by admin | Dec 26, 2017 | HVAC, National Air Warehouse
As a result of more stringent energy efficiency regulations in recent years, thermostatic expansion valve (TXV) has become increasingly popular. Today, an indoor TXV is included with most gas furnaces and air conditioning systems on the market — although it should be noted that these do typically have to be installed separately. If you have a system that did not come with a TXV, it is also possible to buy one separately and install it yourself. For other HVAC components, like air handlers, you may be asked to choose whether or not you want to add a TXV to your order.
In order to decide whether a TXV makes sense for your system, it is important to know how they work. Read on for a basic overview of how a TXV functions in an HVAC system.
What A TXV Does (and Does Not) Do
The TXV makes it possible to precisely regulate the rate at which the liquid refrigerant is transferred into the evaporator in an HVAC system. By making it possible to control the flow of the refrigerant, a TXV offers two major benefits:
- Improving the efficiency of the system
- Preventing “floodback” — that is, keeping excess liquid refrigerant from flowing back into the compressor after it has entered the evaporator
There are a lot of misconceptions about what a TXV can do, so it is important for buyers to understand the limitations of this valve from the outset. The TXV only regulates the flow of the liquid refrigerant between the compressor and the evaporator. It does not have the capacity to control air temperature, humidity, suction pressure, or head pressure.
The TXV works to regulate the flow of the liquid refrigerant by reacting to changes in two variables: the pressure in the evaporator, and the temperature of the refrigerant when it is being transferred out of the evaporator. The design of the mechanical design of the TXV makes it possible for the liquid refrigerant flow to be optimized based on the temperature and pressure conditions at any given moment.
Weighing the Decision to Add a TXV
Like so many features that boost the efficiency of an HVAC system, the TXV comes with an upfront cost. At the same time, a higher efficiency heating or cooling system will ultimately lower your energy bills and eventually pay itself off. And of course, it’s also better for the environment. You may also get a discount if you are adding a TXV to an order, rather than buying it on its own. You should keep these considerations in mind when deciding whether or not it makes sense to add a TXV to a new order or purchase one for an existing system.
You can buy a standalone TXV from National Air Warehouse, or you can get a system where a TXV may be included. Contact us today to find out more about how our products can help meet your heating and cooling needs!
by admin | Dec 20, 2017 | HVAC
Branding is the identity of a company. The stronger the brand message is, the more distinct the company’s identity will be. A recognizable brand with a strong identity is one of the foundations of business success, in the HVAC niche and every niche. With this in mind, you should ask yourself if your HVAC company is growing a brand!
If you think that you might need help in this important area, you’ll benefit from the brand-growing tips for HVAC contractors that we are going to share today.
Create a Brand Message
If you don’t have a powerful brand message, your company may not stand out from competitors in a positive way. We believe that coming up with a brand message is a very smart strategy, whether your HVAC company is new or it’s been around for years. It’s never too late to brainstorm and create a brand message which hits the target with your ideal customers.
The brand message should be short, succinct and designed to convey the purpose and values of your business. For example, is your company committed to delivering superb customer service to members of the local community. Does the company offer specialized HVAC expertise which makes it a better choice for consumers than other companies? Think about the values and purpose of your company. Then, come up with a brand message which is no longer than one paragraph. You may use this brand message in order to get more from your marketing, advertising and branding efforts.
Come Up With a Customer Avatar
A customer avatar is a “character”. It’s a composite of all of your customers. This character is the person that your branding efforts will be aimed at. To create this character, review any information about your customers that you have. Are they usually younger, or older? Are they typically male or female? Which products or services did they buy? Also, think about conversations that you’ve had with your clients. Did your clients share information about themselves and their passions and interests? Did they share information about how they feel about your company?
Once you’ve done some hard thinking, begin to put together the customer avatar. It might be a middle-aged male with a middle-class income and an interest in home improvement. It might be a younger woman with a lower income who needed a freestanding air conditioning unit for her rental apartment. After you have the avatar, give him or her a name and write up a little backstory. This may seem a bit silly, but it isn’t.
