by admin | Apr 3, 2018 | Heating System, HVAC, National Air Warehouse
In last week’s post, we talked about some of the functional and cost-related benefits that programmable thermostats offer for businesses. Once you’ve made the decision that a programmable thermostat is right for your business, you’re faced with a wide array of choices. Here are a few of the options you have to consider when deciding which programmable thermostat best meets your business’s needs.
- Single-Stage vs. Multi-Stage Programmable Thermostat
Whether you need a single-stage programmable thermostat or a multi-stage option depends on the heating system in your building. A single-stage programmable thermostat will be sufficient if your building relies on a single source of heat (such as a furnace or a heat pump) and a single source of cool air (such as an air conditioning system), and if both of these sources provide hot or cold air at just one level. However, if your business’s system has inputs from two heat sources–such as a heat pump and a boiler, or a heat pump and a solar panel–you should look for a programmable thermostat that offers up to two-stage heat alongside one-stage cool.
- Heat Pumps vs. Conventional Systems
Some programmable thermostats are designed to work specifically with heat pump systems, while others are intended for use with conventional systems. You can also find products on the market that work well with both system types. When choosing a programmable thermostat, make sure that the type you choose aligns with the heating system in your building.
- System Programming Options
Some products on the market allow you to program your thermostat to correspond with a weekday/weekend schedule, which is ideal for businesses that close on weekends or have different weekend hours. Instead of having to run the same program every 24 hours, you can create a 5-2 day program or a 5-1-1 day program. That way, if your business shuts down on the weekend, you don’t have to worry about remembering to reprogram on Friday night so you don’t accidentally drain your budget by pumping in warm or cold air when there is no one in the office or the store.
- Programmable/Non-Programmable Thermostats
While it is clear that programmable thermostats offer a wide range of benefits for businesses, there may still be times when you may find yourself wanting manual control over your thermostat. For instance, in the face of an unexpected heat wave or cold spell, you probably want to take full control over your thermostat to make sure your employees and customers stay comfortable. If you want to prepare for such circumstances, you should look for a programmable/non-programmable thermostat, which can be changed over when needed.
National Air Warehouse offers programmable and non-programmable thermostats that can meet the needs of any business or homeowner. Contact us today for more help choosing the right option for you!
by admin | Mar 6, 2018 | HVAC, National Air Warehouse
Mobile homes are on the rise in the United States. In 2016 alone, over 81,000 mobile homes were sold and shipped, which was a 15 percent increase over 2015. According to the latest survey data, there are seventeen states in which at least one out of every ten housing units is a mobile home, and in some states, that number is closer to one in five. If you’re a home remodeler (or a mobile home resident yourself), you need to be ready to deal with possible heating and cooling system challenges, such as a situation where you need to install or replace some of the ductwork. Read on for more information about choosing a flexible mobile home duct.
Choosing High Quality Insulation for a Flexible Mobile Home Duct
One of the defining factors that determines the quality of a flexible mobile home duct is the effectiveness and durability of the insulation. In fact, the reason that most mobile home owners find themselves having to replace a flexible duct is that there has been damage to the insulation. For instance, an animal like a mouse might have chewed through the insulation, or the insulation could be damaged by the buildup of mold or mildew. Not only does insulation damage reduce the effectiveness of the mobile home’s heating and cooling system, but it can also make it easier for dirt and dust to build up in the ductwork, or even for animals or reptiles to take up residence.
When you are choosing a new flexible duct for a mobile home, you should look for an option with an insulation rating of at least R4. The R-value is an indicator of a material’s insulating effectiveness, and an R4 value is considered to be acceptable for mobile home duct insulation material.
The Size of the Duct: Length and Diameter Considerations
When choosing a flexible mobile home duct, there are two size considerations: the length and the diameter. Usually, it’s best to find a duct that is at least 25 feet long. Even if it’s more than you need, you can always cut it shorter to fulfill the specifications of your heating and cooling systems.
