Archive for August, 2012

Tips to Make Your Snohomish HVAC System More Efficient

Monday, August 27th, 2012

Considering the fact that up to half of the energy used in a home goes toward heating and cooling the interior space, it is smart to make sound decisions regarding your Snohomish heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.   Below are some tips to make your HVAC system more efficient.

 Regularly Maintain HVAC Equipment

Annual tune-ups of heating and cooling systems can easily improve HVAC system efficiency. Some of these steps include:

  • Ensure outdoor unit has proper ventilation, is free of debris or foliage growth, and is located in the shade
  • Check thermostat settings for comfort while home and to save energy while away
  • Tighten electrical connections and measure voltage and currents on motors
  • Lubricate all moving parts
  • Inspect and clean out the condensate drain on central air conditioning units
  • Check controls of the system for proper operation

Change Air Filters

Many air filters should be changed every three months, but some as often as every month.  Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation as well as simple common sense by checking the filters frequently during high-usage times and replacing as necessary.

Seal All Household Ducts

Heating and cooling ducts can be huge energy wasters if they are improperly sealed.  These ducts can be in an attic, basement, crawlspace, or garage, and can be easily repaired by a professional.  As well, wrapping the ducts in insulation will keep them from overheating in the summer or freezing in the winter.

 Install a Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat can control how hot or cold a home is every hour of every day within a week.  During the summer they can be set to higher settings while residents are away on vacation, and during winter they can be set to lower settings while residents are away at work or school.  This is a great way to save on energy costs throughout the year, as keeping a more consistent house temperature also helps the HVAC system to run more smoothly.

Use any or all of the above tips will make your HVAC system more efficient, while saving you money throughout the peak seasons of heating and cooling. Call us today for HVAC service in the Snohomish area!

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Seattle HVAC Guide: History of Heat Pumps

Monday, August 20th, 2012

If you are thinking about having a heat pump installed in your Seattle home, you probably want to know a little bit about how they work. Here is a brief history of heat pumps and how they can be used to both heat and cool your home.

Your heat pump uses an intermediate fluid called a refrigerant which absorbs heat as it vaporizes and releases the heat when it is condensed,  using an evaporator to absorb the heat (or energy) from inside an occupied space and forcing this heat to the outside through the condenser. The key component that makes a heat pump different from an air conditioner is the reversing valve which allows for the flow direction of the refrigerant to be changed, allowing the heat to be pumped in either direction.

Timeless Technology

While mechanical movement of this energy, what we can actually call a pump,  has been a relatively recent invention,  the concept of this principal of physics has been in use since ancient times. Harnessing the power of geothermal energy (produced from the heat of the earth itself), natural hot springs “pumped” warm air into cool spaces in China and Europe thousands of years ago.

By 1852, Lord Kelvin had theorized the heat pump, but it took nearly 100 years to actually build one.  In the last half century, the technological advances have made heat pumps part of our lives in many ways.

First Pump

In the 1940s a man named Robert Webber was motivated to build the first known heat pump while tinkering with his refrigerator.  Accidently burning his hand on the outlet pipes of the cooling system, he was quite painfully awakened to an idea about the transference of heat.

Recognizing the freezer was constantly producing heat to cool its interior, he connected the outlet pipe to the storage tank of his hot water heater, extended that into a flow through pipes which heated air nearby, and  then used a fan to blow the warmth into another room.

The first heat pump was a crude, but effective method to provide comfort.  Creating a full-size version soon after, Wagner could heat his entire home.

Heat and Electricity

Today heat pumps are built in many ways and shapes to heat or cool buildings of many sizes.  For more information about having a heat pump installed in your Seattle home, give Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning a call!

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Kirkland Air Conditioning Guide: Indoor Air Conditioning Components

Monday, August 13th, 2012

Cool air on a hot day is a precious commodity, but modern technology has made it as basic in our lives as a part of most Kirkland homes. Often taken for granted, the process of air conditioning has many components that combine to give us peace of mind and a good night’s sleep.

