by High Performance HVAC | Boilers |
Hot Water Boilers - HVAC Hydronic Heating - People who use boilers for their primary source of heat report that they love the kind of heat that a boiler provides, whether they have a hot water steam boiler. If you thought that there is only one type of heat, you might want to reconsider. All you have to do is add adjectives to the beginning of the word heat. There is:
- Dry heat
- Wet heat
- Drafty heat
- Even heat
- Uneven heat
Boiler heat will give you even, draft-less heat. That is opposed to “drafty”, uneven heat that some heat pumps and forced air systems provide.
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by High Performance HVAC | Direct Digital Controls |
Duct Temperature Sensor - The duct static temperature sensor measures air temperature in the ductwork. The solid-state temperature sensing devices are commonly used in HVAC applications that are controlled by direct digital control or a modern building automation system. At the base of the box is a probe that sticks into the air stream of the ductwork. As the air passes over it, the probe changes resistance. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Water Heaters |
Hot Water Heaters - Domestic hot water heaters make our lives much more comfortable than ever before. Hot water heaters give us hot water for washing our hands, showering, washing dishes, and other uses that would otherwise be uncomfortable without a hot water heater.
When considering hot water heaters beyond the cost of the water things to consider are the size of the hot water heater and the type of fuel it will use to heat the water. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Oil Heat |
Oil Controls Burner - The oil burner and oil controls provide the main source of heat for this oil furnace. The oil burner comprises an oil pump, an oil pump, a burner electric motor, a burner blower, a step-up transformer, an oil ignition control, an oil burner gun, and an oil nozzle (inside not viewable here).
The burner electric motor is directly linked to the blower and the oil pump and when the electric motor starts (controlled by the ignition control) the pump begins pumping oil while the blower provides primary air to the combustion chamber. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnaces |
This picture shows furnace flue condensation problems. This problem is caused by hot gases cooling too quickly in the flue. As the hot gasses cool, the moisture in the gases condenses and starts dripping back down the flue. Typically, there is a combustion issue or bad flue design. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Air Handlers |
Air Handler Filter Pressure Sensor - This is a pressure sensor. It tells a maintenance technician if the air filters are dirty and clogged. The pressure control is a low static pressure switch to trip the unit if the mixing box drops below the setpoint pressure. The pressure the switch is calibrated to.
In addition, the low static pressure sensor protects the fan and the ductwork including dampers from damage. If the economizer damper and the return air damper would fail closed (or another possible scenario) that would cause the unit to pull negative pressure in the mixing box. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Air Handlers |
Water Dripping from Air Conditioner - We have 2 air conditioning units in our house and 2 pipes protrude from the roof. One of the pipes is dripping water. We were told to look for a blockage and to empty the pans. I don’t see where to check for a blockage. Any suggestions?
The air conditioning units we have: Bryant models 373LAV, 376CAV Downflow/Horizontal and 383KAV, 395CAV Upflow Gas Furnace. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Air Handlers |
HVAC Duct Work delivers the conditioned air to the spaces. The Air Handling Duct channels this conditioned air to spaces where it is needed and then a return duct channels the air back to the air handling unit duct for re-conditioning. The return ductwork has a negative pressure while the supply ductwork has positive pressure.
In commercial systems and tight residential homes, it is necessary to add fresh air to this conditioned air so the air remains fresh and healthy for the occupants of the structure. This is required by the mechanical code and often this air comes through ductwork from the outside. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Buyers Advice, Goodman HVAC Reviews, Trane HVAC Reviews |
Goodman versus Trane Air Conditioners - The first thing we need to do when comparing a Trane Versus a Goodman air conditioning system is to make sure we are comparing similar models with similar features. Each manufacturer makes various models from a builder’s grade unit, which is usually the HVAC manufacturer’s cheapest model up to the unit that has bells and whistles, and some of these have bells and whistles for the bells and whistles. You want to make sure you are comparing apples to apples and not an apple to an orange.
The next thing we need to do when comparing HVAC equipment is to look at the HVAC contractor installing the equipment. If you get a lousy installer or contractor, forget about the name brand because the HVAC system WILL NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY and EFFICIENTLY if the installation is shoddy. Also, the unit will not have the same life expectancy, will fail prematurely, and will need replacing sooner than if the HVAC equipment is installed properly in the first place. Out of any buyers advice about air conditioning and heating equipment that someone can give you this is probably the most important part.
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by High Performance HVAC | Heat Pumps |
Heat Pump Systems - There are different types of Heat Pumps in use in both the commercial HVAC heat pump markets and the residential HVAC heat pump markets. The two main types of heat pumps are the air source heat pumps and the water source heat pumps (or geothermal heat pumps). Within the water source heat pump types there are several sub-categories. (more…)