More importantly, you need to determine the appropriate diameter to fit the mobile home’s heating and cooling system. Duct diameters range between 8 and 14 inches, and the price varies based on the diameter. A duct with a diameter of 8 inches may be less than 100 dollars, while you can expect to pay closer to 200 for a duct of the same length with a 14-inch diameter, because of the extra insulation material.
No matter what diameter you’re looking for, National Air Warehouse has the insulated flexible home duct you need. Contact us today for more information!
by admin | Jan 23, 2018 | Heating System, Home Temperature Control, HVAC
If home builders can learn anything from the winter of 2017-2018, it’s that an effective heating systems is essential for a comfortable home. As temperatures have dropped to record lows around the country, home builders need to be aware that more clients will be interested in the ability of their home’s furnace to keep their family safe and warm, regardless of the weather outside. As a home builder, one of the decisions you have to make is whether an upflow furnace or a downflow furnace is the best choice for your project. In order to figure that out, it’s important to examine some of the distinctions between upflow and downflow furnaces, as well as what they might mean for the heating of the home.
Upflow vs. Downflow Furnaces: The Basic Differences
At the most basic level, there are key differences in the ways that upflow and downflow furnaces heat and distribute air. With an upflow furnace, the air enters the bottom of the unit, is warmed in the heat exchanger, and then is released from the top of the unit into the ductwork of the home. A downflow furnace works in the exact opposite way: the heat enters the unit from the top, gets warmed in the heat exchanger, and then is released from the bottom of the unit into the ductwork of the home. That means that upflow furnaces are typically situated in a basement or crawl-space, while downflow furnaces must be stored in an attic.
Considerations for Different Projects
If you are trying to decide whether an upflow or downflow furnace makes more sense for your project, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Energy efficiency. Heat rises, so upflow furnaces are often more energy efficient than downflow furnaces. If you’re looking to cut the carbon footprint of your home building project, an upflow furnace can help you reach your efficiency goals.
- Building and flooring costs. If you’ve already planned a basement for your home building project, this isn’t an issue but if you’re adding a basement or crawl-space to your home building project for the sole purpose of creating a space for an upflow furnace, costs can go up significantly. At the same time, adding reinforced subflooring in the attic for a downflow furnace can also be expensive.
- Installation challenges. The installation process for downflow furnaces tends to be more difficult, and you have to pay closer attention to building codes requiring reinforced subflooring.
- Homeowner preference. Some homeowners simply feel more comfortable in rooms where the heat comes below, rather than being dispersed from above. It’s a good idea to check with clients to find out about their preferences.
As a homebuilder, you can find everything you need to optimize the HVAC systems of all of your at National Air Warehouse. Contact us today for more information!
by admin | Jan 16, 2018 | Heating System, HVAC, National Air Warehouse
When you are remodeling a home or office building, you need to make sure that the gas furnace is sufficient to guarantee a comfortable temperature throughout the newly remodeled space, no matter how cold the winter weather gets. However, things can get tricky if you realize that the size of the cased coil that is required to support the needs of the newly remodeled building is too large for the existing furnace. Read on to learn how a Rheem plenum adapter accessory can help you resolve this problem.
Rheem Plenum Adapters: The Basics
At the most basic level, a Rheem plenum adapter can make it possible for a nominal sized cased coil to be installed on the next-smallest size of gas furnace. More specifically, a plenum adapter can allow you to do the following:
- Fit a 17.5-inch-wide coil 14-inch-wide furnace
- Fit a 21-inch-wide coil with a 17.5-inch-wide furnace
- Fit a 24.5-inch-wide coil with a 21-inch-wide furnace
This might seem simple, but it can make a huge difference for home remodelers, in terms of both time and cost. By using a plenum adapter, you can avoid the hassle and expense of replacing an existing gas furnace that is not sufficient to meet the needs of the remodeled space. Rheem plenum adapters run about 76 dollars, which is nothing compared to the cost of a new furnace. Plus, the installation process for a plenum adapter is relatively simple — just two steps for an upflow furnace and three steps for a downflow furnace.
