by admin | Mar 28, 2017 | Home Temperature Control, HVAC
In March 2017, Technavio published a report highlighting technology trends in the HVAC market. Building automation and remote control of HVAC systems were identified as major market trends. The report also noted that regular maintenance and incorporation of green technologies were trends. These trends are great for businesses and consumers because more efficient monitoring and maintenance are likely to reduce the cost of running an HVAC system. Here is how to capitalize on these trends.
Purchase a smart monitoring system
Businesses can choose from a variety of building monitoring systems. These monitoring systems often include other major building functions, like fire suppression and security. All the functions can work together for optimal efficiency.
Homeowners can invest in a smart thermostat, like a NEST. These monitoring devices learn how the homeowners like having the heating and cooling in each portion of the house. The program balances these needs with energy saving measures to reduce home energy bills. NEST recently received an Energy Star rating in the U.S., which demonstrates that meets federal regulations for saving energy.
Technavio adds:
The rise in smart infrastructure projects around the globe is propelling the demand for new heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning components…
This statement implies that HVACs will soon be joining the Internet-of-Things (IoT), smart devices controlled through the internet. HVAC components are being re-designed and optimized to work within this new system. New components, released in the near future, may work better with the IoT capability, leading to even greater cost savings.
Complete maintenance at regular intervals
Both homes and businesses can benefit from regular HVAC maintenance. Energy costs can be reduced by up to 40% with regular maintenance. Many homeowners and businesses owners don’t take advantage of these costs savings because they wait until something is broken. While waiting till a component breaks may be simpler, it is more costly in the long-term, especially since the HVAC system may have more downtime in order to complete a major repair.
Although many homeowners and business owners might not be surprised by the need for regular maintenance, the rise of the smart monitoring devices for HVAC systems can have huge consequences on cost. Not only do these smart monitoring devices reduce the energy bill, as they become more advanced, they could incorporate more functions. For example, a smart monitoring device could alert business owners when it was time to complete regular maintenance. By adding a smart monitoring device, HVAC systems now have the potential to add many new and practical functions.
by admin | Sep 13, 2016 | HVAC
Commercial HVAC System
There are a wide range of HVAC systems, but the two main ones are commercial HVAC system and residential HVAC system. Residential systems are used in people’s homes and commercial systems are used in major retail stores, warehouses, office buildings, and other large buildings.
Both Systems
Both of these systems have similar functions such as ventilation, heating, and cooling. However, they do have just a few differences such as:
- Size
- Power
- Drainage
- Location
- Complexity
- Manufacture
- Features
There are HVAC companies that do specialize in commercial and residential systems. There are others that only specialize in cooling systems or heating systems. This will help to explain the reasons for the services being different. Some of the differences have exceptions, but they are mostly the same. Let’s take a closer look.
The Complexity
Due to the size and complexity of the commercial HVAC system, it has to be installed on the building’s roof. The reason is to ensure adaptability and space. The type of commercial system chosen will depend on various factors such as the number of occupants in the building, the varying temperatures, scheduled events and the number of hours the business operates. Other factors include items being sold, type of inventory, and number of windows in the building.
The Size
Of course, the commercial HVAC system is going to be larger than the residential system. This is a visible difference and the reason is that one heats and cools a larger space. So, the size will be different between the two and so will the power. The thermostats and dampers are also different in size and scope.
The Location
Residential HVAC systems are usually found at the side of a house. In some cases, you may find it in someone’s backyard. On the other hand, commercial HVAC systems are located in either swamp coolers or roof of a building as mentioned before. The roof tends to be the most common installation area chosen by most HVAC contractors. Why? Here are some reasons:
- The indoor space is needed to conduct business in a commercial aspect and so a large HVAC system would only take up too much indoor space. It also can be less attractive if placed inside the building and more importantly, it functions better when installed on the roof
- A commercial system would be too noisy and could be a disruption to business
- It is easy to maintain on the roof. HVAC technicians can do repair and maintenance work without disrupting the business day
- Vandalism and damages will be at a minimum because of less traffic on the roof where the commercial HVAC system is located
Conclusion
It is important to have a HVAC contractor to handle the maintenance of your air conditioning unit or heating system. It is still your responsibility, however, to make sure that you call a professional when it is necessary and before any malfunctioning occurs.
Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/126494946@N02/14866511080/
by admin | Sep 6, 2016 | HVAC
Hello there, America! It’s that time of the year again – the time for our seasonal HVAC maintenance. Just like how our nation’s renowned landmarks like the Grand Canyon, Statue of Liberty, and the Golden Gate Bridge require regular upkeep to retain their splendor, so does your HVAC system to ensure efficient performance and longevity.
