Articles and tips about heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), of interest to homeowners.
There are three kinds of ductwork for heating and air conditioning systems:
Q: My home has central air and heat. The A/C unit is outside behind the house and the heater is in the attic. The system shut off a few days ago. I checked the breakers - fine. I checked to make sure the unit had power - OK. I put a new thermostat on-no go. What am I overlooking? I can do the work myself if I only knew what to look for and replace. It is getting very cold here and the baby isn't too happy at night. The home is four years old. Any suggestions?
Q: How can I clean and do routine maintenance on my air conditioning unit?
Spring is a generally mild season. It's also the ideal time to budget a bit of that savings for an air conditioning tune-up. Done now, it can prevent many small problems from becoming big, expensive problems later.
Q: I have a two-storey house The problem I am having is that the airflow downstairs is perfect. The airflow upstairs, however, is minimal. Besides adding separate heating and air conditioning units for the upstairs, what options do I have? Thanks for the help.
Boilers and radiators are not often installed in new homes, but many older residences feature this type of heating system, and steam or hot-water heating is still the system of choice for many apartments and multi-family dwellings.
Air conditioners are powered by electricity, and a lot of energy is needed to run them. They also use a refrigerant to transfer heat from indoors to outdoors. This refrigerant circulates through a closed-circuit loop of copper tubing that runs between an outdoor coil, called a condenser, and an indoor coil, called an evaporator. The refrigerant raises and drops in temperature as it absorbs and gives off heat, and it changes from liquid to gas and back to liquid again as its temperature and pressure change.
This information will help clarify and answer some questions about central air conditioning.
Consumers are often bombarded with advertisements touting a vast array of different brand names, rebates and special offers for air conditioners. Air conditioning has become a very technical industry, making the task of choosing all the more complicated for consumers. But as with all major investments, homeowners must spend some time and do their homework to make sure they are making the best decision.
Although central heating is considered a modern convenience, it actually dates back to ancient Greece. It is believed that in 350 B.C. the Great Temple of Ephesus was warmed by heated air that was circulated through flues laid in the floor. Today, with electricity to drive blowers, forced-air systems heat nearly 35 million American homes.
Q: In our ranch style home, cold air comes up through the vents, from a basement crawl space. No matter how high we turn the heat up, we can feel the cold air. My house is never really warm and I have high heating bills.
This information can clarify and help answer some questions about furnace repairs.
Who wants to think about the heating system when it's warm and sunny outside? But winter is never that far away, and having a heating system service done now will ensure that the heat will come on when it is finally needed.
Geothermal heating and cooling systems provide space conditioning -- heating, cooling, and humidity control. They may also provide water heating -- either to supplement or replace conventional water heaters. Geothermal heating and cooling Systems work by moving heat, rather than by converting chemical energy to heat like in a furnace.
Geothermal heating and cooling systems, which use the earth as a heat source provide heating, cooling, and humidity control. They may also provide water heating--either to supplement or replace conventional water heaters.
Here's an outline of the different types of geothermal systems.
Q: I am having a new central air system installed and need to repair and raise the concrete slab before the installers come. I am not sure how to disconnect the old unit to remove it before fixing the pad. Do I need the freon discharged before I start disconnecting the unit's piping to move it?
Because a heat pump operates like an air conditioner in reverse, the unit located outdoors is cold when blowing hot air indoors. When fog collects on the outdoor coils, it forms ice. It is then necessary for the system to switch into a defrost cycle to melt the ice outdoors.
Q: I have a problem with my A/C. It's a central unit. It was working, then it just stopped like there was no power. It's only 3 yrs old. I have misplaced the warranty. Please send tips. I went outside, opened the unit, pressed down the relay and it was on, does this mean it's the thermostat? There is normally a spark when I take the cover off, but now there is nothing.
Q: We installed a whole house fan two years ago. It has been working fine, no noises or anything to indicate it is having a problem. One night while it was on it just went dead. We checked the circuit breaker but nothing else was out in the house so we figured it wasn't that anyway. Do you have any clues as to what could be wrong? Please help, we do not want to replace it already.
Dry air in your home can make your throat feel dry and cause or aggravate respiratory ailments. During extremely cold weather, your home loses humidity to the outdoors and may drop to as low as 5 percent. Optimal comfort is considered to be 40-55 percent humidity. Inadequate humidification during cold weather is one of the major causes of respiratory infections. The heating season causes people to begin having repeated attacks of winter colds.
Here's some information about humidifiers.
This information can clarify and help answer some questions about central heating.
Here are a few tips for keeping yourself and your home cool when it's hot outside.
Q: I want to take down an old, small chimney that is on the roof, and runs down between the living room and the kitchen.
