exist for choosing the right size unit, other factors may also be involved in efficient air conditioning operation.
House and Room Size
Careful measurements of the size of the house and each individual room must be done to determine the square area that is to be climate controlled. Although you may think that having more air conditioning capacity than is required by the house, the wrong size unit will cause greater wear and tear on parts.
Ceiling Height
The ceiling height in your home will have a significant effect on the amount of wear on the unit. A unit will have to work harder to fill the space in a room with a higher ceiling than standard height. Sloped ceilings may require increased operation than standard height ceilings.
House Wall Area
The exposed wall space on each side of the building exterior will also have an effect on air conditioning sizing. The number of doors and windows that allow air leakage is calculated into the number of BTU’s needed to cool interior areas.
Type of Construction
The type of construction of your home can affect how the air conditioning system operates. Factors such as the location of the unit, the length of ductwork, type of connections and number of floors in the home will affect the efficiency of operation of the unit.
Insulation Level in the Home
Many newer homes have a high level of insulation of attics, windows, doors, basements and other areas. The ability to keep cool air in the structure will also factor in the size of the air conditioning unit you choose.
The Home’s Air Leakage Rate
The home’s air leakage rate will also factor in the size of the air conditioning unit. How well windows and doors fit, the amount of caulking to seal air leaks and the condition of certain construction features can make a significant difference in how much cool air escapes from the interior and how hard the unit must work to replace it.
The Home’s Duct Leakage Rate
A professional heating and air conditioner contractor will have the equipment necessary for measuring the amount of leakage in the home’s ductwork.
All of these factors can be computed by a professional heating and air conditioning contractor to ensure that you have the right size air conditioning unit for efficient operation in your home. A trained technician can perform a Manual J, D, T and S to properly design and measure the right amount of cooling and heating that your home needs. You can learn more about the Manual calculations if you click here. If you would like additional information on sizing you current or new AC system, please call one of our friendly staff to help guide you on determining the correct AC system size.
by admin | Aug 12, 2014 | National Air Warehouse
Insulated flexible ducts with metalized jackets are used in the HVAC industry for supply air, return air, and exhaust air transport where air conditioners, heaters, and ventilation applications exist. Such ductwork maintains good air quality, comfort, and prevents costly inefficiency. The inner polyethylene tube with reinforced wire coil gives strength and keeps the air inside the tube. The thin metal jacket keeps moisture and condensation from getting on the insulation, and the flexibility allows the duct to curve if necessary. The insulation in U.S. insulated ducts is typically glass wool or fiber glass.
The size of the fitting on the heater, AC unit, etc. will of course determine the needed duct diameter, and the length is normally cut by the installer. It is ideal to keep the distance short since a certain amount of pressure will be lost by air while it is travelling through the duct, and sharp bends and kinks also are avoided. The flexible ducts attach to the rigid sheet metal ductwork, to the AC, the heater, or have open contact with outside air.
Each duct has an “R” rating for its insulating capacity- for example, R6 ducts do well up to 200 degrees, and has one third more insulation around it than an R4. The greater insulation, the greater efficiency, but also the more one pays for the product. Wherever relatively hot air is present in the duct, especially if traveling through space with extremely lower temperature air in it, it is most important to have a high R rating. The cold air return to a heater would not need as great an R value then as the supply duct. The opposite would be the case with a split AC unit since the hot air is traveling outside, and the cold air is moving into the building. Another possible application for a high R duct would be a clothes dyer exhaust tube.
While the metal jacket keeps out moisture, there are also versions of metalized jackets, e.g. one line of ducts’ “silver jacket” feature, that are effective in noise absorption
as well. Clearly these would be more crucial when the duct goes through or near oft-used rooms- not so much in a little visited basement on the other hand.
Another special flexible duct is one with a heavy black jacket of polyethylene and UV light elements built in. They are commonly referred to as mobile home ducts for their due to their increased usage for this type of construction. This duct is particularly suited for use outside, though if in a well-lighted room, it could be useful indoors as well.
Insulated flexible ducts with metal jackets come in numerous standard sizes for different sized heater, vents, and ACs- some are even designed specifically for mobile homes. They install easy enough over round or oval fittings and can be easily cut and taped if one has the right equipment and a little experience. However, choosing the right R level for each duct and looking for special metal coatings that resist fire better or reflect light better, etc. often requires professional advice or services.
by admin | Aug 8, 2014 | National Air Warehouse
The Goodman brand of air conditioning, heating and ventilation (HVAC) units was established more than 30 years ago in Texas, where its products are still manufactured today. Although you might not be familiar with the Goodman mark yet, Goodman is owned by Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P., which sells products under several other highly esteemed brands you might be more familiar with, like Amana and QuietFlex.