At National Air Warehouse, timely maintenance of your HVAC system is a tradition as essential as the Fourth of July fireworks, Thanksgiving turkey, or the timeless joy of a ballpark frank at a summer baseball game. So, let’s dive into this comprehensive guide to seasonal HVAC maintenance, keeping your home as comforting as a spring morning in Shenandoah Valley or a winter’s evening in Vermont’s ski resorts.
Understanding the Importance of Seasonal HVAC Maintenance
Just as roads in Yellowstone National Park close for winter to protect both visitors and delicate ecosystems, or as the Washington Monument undergoes routine inspections to stand tall, your HVAC system requires regular attention. Just as these national treasures serve a significant role, your HVAC system is the heart of your home’s comfort. It needs to be looked after regularly, ensuring it’s always in top form to keep your home cozy during the chilling winters of Alaska or cool in the sweltering summers of Arizona.
Not only does proper maintenance ensure smooth functioning, but it also aids in energy efficiency, preventing sudden breakdowns and saving you hefty repair costs – just as regular upkeep of our national parks and monuments helps save taxpayer money in the long run.
Seasonal HVAC Maintenance: A Four-Season Approach
- Spring: The AC Tune-Up
As the snow in the Rockies begins to melt and cherry blossoms bloom in Washington D.C, it’s time to prep your air conditioning system for the warmer months ahead. This includes cleaning or replacing air filters, checking coolant levels, inspecting the condenser coil, and ensuring the system is free of leaks.
- Summer: Keep it Cool and Efficient
When the kids are out of school and families across the nation are enjoying hot dogs, apple pies, and the thrill of roller coasters in places like Disneyland, it’s crucial to keep a tab on your HVAC system’s performance. Regular cleaning, checking thermostat settings, and inspecting the refrigerant lines are essential.
- Autumn: Prep the Heater
As the autumn leaves start to fall in Central Park and families plan their Thanksgiving feasts, it’s time to ready your heating system for the cold months. This involves cleaning the heating ducts, inspecting the heat exchanger, and checking the pilot control.
- Winter: Keep it Running Smooth
As the streets of Chicago are wrapped in a white blanket and the Christmas lights sparkle across America, routine HVAC maintenance checks like thermostat calibration, cleaning of components, and inspection of gas connections are necessary.
The Essential Seasonal HVAC Maintenance Checklist
Here is an ordered list of essential seasonal HVAC maintenance tasks every homeowner and construction professional should be mindful of:
- Replace or Clean Filters: A vital task that should be done every season to ensure optimal airflow and system efficiency.
- Inspect the Thermostat: Regular checking and calibration are necessary to ensure the system is performing at its best.
- Check and Clean the Condenser Coils: A key summer task to help your AC run efficiently and cool your home.
- Inspect the Heat Exchanger and Burner: A must-do in autumn to ready your heating system for the winter chill.
- Check the Refrigerant Level: Essential for keeping your home cool during the scorching summer heat.
- Inspect Gas Connections: An important winter task to ensure the safe operation of your heating system and to prevent potential fire hazards.
- Check System Controls: To ensure your system starts, operates, and shuts off correctly.
- Clean and Adjust Blower Components: This ensures proper airflow for greater comfort levels.
Remember, keeping up with this maintenance checklist not only protects your HVAC investment but also contributes to a greener environment by improving your system’s efficiency and reducing its energy consumption.
Incorporating Seasonal HVAC Maintenance into Your National Holidays’ Schedule
Yes, we know, your calendar is already filled with exciting national holidays and travel plans to famous tourist spots. But incorporating HVAC maintenance into your routine can be as simple as changing your clocks for daylight savings time. Consider tying your HVAC checkups to our beloved national holidays:
– Memorial Day: An excellent reminder to prep your AC for the summer heat.
– Labor Day: Perfect timing to begin preparing your heating system for fall and winter.
– New Year’s Day: A fitting start to a new year by ensuring your HVAC system is in top shape for the remaining winter months.
These holidays not only mark the changing of the seasons but also serve as convenient reminders to schedule your HVAC maintenance. It’s like having a personal HVAC calendar that also involves fireworks, barbecues, and the spirit of celebration!
Conclusion
Seasonal HVAC maintenance is as fundamental to your home as our national monuments are to America. Just as we take pride in the majesty of Mount Rushmore or the awe-inspiring beauty of the Grand Tetons, let’s also take pride in maintaining our homes. By performing seasonal HVAC maintenance, we ensure our homes remain our personal comfort sanctuaries – be it enduring the baking heat of Death Valley’s summer or basking in the warmth during a snowy winter in Maine.