Keep your character in mind when you’re planning your marketing strategies. You’ll find that branding and marketing with the character in mind allows you to target the right types of prospective customers.
Work On Long-term Relationships with Clients
Sometimes, the best branding is based on a five-star business reputation. This type of stellar reputation may be marketed easily. It speaks for itself in many ways. The best way to get the five-star reviews that you need in order to build your HVAC brand is to put a lot of care into nurturing your long-term relationships with your clients.
When you get customer loyalty, you’ll get good reviews, word-of-mouth advertising and referrals. So, consider your relationships with your clients as branding for your business and act accordingly. One option might be rewarding loyal clients by offering them discounts, inviting them to special events (Open Houses where new HVAC systems are displayed, for example, and drinks and snacks are offered) and giving them gifts when they refer clients to you.
Curate Your Online Reputation
You need to care for your company’s image and this means keeping tabs on what is said about your company online. This is called reputation management and it’s one of the key elements of growing an HVAC brand. For example, if you get a bad review online, spring into action by telling the unhappy customer that you’re sorry about his or her bad experience. Suggest things that you can do in order to resolve the situation. For example, if one up your technicians showed up late for the job or didn’t show up at all, offer a free service or a free hour of labor, or a partial refund.
Do all that you can to neutralize bad reviews before they can damage your brand. Also, reward great feedback with sincere thanks.
Try These Branding Tips Today
Branding has many “moving parts” and it’s something that every smart HVAC company owner spends time on. This is why we hope that you try our branding tips today. Also, if you’re really busy and you don’t think that you have time for branding, which is so important to your company’s future, you may outsource the tasks.
Lots of companies offer branding services for affordable rates. Just be sure to choose a wonderful provider company with a strong and positive reputation.
Author Bio:
Ryan Holden is a former HVAC Technician and Director of Progressive Heating & Air based in San Diego and founder of HVAC News Today.
by admin | Dec 19, 2017 | National Air Warehouse
Flu season has arrived, and health officials around the United States are projecting that this year’s flu season will be worse than usual. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, there have been early outbreaks in several regions, which tends to be a bad sign for the country as a whole. The flu season in the Southern Hemisphere was also harsher than usual, which is another indicator of a severe flu season in North America.
Even worse, health officials are reporting that the standard flu vaccine may not be effective against the dominant strain of flu (H3N2). This strain acquired a mutation that decreased the flu shot’s effectiveness in Australia to only 10 percent during the flu season in the Southern Hemisphere. Moreover, the H3N2 strain often makes people sicker than some of the other flu strains.
In the face of concerns about the severity of this year’s flu season, it is important to do everything you can to protect the health of your family. Read on to learn more about how a UV Air Treatment Kit can help.
How a Germicidal Ultraviolet Air Treatment Kit Works to Fight the Flu
When viruses like the flu are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, it irreparably damages their DNA. This prevents the flu from being spread from one person to another, regardless of whether or not the flu can evade the vaccine. Thus, treating indoor air with a germicidal ultraviolet air treatment kit can destroy the viral particles that might otherwise make your family sick.
Choosing an indoor air treatment kit as a strategy to fight the flu just makes sense. With the holidays in full swing and temperatures dropping below zero in many places around the country, your family is probably spending a lot more time inside your home. When people are in close quarters, it simply raises the odds that someone will bring in the flu, and soon, everyone will get sick.
If you’re a business owner, a germicidal UV air treatment kit can also help your employees stay healthy during flu season. There is nothing more stressful than getting short-staffed by an office-wide flu outbreak, so an air treatment kit can be a great addition to your building during flu season.
National Air Warehouse offers a 24-volt germicidal ultraviolet air treatment kit that can aid in the fight against many types of pathogens, including the flu virus. Contact us today to find out more about how this innovative technology can help keep your family and your employees healthy this flu season!
by admin | Dec 12, 2017 | Heating System, Home Temperature Control, HVAC, National Air Warehouse
Last summer on the blog, we talked about the potential benefits of ductless air conditioners for home remodeling projects. Now that winter is here, it’s time to talk about ductless heat pumps. Ductless heat pumps, also known as ductless mini-complete systems, are very similar to ductless air conditioners, in that they serve as standalone climate-control systems that don’t use ducting. Thus, they are ideal for living spaces in your house where the other viable option would be baseboard heating. If you are considering a ductless heat pump for part of your home, read on to learn more about the energy-saving benefits of these systems and some of the cost considerations you should think about.