Although all manufacturers claim they care about quality, the quality workmanship of Goodman Air Conditioner products is actually certified by a third party, so you can trust that Goodman’s commitment to quality production is real and the appliances you purchase from Goodman are reliable. Every Goodman manufacturing plant is ISO 9001 certified, meaning each plant has been closely scrutinized and vetted by the International Organization for Standardization to ensure it operates in accordance with a documented quality management system.
Once this much respected certification is earned, it has to be renewed periodically through further on-site evaluations, which means the Goodman brand must always abide by the same high standards of production to maintain its ISO 9001 certification. One of the hallmarks of an ISO 9001 certified company like Goodman is consistency: products are made using a repeatable, standardized and measured process with a focus on error prevention, defect elimination and continuous process improvement. The resulting high performance products are dependable and long lived. Goodman production plants are also ISO 14001-certified, which means they follow environmentally friendly business practices.
In addition to longevity, quality and environmental sensitivity, the Goodman brand is one you can trust because it has been evaluated by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and given an A+ rating, the highest possible ranking for a business. This ranking means there are no complaints on file for Goodman, and all publicly released information about Goodman and its products is favorable. It also means that the Goodman’s customer service practices are effective, so if you ever happen to experience a problem with a Goodman product, the Goodman customer service team can resolve it for you.
Goodman warranties products up to 10 years, which is a generous amount of time as compared to its competitors. Most Goodman product comes with an automatic warranty, too; no special action is required to initiate your coverage, and if you want to know what your warranty covers, you can find the warranty for the specific product you bought on our website or the Goodman website. The warranty language is clear and understandable.
These factors ensure the Goodman brand is one you can trust and rely upon for effective products that perform exceptionally well.
by admin | Aug 5, 2014 | National Air Warehouse
The idea behind capacitors was first discovered in the mid-1740s in Germany. Ewald Georg von Kleist realized that he could store an electric charge by connecting a volume of water with a high-voltage electrostatic generator. Over the course of multiple centuries, the technology for capacitors has evolved in leaps and bounds, but the concept is basically the same. Capacitors are designed to contain an electric charge, including multiple pairs of conductors, which are broken into different parts by an insulator.
Any cooling or heating system in your house with a motor will require a capacitor to function properly. The size of the motor in your system is the determining factor of the size of your capacitor. The most widely available capacitor sizes are 10, 7.5, and 5 mfd. These sized capacitors are generally inexpensive, but usually correspond to motor failure within days after being replaced.
The two main types of capacitors are single run capacitors and dual run capacitors. There are also start capacitors, which give the compressor an extra boost of energy when the motor starts up. Unlike start capacitors, which only give that brief boost, run capacitors work continuously while the motor is powered. Run capacitors are usually made of polypropylene film, allowing them to remain energized during prolonged periods of running.
Single run capacitors mostly function as parts in small air conditioning units. They can be hooked up to a single motor due to their two connections. There are few disparities between dual and single run capacitors. Basically, a dual run capacitor is two run capacitors in one. Other than being vastly more powerful than single run capacitors, there is virtually no difference between the dual and single capacitor. Dual run capacitors are used in bigger AC and heat pump units. They also have three connections. When you have to replace a capacitor, knowing how many connections the previous one had will be the best way to determine whether you need a single or dual run capacitor.
On many occasions, it might be in your best interest to bring in a professional technician with the proper tools and knowledge to determine whether or not there are issues with a capacitor. Deteriorating capacitors start to affect the motors they help operate. As it gets worse, the motor may stop working completely. Some capacitors appear swollen when they start to fail and can even burst if not replaced before the swelling continues to increase. Newer capacitors have a “Pressure Sensitive Interrupter”, which prevents swelling by making the capacitor fail before it reaches that point. The extent of the damage will also determine whether the capacitor needs to repaired or replaced.
by admin | Aug 3, 2014 | National Air Warehouse
There are many tools that help air conditioning units function properly. One of those tools is a substance called Freon. It was created as a replacement for the dangerous coolant that use to accompany old cooling systems, such as refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners.
