Fixing a Refrigerant Leak | Air Conditioner & Heat Pump Diagnosis & Repair

Fixing a refrigerant leak on an evaporator coil

A new evaporator coil

Fixing a Refrigerant Leak – You had the new air conditioner or heat pump system installed some years ago and suddenly it stopped heating or cooling properly so you call the HVAC contractor to check it out. The HVAC technician arrives and spends about thirty minutes HVAC troubleshooting and then he comes to you with the news.

The unit needs a charge of refrigerant. It is low on refrigerant (R-22) or R-410A. You ask the HVAC technician if it is normal for this to occur and he informs that, no, it is not normal for the HVAC system to lose refrigerant that you have a refrigerant leak. Is it the evaporator coil? Is it the air conditioner condenser? Something else with the air conditioning system? Or heat pump? (more…)

Trane Air Handler AHU Electric Duct Heater | HVAC Heating & Cooling

Trane Air Handler AHU Electric Duct Heater

Trane Air Handler AHU with Electric Duct Heater

Trane Air Handler AHU Electric Duct Heater - This Trane air handling unit photo shows a Trane AHU with an electric duct heater above the Trane air handler in the supply duct. In places where natural gas is not available and propane LP gas is impractical or not wanted. Electric heat makes a good source of heating. This electric duct heater is situated on the supply side of the air handler. Furthermore, many duct heaters are installed inside the air handler. (more…)

Variable Speed ECM Blower Motors | HVAC Heating & Cooling Systems

Variable Speed ECM Blower Motors

An ECM Variable Speed Blower Motor in a squirrel cage blower

Variable Speed ECM Blower Motors - Variable speed ECM blower motors have become increasingly popular in residential air conditioning and heating systems. From an engineering perspective, these motors increase the efficiency of the systems and offer a whole range of other benefits that help the system and the consumer. Furthermore, comfort is enhanced using ECM blower motors along with noise reduction. (more…)

Gas Furnace Troubleshooting Techniques | HVAC Heating Repair

Gas Furnace Troubleshooting Techniques

Electronic Control Board for an Electronic Ignition Furnace

Gas Furnace Troubleshooting Techniques - Electronic ignition for gas furnaces is the modern way for furnaces to light the main burners. Furnace technology has evolved from the standing pilot gas ignition systems. These furnaces continue to be used today, however, there are fewer standing pilot furnaces used today than yesterday.  When troubleshooting a system it is important to know which type of ignition system the furnace uses. (more…)

Home Humidity Control | Why Its Important for Comfort & Health

Home Humidity Control | Why Its Important for Comfort & Health - Humidity is important to our home and health and it is important to maintain the correct humidity in our homes and workplaces for our health. What is humidity? Humidity is simply little water droplets in the air. Cold air is nearly saturated with these little water droplets because the contents of cold air allow the air to hold more water droplets or humidity. As air is heated it expands and holds less humidity. (more…)

Home Humidity Problems Maintaining Proper Humidity | HVAC Health

Home Humidity Problems - HIGH HUMIDITY 60 % +. Within the last month, I moved into a new house. It has drywall and not plaster walls. The furnace and hot water tank were installed a week or so before we moved into the house. Last week we determined that there is a humidity issue when the windows were sweating. We are trying to determine the source of the humidity. The contractor feels it may be the high-efficiency furnace. I have a Lennox g61mp. The combustion air is pulled from within the unfinished basement. Should the air be pulled from the outside? The gases are vented via PVC pipe which slopes back to the furnace. (more…)

HVAC Products Containing Mercury and Proper Disposal

HVAC Products Containing Mercury and Proper Disposal
HVAC Products Containing Mercury and Proper Disposal - Mercury is extremely harmful to the environment and causes severe health problems in humans and animals. For many years HVAC and HVAC Controls manufacturers have used mercury in switches.

Mercury is a liquid metal and provides a good source used in many switches because of its fluidity and conductivity. From thermostats to boiler controls the liquid metal provides a reliable and efficient switching mechanism to start and stop certain sequences in HVAC applications. (more…)

SilverPAC Silverstat 7 Advanced Thermostat | HVAC Control

SilverPAC Silverstat 7 Advanced ThermostatSilverPAC Silverstat 7 Advanced Thermostat - This thermostat is sure to save you some money in energy costs if you can get over the initial retail cost which is currently unavailable. Taking it a step further you can make some control changes to your appliances and hook them up to this thermostat so you can program on and off schedules for the appliances. We’re not talking about just your air conditioning and heating system either…………from your refrigerator freezer to your water heater to your lighting it can all be intelligently controlled and monitored. In my humble opinion, it will definitely change your utility bill. Here are some of the key features that will help you save energy. (more…)

Honeywell Chronotherm Plus Thermostat – Trane XL19i Condenser

Honeywell Chronotherm Plus Thermostat - Trane XL19i CondenserHoneywell Chronotherm Plus Thermostat - Trane XL19i Condenser – I have a Honeywell Chronotherm Plus 8624D running a Trane XL19i Air Conditioner with a Trane XV90 Gas Furnace - all installed new in new construction in 2003. Every winter, during the morning warm-up from 66 to 70, the burners stay on for approximately 1.5 hours at 70, then rise quickly to 73 before finally shutting off.

The only way to interrupt the process is to turn the system OFF at the thermostat. The system is on AUTO with the cooling set at 75 for the winter.

I have swapped the thermostats (there are two sets in the house, this is the one in the attic for the second floor) with the same results. I have not swapped the thermostat circuit boards, but I can not see a reason to.

The main floor is on the same schedule but has never done this three-degree burst. I have had three different contractors out, with corresponding charges for thermostat troubleshooting with no luck. Have you ever seen this? Any thoughts? Thanks! (more…)