The Energy-Saving Benefits of a Ductless Heat Pump
The primary explanation for why many homeowners today are choosing ductless heat pumps over traditional baseboard heating is simple: the energy savings. From the start, ductless systems are more energy efficient than traditional heating systems because the mere existence of ductwork inevitably results in a loss of energy. According to one estimate, at least 25 percent of the energy generated by the HVAC system is lost to the ductwork in the average home.
Another reason why ductless systems are more efficient is that they have inverter-driven compressors. Unlike traditional compressors in HVAC systems, which turn on and off in response to changes in the system’s needs, inverter-driven compressors simply slow down or speed up. Compressor start-up requires a lot more energy than compressor speed-up, so ductless heat pumps end up being a lot more efficient.
It is important to note that the degree of energy efficiency varies between ductless heat pump systems. You can compare systems based on their SEER ratings. Ductless heat pumps with a 14 SEER rating have good efficiency, but there are also systems on the market today with SEER ratings as high 33.
Cost Considerations for Consumers
When it comes to deciding whether or not to choose a ductless heat pump for a living space in your home, cost can be a major factor. Many consumers initially shy away from ductless heat pumps because of the relatively high upfront costs, but the significant increase in energy efficiency can make up for your initial investment in the long-term.
Moreover, in some states and localities, there are tax credits that can help offset the upfront cost of a ductless heat pump system. If you’re looking to take advantage of a tax credit, make sure to find out whether / which types of heat pumps qualify for a tax credit in your area when you are choosing a system.
National Air Warehouse offers a variety of ductless heat pump options. For more help deciding which one is right for your living space, contact us today!
by admin | Dec 5, 2017 | Home Temperature Control, National Air Warehouse
Now that Thanksgiving is over and the holiday season is officially in full swing, odds are good that you’re on the lookout for the perfect gift for that hard-to-shop-for friend or family member. One unique gift idea that you might want to consider this year is a wi-fi thermostat. Unlike traditional programmable and non-programmable thermostats, a wi-fi thermostat is connected to the internet, which means that you can access information about the climate in your home no matter where you are. Even more importantly, you can make changes to the current state of your heating and cooling systems so that the climate of your home will be exactly the way you want it when you get home. This innovative technology can be a great option for lots of people on your holiday shopping list.
Who Needs a Wi-Fi Thermostat?
The best kind of gift that you can get for a friend or family member is one that they will actually use and truly appreciate. Here are a few of the people on your holiday shopping list who might benefit from what a wi-fi thermostat has to offer:
- The Mobile App Enthusiast. More and more Americans are looking to manage every aspect of their lives from a single screen. Because a wi-fi thermostat is always connected to the internet, it can always be accessed from a smart phone or tablet. If someone on your gift list is always on the hunt for the latest in mobile technology, a wi-fi thermostat is a great option.
- The Tech Junkie. If someone on your holiday shopping list just loves the bells and whistles of the latest technology, a wi-fi thermostat won’t disappoint. Some of the latest products on the market offer high-tech benefits like self-programming features and touch screens.
- The Busy Parent. Because a wi-fi thermostat can be accessed from anywhere, it can be a major stress reliever for busy parents. With a wi-fi thermostat, parents won’t have to remember to reset the thermostat when shuttling kids between school and soccer practice.
- The Environmental Advocate. If someone on your holiday shopping list is always looking for new ways to combat climate change, wi-fi thermostats offer a variety of energy-saving benefits. For instance, many of the wi-fi thermostats on the market today are Energy Star certified, and some have an auto-away mode that saves energy when you aren’t home — making it easier to reduce your carbon footprint without even thinking about it.
National Air Warehouse offers multiple wi-fi thermostats that can meet the needs of anyone on your holiday shopping list. We also offer free home shipping anywhere in the United States, completely tax free (except Florida). Contact us today to learn more about our offerings!