Freon is a nonflammable, odorless and colorless liquid that has to be produced since it doesn’t occur naturally. It’s composed up of various amounts of chlorine and a host of many other different atoms that include fluorine, carbon and hydrogen.
It’s a chemical that proves to be dangerous because of the potential impacts it ultimately causes to the environment, mostly with being a major factor in depleting the ozone levels. Such impacts have landed it to be banned in the U.S. with it only being manufactured through regulated material use. Before any item is disposed of, the Freon must be removed.
More importantly, the process of handling Freon should only be attempted by licensed technicians who’ve been certified by the EPA. As far as the effects on humans are concerned, Freon isn’t dangerous unless it’s inhaled directly. Generally, a typical Freon leak isn’t enough to be harmful, but the presence can cause irregular heartbeats. This makes people with heart problems more susceptible to the fumes if they’re inhaled.
Some of the common causes of Freon leakage include:
• Physical damage
• Condenser unit vibration
• Stress points
An outdoor unit that’s placed improperly outside can create strong vibrations that can weaken or fracture the lines that contain refrigerant. Physical damage that can cause leaks can be from other objects such as lawnmowers, which can cast rocks and sticks that can certainly cause damage to outside units. Stress points can also lead to Freon leaks which will be located near the units service valves.
Identifying a leak can be quite easy if a homeowner knows what to look for such as:
• The AC unit running at a specific temperature but not blowing any cool air.
• The home is taking too long to cool.
• Accumulated water near the furnace due to condensation.
• The build-up of ice on copper lines from the AC unit to its outside coil.
• An extremely high electric bill is also a very big indicator of a Freon leak. An AC unit with a Freon leak means that the unit has to work much harder to keep things cool, thus raising your electric bill. A Freon leak with only 10% leakage can raise the electric bill usage by double that amount.
Small problems with Freon leaks can be attended to and fixed quite quickly once they’re identified and certified technicians are alerted not too long after they’re discovered. If problems aren’t handled and conditions are allowed to worsen, the repairs will take more time and money to take care of.
by admin | Aug 1, 2014 | National Air Warehouse
People are exposed to pollutants in the environment by the air that they breathe indoors. These pollutants can come from anywhere – daily use products, materials and activities. As compared to outdoor air, the air indoors is said to be more polluted by about 2 – 5 times. In schools and offices situated in polluted areas, this could even be as much as 100 times. The importance of proper in-door air quality cannot be underestimated because it can lead to sickness, allergies and an uncomfortable environment.
The following are some important points about proper in-door air quality:
• Health Problems Can Be Avoided – Various health issues occur because of poor air quality indoors. This can lead to irritation and dryness in skin, throat, eyes and nose. Headache, fatigue, allergies and hypersensitivity are also common symptoms. Other symptoms include nausea, dizziness, sneezing, coughing, sinus congestion and fatigue. All these problems can be avoided by simply maintaining air quality indoors.
• Air Contaminants Can Be Cleaned – The indoor air has many contaminants like carbon dioxide, asbestos, fiberglass, dust, VOCs, toxic vapors, odors, gases, dust mites, bacteria, fungi and other microbial contaminants, and ozone. These air contaminants might occur in small quantities but for children and people with a weak immune system, they can cause a lot of problems in a short exposure time.
• Serious Conditions Can Be Avoided – Sick Building Syndrome or Tight Building Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Building Related Illnesses are a common result of poor indoor air quality. These are serious health conditions which come with clinical symptoms. For example, Legionnaire’s disease is a BRI that is caused due to the bacteria that clogs ACs in a building.
• Avoidance of Mold Growth – Every homeowner knows how, once mold starts growing in your house, you have to go through a proper cleaning and decontamination process to get rid of it. Mold is attracted to areas that have a lot of moisture, and this’s why the pipes and ducts of ACs and ventilation systems need to be cleaned regularly. Avoiding mold growth can make the entire family healthy.
The best way to keep in-door air clean is to get air filtration systems which include:
• Humidifiers
• Dehumidifiers
• Germicidal lights
• Ventilation systems
• Filtration systems
• Air purification systems
These systems are installed at the appropriate place and their job’s to keep the indoor air clean and germ free, replace stale and contaminated air with fresh air, and improve circulation of clean air. It’s important to look for air filtration systems that are up to code and certified. There are various great systems in the market and the situation of indoor pollution should be properly examined before buying an air filtration system.