Fitting a Plenum Adapter to an Upflow or Downflow Application
When you are buying plenum adapter for a gas furnace, you need to make sure that the accessory is designed for the type of furnace you are working with. An upflow system pushes air vertically out of the top of the furnace, usually from a basement. A downflow system pushes air from the bottom of the furnace, down into the vents, usually from an attic. There are slight differences in the designs of plenum adapter accessories for upflow and downflow applications, so you need to make sure you are getting the right one for your system.
National Air Warehouse offers Rheem plenum adapter accessories for upflow and downflow systems. As a home remodeler, you can also find a wide variety of other high-quality products from Rheem, one of our featured brands. Contact us today to learn more about all of our products!
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 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. Â
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 | Oct 31, 2017 | Heating System, Home Temperature Control, HVAC, National Air Warehouse
Happy Halloween! Today is the scariest day of the year, but with the cold months of winter on the horizon, you probably have something on your mind that’s even scarier than ghosts and ghouls: your winter energy bill. As a business owner, you need to keep the building warm in order to ensure the comfort of your customers and the productivity of your employees. As a homeowner, you want to keep your family cozy and warm during the long nights of winter. However, heating a home or business can be expensive, so you have to be strategic about the heating choices you make. Read on for some Halloween tips to help you keep your building warm this winter without dying of fright when you see your energy bill.
Tip 1: It’s no treat to get tricked about AFUE.
If you’re buying a new gas furnace for the winter, one of the things you have to consider is the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of the system. This number is expressed as a percentage, and it is calculated by dividing the total heat output by the total energy consumed. When looking at these figures, it is important to understand what they might mean for your energy bill. In general, choosing a system with a higher AFUE can lower your energy bill. Medium-efficiency heating systems typically have AFUE ratings between 80% and 90%, while high-efficiency systems typically have ratings between 90% and 98.5%.
However, it is important to note that AFUE ratings can only be directly compared if you are looking at systems that use the same fuel type. You can’t compare the AFUE of a natural gas furnace with the AFUE of an electric furnace if you are worried about your energy bill, because the costs of natural gas and electricity differ.
Tip 2: Don’t count on the ghost in your attic to adjust your thermostat when it gets cold.
In the winter, there’s nothing worse than coming home from a long day of work to a frigid house or arriving at your business in the morning and shivering through your 9 o’clock meeting. At the same time, you don’t want to waste energy heating your house all day when no one is home or your business all night when no one is working. To resolve this problem, you can install a programmable thermostat, which allows you to set a temperature schedule for your home or business so that it is warm when you want it to be without draining your budget by heating during the off-hours. Another option is a wi-fi thermostat, which enables you to adjust your thermostat remotely.
Tip 3: Don’t be a ghoul and rule out a dual fuel packaged unit — it might make sense for you!
Dual fuel packaged units differ from traditional heat pumps in that they utilize a built-in gas furnace for supplemental heating rather than electric heat strips. Therefore, they are ideal for customers who live in places where the cost of heating with gas is lower than the cost of heating with electricity. Find out about the energy costs in your area before you rule out this option.
Here at National Air Warehouse, we are committed to providing high quality HVAC equipment at affordable prices that even a ghost wouldn’t say boo about. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you heat your home this winter!
by admin | Oct 24, 2017 | A/C Unit, Home Temperature Control, HVAC, National Air Warehouse
One of the most common reasons why an air conditioner stops working is a failed capacitor. In an air conditioning system, the capacitor is the energy storage device that holds the electrical charge needed to power the fan motor. Therefore, the failure of the capacitor means that your air conditioning system will stop blowing cold air, and a replacement is required.