Q: I started my furnace and set it at the temperature I needed. It ran fine and did reach the temperature, but after a few minutes it kicked on again. It would run for approximately ten minutes and shut off. The furnace is about 20 years old, and I had it cleaned and serviced last year.
Solar heat is environmentally friendly. Solar heat does not pollute or produce greenhouse gases. It helps conserve the earth's energy resources for our children and grandchildren. Solar is as pure, clean and safe as you can get. It is the best choice for people with allergy problems and chemical sensitivities. Solar heating is stable in price. Once you have bought it, you are protected from inflation and the political/economic surprises that come with other fuels.
Here's some useful information on solar central air and room heating.
Here's some more information about swamp coolers.
Thermostats control nearly all types of heating and cooling equipment, keeping room temperatures within a set range. By doing so, they ensure comfort, cut energy waste, and offer considerable convenience.
Q: I have a question concerning a central air conditioner in my home. The supply air is run thru ductwork in the attic. These ducts are insulated but condensation builds up internally and drips back into the house through the supply vents in the ceiling. How can I correct this problem before it causes any more damage to the ceiling, floors, furniture, etc.? Do I need more insulation around the ductwork in the attic?
Basic wall heater problems: If your baseboard heater or wall heater won't turn on or shut off when the room temperature changes or when the thermostat knob is adjusted, it or the thermostat likely needs repair.
Air conditioners are powered by electricity, and a lot of energy is needed to run them. They also use a refrigerant to transfer heat from indoors to outdoors. This refrigerant circulates through a closed-circuit loop of copper tubing that runs between an outdoor coil, called a condenser, and an indoor coil, called an evaporator. The refrigerant raises and drops in temperature as it absorbs and gives off heat, and it changes from liquid to gas and back to liquid again as its temperature and pressure change.
This information can clarify and help answer some questions about your boiler heating system.
A common and economical form of residential evaporative cooling is a "swamp cooler," which uses a vertical pad of cellulose fiber, a system for delivering water to the top of the pad, and a fan to draw air through the porous pad as the water runs down the pad and is absorbed. As dry air moves over the wet pad, water evaporates, and the air gives up its heat. The air moving from the wet pad into the home is cooler than the outdoor air.
Q: Which is the right cushion to put under radiant floor heating?
An exhaust fan is desirable in any bathroom, and it is required in bathrooms that have no windows or windows that can't be opened. Bathroom fans should exchange the air in a bathroom completely every 5 minutes. In addition to keeping the air fresh, they also help inhibit the growth of mildew and other fungi that easily breed in a bathroom. If possible, listen to a fan of the model you are buying; some are pretty noisy.
Q: I had a new gas heating system installed over three years ago. I have found a wet area in the foundation and it goes to the floor where there is a white powder-like substance. The cement on the floor is breaking down, it seems. Do I need a liner installed due to the evaporation of the gas heat, or is it due to the small crack I have outside at the base of the chimney?
Indoor air pollution is a problem we are just beginning to understand. As our homes become more tightly sealed to conserve energy resources, problems become more apparent. People generally get interested in the issue when they notice certain health symptoms correlating with time spent in a particular indoor location. Similarly, people get curious when they encounter persistent, unidentified odors.
Studies show that often the dirtiest air we breathe is in our own homes. As we walk through the house, air turbulence created by our moving bodies stirs up a combination of dust and debris that can be irritating to the lungs.
Q: We just bought our first home and we have noticed that the air is very dry, and there is static electricity build up, etc. The HVAC/AC system we have now is a dual system, one in the attic and one in the crawl space. Is there a whole house humidifier for this type of HVAC system?
Debris often ends up in your home's ducts through the registers. Unless removed, fine particles from the debris, which can be respiratory irritants, can circulate within the ducts and enter a room through the registers. Air ducts should be cleaned and vacuumed to remove any particles that may have entered during construction or over time.
The indoor air we breathe is often dirtier and more polluted than the visible pollution we endure outside. Poor indoor air quality can cause such problems as asthma, respiratory allergies and aggravated emphysema.
When you shop for an air cleaner, be sure you're comparing apples to apples. With a tabletop or room air cleaner, pay attention to how many CFM (cubic feet per minute) of air move through the unit. For each 250 square feet of space, figure you'll need about 100 CFM. Room models can handle up to about 400 CFM and tabletop models top out at about 175 CFM.
The spectrum of air filters and cleaners are differentiated in a number of ways. Here's a look at the main types of air cleaners and filters.
Summer is the time to look into installing a whole house fan to take advantage of the cool breezes and reduce electricity costs.
Attic exhaust fans mount in the gable end or on the roof itself, just below the ridge or peak. Roof-mounted fans or ventilators are the most effective type. They require that the shingles be removed and a round hole be cut into the roof. In repairing the fan, the fan may have to be removed.