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…)
Ductwork and High Ceilings - I did not see any reference to my question and would appreciate a response as soon as possible, as due to a medical situation, have to make a decision soon. We own an OLD house with 13′ ceilings in a large part of the home and 11″ ceilings in the LV/DR and BR. We are oscillating on where to place the ducts…Floor or ceiling. It appears to be counterproductive to me to put the ductwork in the ceiling since it will have so far to go.
We are looking for the most cost-effective, not upfront cost but operating cost, solution. In addition, we are considering DF heat pumps. The house will need 2 or 3 to be zoned correctly. Please let me know about the duct placement and thank you for your help? (more…)
Rotary Compressors - The rotary compressor used in HVAC applications for air conditioning and heating systems offer some of the most efficient air conditioner and heat pump systems one can find on the market.
Despite the rotary compressor being a key component of an air-source air conditioner or heat pump the efficiency offered by this compressor when used as a modulating compressor can exceed efficiency ratings of some geothermal systems.
When the compressor is coupled to an inverter and the proper inverter control system the efficiency of the air-source air conditioner or heat pump system spike to match those of some geothermal air conditioner or heat pump systems. (more…)
How a Programmable Thermostats Works - Programmable thermostats can save you more than ten percent on your homes utility bills. For that reason a programmable can pay for itself within a few years depending on the type and expense of the type you purchase. I always lean towards Honeywell thermostats simply because I’ve seen their reliability in the field and sometimes ease of use. Among others, you can expect good quality from Honeywell thermostat products. The new, hi-tech style currently out on the market is the Honeywell touch-screen thermostat. (more…)
R-410A versus R-22 Refrigerants - R-22 is a refrigerant that has been widely used in air conditioners and heat pumps for many years. It has been deemed hazardous to the environment and it will begin phase-out by law in the year 2010. The replacement refrigerant for R-22, R-410A, is being produced to meet the rising demand for new air conditioner and heat pump systems. (more…)
This Goodman 13 SEER Heat Pump condensing unit is a new installation. The inside Goodman air handler attached to the heat pump condenser via line set was also replaced. It was replaced with this new Goodman heat pump. It’s not a good idea to put a new high SEER air conditioner or heat pump condenser without matching it. It should be matched with a properly rated and efficient air handler especially the coil. (more…)
What you will learn in the Thermostat Wiring Colors Code article:
First, what thermostat wire colors is likely to go to which terminal on the thermostat in your heating and cooling system
Secondly, the function of each wire terminal on the average thermostat highlighting some of the differences in those HVAC system functions from manufacturer to manufacturer as recommended for thermostat wire color
Always follow the thermostat manufacturer’s instructions whenever changing the thermostat. Always turn the power off at the air handler and the condenser and make sure there is no voltage at the transformer before proceeding.
Furthermore, the thermostat wire colors below are the most likely colors used for most installations; however, your thermostat wire colors may be different than what the indication is here. There is no official standard for thermostat wire colors. Additionally, thermostat wiring colors are not standardized. However, these are the most wiring methods used based on my years of experience in the HVAC field, where I successfully wired a lot of thermostats and as recommended by manufacturers and common sense for thermostat wiring colors code.
For instructions on how to wire a thermostat, please see how to wire a thermostat page. Refer back to this page for thermostat wire colors.
York Versus Carrier Air Conditioners - Every manufacturer has their own parts system and sometimes these parts are readily available aftermarket and sometimes the parts are proprietary and can only be purchased through the manufacturer of that equipment. Carrier is one of the HVAC manufacturers that has proprietary parts and sometimes you will pay a premium for those parts.
The manufacturer can hold the customer hostage especially when it comes to repairing the unit. Of course, York is one of the big HVAC manufacturers and they too have proprietary parts however the parts are usually more reasonable for purchase as far as cost is concerned so people would lean towards purchasing a York simply because the replacement parts are not sold at a premium where with SOME Carrier parts are sold at a premium and are not easily replaceable except through a Carrier dealer.
Heat Pump Frost Ice Buildup. Hi. I noticed that one of my outside heat pump condensing units was laboring throughout the night. This morning I found ice frost buildup on the heat pump condenser fins. I live in Tucson, Az. It has been colder than normal (below freezing) with a bit more moisture in the air than usual as of late.
Can you please tell me what causes this frost ice buildup, and how I go about rectifying it? Does this mean that the condenser pump is shot? I’m originally from the Midwest and have never experienced this before. What should I be doing? Thank you for your help. (more…)
Old Leaking Condenser Coils (also referred to as freon leaks) can cause serious issues with HVAC heat pump equipment. HVAC refrigeration circuits are designed and built to hold the refrigerant. It is a sealed hermetic system. The HVAC refrigeration circuit should never need refrigerant. An HVAC refrigeration system does not burn refrigerant. The refrigerant is used over and over again to move heat from one place to another. Aside from a leak, once the refrigeration system is properly charged, the system should never need refrigerant for the life of the equipment. (more…)
HVAC Tip - Some people refer to refrigerant as Freon. So when something is wrong with their HVAC system they say, “I have a Freon leak”. Freon is a name trademarked by Dupont for R-22. R-22 is being phased out because it contains chlorine. While Freon will soon be a thing of the past, the name Freon has found its way in our lexicon as a reference to refrigerant, any type of refrigerant.
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Ductwork and High Ceilings - I did not see any reference to my question and would appreciate a response as soon as possible, as due to a medical situation, have to make a decision soon. We own an OLD house with 13′ ceilings in a large part of the home and 11″ ceilings in the LV/DR and BR. We are oscillating on where to place the ducts…Floor or ceiling. It appears to be counterproductive to me to put the ductwork in the ceiling since it will have so far to go.
R-410A versus R-22 Refrigerants - R-22 is a refrigerant that has been widely used in air conditioners and heat pumps for many years. It has been deemed hazardous to the environment and it will begin phase-out by law in the year 2010. The replacement refrigerant for 
This Goodman 13 SEER Heat Pump condensing unit is a new installation. The inside Goodman air handler attached to the 
Always follow the thermostat manufacturer’s instructions whenever changing the thermostat. Always turn the power off at the air handler and the condenser and make sure there is no voltage at the transformer before proceeding.
York Versus Carrier Air Conditioners - Every manufacturer has their own parts system and sometimes these parts are readily available aftermarket and sometimes the parts are proprietary and can only be purchased through the manufacturer of that equipment. Carrier is one of the 