Here at National Air Warehouse, we’re committed to helping you navigate the path of HVAC maintenance. We’re just as passionate about keeping your homes comfortable as we are about appreciating the beauty of our nation. As we journey through the seasons together, remember, HVAC maintenance isn’t just a task; it’s a tradition, a testament of our respect for comfort, efficiency, and most importantly, our love for our homes and our nation.
As Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” So let’s embrace the practice of regular HVAC maintenance and ensure our homes are as magnificent and inviting as our great American landscapes.
by admin | Aug 30, 2016 | HVAC
HVAC system
Even though, you may be keenly concerned about your uprooted trees, windows, and roofing system, after you have experienced a natural disaster, your HVAC system could also be in jeopardy. Once the natural disaster passes and your electricity is restored, it is crucial that you become familiar with the ways that a storm or hurricane could damage or destroy your HVAC system.
Lightning Effect
When lightening does strike, it can adversely affect your air conditioning or cooling system since this relies on electricity in the home to function properly. When the electricity is disrupted, it could cause issues to your air conditioning system. The additional power resulting from a lightning strike could flood the circuit breaker in your home. It could damage electronics and appliances. It would be recommended that you install a surge protector prior to any natural disaster. This can absorb most of the electricity before it can damage anything in your home. A surge protector is also important in saving your HVAC equipment.
Hail Effect
When a tornado strikes, it comes with high winds, but also lightening. Hail, on the other hand, could follow a tornado or severe storm. It comes with heavy pelts that could subsequently damage your HVAC system. To protect the fragile parts of the condenser coil, it would be ideal to install a hail cover over the air conditioning unit. It may not deflect everything since small debris can go through the guard, lodging in the equipment. When this happens, you should contact an HVAC contractor for some assistance before even making an attempt at using your air conditioning again.
Water Damage
A storm or hurricane comes with lightening and heavy rains, causing water damage. In fact, when the storm hits an area, its slow movement could cause a significant amount of water to accumulate in your yard and around your HVAC system. Debris and grass could wash into the HVAC unit as water rises.
Conclusion
Before you experience severe weather, it would be an excellent idea to contact an HVAC contractor to inspect your outside HVAC unit. The HVAC professional would make sure that the unit is elevated to a height to keep out as much standing water as possible. You could also consider placing a mesh cover over the condensing unit. The mesh cover will be able to keep water from heavy rains from getting inside the unit. Always be mindful, though, that you should remove the mesh cover when you want to use your air conditioning unit. If you don’t, it will block the air flow.
Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/132391718@N08/16549050914/
by admin | Aug 23, 2016 | Home Temperature Control
Hysteresis Thermostat
Individuals get hung up over complicated terminologies like ‘hysteresis’ and more often than not, these terms can be simplified with an easy explanation that can be understood by anyone. In the same manner, hysteresis is considered an engineering terminology that is used to explain a simple ‘lag.’ It is specifically the way that a reaction lags a step or an action. Let’s take a closer look at this simple example below.
An Example
If you were to squeeze a piece of foam and then release it, you would hear a popping sound as if it popped back to its original form. However, it does not do so immediately. It goes back to its normal state in a slow motion. It lags this action until the release of your hands. Other forms of hysteresis are the same way.
The Thermostat
The common use of hysteresis is during the use of magnetic and electronic systems. Thermostats are a perfect example. Without using technical applications and definitions of hysteresis, let’s look at how it applies to thermostats. The hysteresis thermostat also goes through a similar motion; it lags inputs from the surroundings for the main purpose of saving energy as well as preventing a furnace or air conditioner from enduring wear and tear as it frequently turns on and off.
Poor Insulation
If you live in a house that is poorly insulated and the temperature outside is a scorching 104 degrees, your main concern is how long it will take for the heat to penetrate your house while the air conditioning unit is running. Believe it or not, this would not take long. With a good HVAC system, your house will cool to about 72 degrees, which is quite comfortable. When the insulation is insufficient, in about one minute, the temperature will increase to 73 degrees and your air conditioner will kick in again. This cycle continues to be repeated frequently as your air conditioning unit is overworking due to the poor insulation. It is, therefore, difficult to maintain the comfortable temperature in the home.
Saving Energy
You would not classify this thermostat as a hysteresis thermostat because of its lack of hysteresis in the programming. For that reason, it will constantly turn on and off. With a hysteresis thermostat, you can set your temperature to 72 degrees and be able to maintain it. Why? The temperature will go up to 74 degrees before cooling it to down to 71 degrees, allowing the HVAC system to relax. This saves on wear and tear and also fosters energy efficiency.
Conclusion
It is important to get your HVAC system working efficiently and therefore, you could consider using a hysteresis thermostat. It will definitely work in your best interest. Speak to a HVAC contractor to discuss your immediate needs.
Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rvthereyet/9098037736/
by admin | Jul 19, 2016 | HVAC
HVAC Zoning
Is your existing HVAC zoning system appropriate for your home? It is important to note that you would probably benefit from having a zoning system for your home’s heating and cooling needs. When you have such a zoning system, it allows your A/C and heating systems to activate on the basis of the areas where they are being used. Those areas have to show heating and cooling efficiency more than the rest of the home that is being heated and cooled with a central air conditioning system. With the HVAC zoning system, you will end up saving more money and increasing your home’s energy efficiency.
HVAC Zoning Systems and How They Work?
If the lights were located on a single switch in your home, what would happen? When you go to sleep at nights or you are away from home, it is obvious that you would probably switch off all lights. However, what happens when you are actually home? If you were to turn on the lights with that one switch, then all lights would be on at the same time. That is a waste of energy and more importantly, you would have to constantly replace light bulbs. Many homes are cooled and heated with that same concept. Each room, whether someone is in it or not, tends to be equally cooled or heating with a central air conditioning system. If you were to create specific zones, then this would change the dynamics.
Different Thermostats
HVAC zoning systems incorporate different thermostats in each zone. For that reason, you are able to control temperature in each room, dictating how much energy is used to heat or cool a specific room. In the end, you will save on utility and you will improve the comfort that your air conditioning unit or heating unit provides.
Zoned Temperature
When the temperature is zoned, then each zone in the home has an exclusive thermostat to turn the temperature to various comfort levels. All of these thermostats then have one control panel. With this control, the environment in the home is dictated by the homeowner. If you wanted to keep a specific bedroom cooler than it was without having this affect other areas of the home, zoning would work for you. The zoning system depends on a sequence of automatic dampers located in the air ducts. These shift the heating or air conditioning systems according to your needs.
HVAC Zoning System Installation
For homes that would receive the largest energy savings with an HVAC zoning system installation, there would have to be specific architectural features. Here are some of the features of the home to bear in mind:
- Many large windows
- Higher ceilings
- Above garage apartment or room
- Attic living space
- Basement living space
- Sunroom
- Loft
- Two or more story homes
Conclusion
With a zoning system, you will end up paying a lower monthly utility bill. The environment in your home would be more comfortable and the wear and tear on your HVAC system would be reduced. If you want to discuss your zoning system options, it is best to speak to an HVAC contractor.
Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/36917760@N04/3399593230/
by admin | May 17, 2016 | HVAC
HVAC System Installation
Your HVAC unit has many complicated elements that only an HVAC specialist can understand and determine. Many mistakes with HVAC installation are mostly made by the unprofessional. However, there are mistakes that can be made by some professionals. There are some common errors that can be avoided if attention is keen during the installation process. Let’s explore.
Furnace Size
It is important to choose the right furnace size. Bigger does not necessarily mean better when trying to select a furnace for installation. Many HVAC contractors will often recommend that you select a furnace that matches the size of the one you had before. In doing so, you will get an accurate amount of airflow. For the correct installation of your HVAC unit, there are calculations required to make the right choice furnace. A professional HVAC contractor can do the calculations for you, especially in the case that you are moving into a newly constructed home.
Combustion Appliance Safety
Modern appliances tend to have a distinctive backdraft that can sometimes be confusing to some contractors. It is important, then, for the contactor to put safety first and check for combustion related to your appliance unit before doing an installation. Some of the essential steps may include:
- Assessing whether there are any cracks found in the pipe
- Test for flue gases
- Depressurization
Leaks from carbon monoxide can result in dangerous poisoning and harm to your household.
Duct Lines
The wrong size duct can cause leakage in your HVAC unit, if not properly chosen. It can also result in improper flow of air or low flow of air, which will subsequently cause the overheating of your furnace.
The Ventilation
In any HVAC unit, ventilation is also an important commodity, but there are some HVAC contractors that concentrate only on keeping the home either cold or hot. It is important also to have the right ventilation in order to maintain balance and a clean air flow.
Home Size
Additionally, when you are choosing the appropriate HVAC units to install, it is essential to consider the size of the home. If the home is too large, meaning that it has multiple rooms and floors, you should think about installing various units or consider a zoned system for smooth temperature flow in all spaces. If you have a smaller home, a single HVAC system installation is convenient and recommended.
Conclusion
Many homeowners will have their HVAC system installed without considering that it needs proper maintenance in the future. For that reason, it is important to install the system at a good location for easy access for servicing and maintenance. For all these nuances, it is best to think about hiring a professional HVAC contractor to get the job done right the first time around.
Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/drh/2853389258/