The Two Types of Capacitors
There are two types of capacitors: run capacitors and start capacitors. Run capacitors are more common. They store the energy that is needed to keep the fan motor going so that the air conditioner continues to cool down your house. In contrast, the start capacitor specifically provides the energy needed to start up your air conditioner. As you might expect, it takes more torque to start the motor than to keep it running, so the capacitance — that is, the energy storage capacity  — of a start capacitor must be higher than that of a run capacitor. To understand why, think about the fan motor like a push-powered merry-go-round on a playground — it can take considerable effort to get it started, but once it gets going, you don’t need to push as much to keep it running. Therefore, the capacitance rating for most run capacitors is between 5 and 80 Microfarads (MFD), while it typically ranges from 430 MFD to 516 MFD for start capacitors.
Deciding What to Do When Your Capacitor Gives Out
When the capacitor in your AC system gives out, you are faced with a decision: Should you replace the capacitor or replace the entire system? That may depend on whether the problem is with the start capacitor or the run capacitor. If the problem is with the run capacitor, replacing the capacitor often makes more sense. Depending on the MFD, the price of a run capacitor can range between less than 10 and 100 dollars, so it’s a safe investment. In most cases, replacing your run capacitor can get your system back up and running in no time!
However, if the problem is with the start capacitor, you may want to consider replacing the system altogether. Start capacitors are larger and more expensive, and they are a lot harder to find, since most AC systems today do not have a separate start capacitor. If your system is getting old and its parts are giving out, it may be time to consider an upgrade.
Whether you are looking for a replacement run capacitor, a new AC system, or any other HVAC equipment, National Air Warehouse can help you find what you need. Contact us today to learn more about all of our products!
by admin | Oct 3, 2017 | HVAC
The run capacitor is one of the most important parts of your HVAC system. As we have discussed in a past post, a faulty run capacitor requires an immediate replacement. In furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps, the run capacitor holds the electrical charge that powers the fan motor, so a broken run capacitor renders your system useless.
When browsing the options for new single run capacitors, you will see that different products vary in three ways: the value of the MFD, the value of the VAC, and the price. Typically, the price depends on the previous two factors. Read on to learn more about these three variables so that you can choose the right single run capacitor for your system.
Understanding MFD: What Does It Mean?
The MFD for single run capacitors on the market today can range from as low as 5 MFD to as high as 80 MFD. MFD stands for “Microfarads,” and it is a measure of the unit’s capacitance — that is, the amount of charge that the capacitor can store when a particular voltage is applied. Single run capacitors with higher MFD values have greater capabilities, so they can support larger heating and cooling systems. This explains why the price of a single run capacitor tends to increase with MFD value. When you choose the right MFD capacitor for your system, it ensures that the motor RPM and the motor torque are ideal for your system, ensuring its effectiveness and efficiency.
VAC Value: 370 or 440?
The other value that you confront when choosing between single run capacitors is the VAC value. VAC stands for “Volts Alternating Current,” and it indicates the supply voltage for which the unit is rated. Depending on your system, you need a run capacitor with either 370 VAC or 440 VAC. Again, because single run capacitors with 440 VAC support larger, more capable HVAC systems, they tend to be priced slightly higher — but it’s worth a few more dollars if you are replacing a run capacitor with 440 VAC. Otherwise, the voltage applied will be too high for the capacitor to withstand, so it could fail without warning.
Direct Price Comparisons
To get a better idea of what you can expect to pay for single run capacitors with different MFD and VAC values, here are are a few direct price comparisons:
370 VACÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 440 VAC
7.5 MFD: $23.25Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $24.75
15 MFD $28.58Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $30.08
25 MFD $38.14Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $39.65
40 MFD $52.79Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $54.29
55 MFD $66.83Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $68.34
70 MFD $76.19Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $77.70
If you are looking to replace your single run capacitor, National Air Warehouse offers a wide range of options. Contact us today to learn more about our products!