Air Conditioning 101

Utilizing a process of rapid evaporation and condensation, air conditioning is a process which involves the rapid evaporation and condensation of chemicals called refrigerants.  These are compounds that have properties allowing them to change from gas to liquid and back again at low temperatures.

When evaporating into a gaseous state, the refrigerant absorbs heat.  Compressed tightly together again, it condenses back into liquid, releasing that heat in the form of condensation which can be evacuated to the outdoors. Air is blown over the cooled liquid in the circulating system and distributed to the rooms through a system of duct works.

Round and Round

The refrigerant circulates through a closed loop system and maintains a delicate balance of pressure to compel its transformations. There are four components to the system:

  • the compressor
  • the condensing coil
  • the expansion valve, and
  • the evaporator coil

Starting with a compressor, the molecules are packed together tightly, creating and absorbing heat and becoming liquid.  The heated liquid enters the condenser coils, a series of delicate fins which allow the heat to dissipate to the outside.

The expansion valve controls the amount of liquid entering the evaporator coils.  If too much refrigerant is allowed at once, the system “floods” and is too dense to evaporate.  If there is too little, it idles inefficiently.

The evaporator coils are similar to the condensing coils with a series of fins, only these absorb heat from the conditioned space as the expanding refrigerant returns to gas and heads towards the compressor.

Inside and Out

Unlike the closed loop refrigerant system which is all about containment and control, the distribution system is about sending the heated and cooled air in different directions.  Employing two fans and extensive duct work, the heat is absorbed at one point and released to the outside at another.

Warm air from the conditioned space is blown over the evaporating coil where the heat which is needed to fill the expanding spaces between molecules gets absorbed by the gas.  The same blower that draws the heated air blows the cooled air back into the home, office or business.

Along the condensing coils, during the process of returning to liquid, the heat is released and blown to the outdoors by a second fan.

For more information about air conditioning or to schedule a service, give Kirkland AC professionals Bob’s Heating and Air Conditioning a call!

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Seattle AC Problems: Icing Problems on Air Conditioner Cooling Coils

Monday, August 6th, 2012

Air conditioning cooling coil icing problems can arise for a couple of reasons: either the air filter has not been properly replaced, or there is a condensing coil leak.  It is best to check and test the easiest problem first and then move on from there.

It is important to replace air conditioning filters as often as is recommended by the manufacturer.  A common result of not replacing filters frequently enough is a buildup of dust and dirt on the filter, which causes reduced air flow throughout the air conditioning unit.  With reduced air flow, the evaporator coil or cooling coil within the air handler can become blocked by ice or frost build-up.  Having cooling coil icing can significantly reduce or completely stop the amount of cool air being produced by your Seattle air conditioning unit.

Easy steps to diagnose and resolve air conditioning cooling coil icing problems:

  • Visually inspect the air conditioning cooling coils to check whether reduced air flow has been caused by cooling coil icing.  If ice or frost is found on the coils, thus blocking air-flow, proceed with the next step.
  • Turn off the air conditioning system completely to allow ice to evaporate, the unit will have to remain off until all ice is completely melted and drained away from the unit
  • Replace all dirty filters on the air conditioning unit
  • Once the a/c unit is de-iced and has fresh filters, it is safe to turn the system back on, to test whether the icy build-up happens again

If after completing these steps, when the air conditioning unit is turned back on cooling coil icing happens again, this could mean one of two things.  Either too little of the refrigerant is being released into the cooling coil due to a clogged capillary tube or a stuck thermostatic expansion valve.  Or the refrigerant charge is too low due to a refrigerant leak.  A refrigerant leak can happen at any point in the refrigerant piping system which would then need to be soldered and resealed, or it can happen in the cooling coil or condensing coil which could mean the entire coil needs to be replaced.  Fixing of refrigerant leaks should be handled by a Seattle HVAC professional.  Contact Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning, we can identify the air conditioner cooling coil icing problem and execute the proper solution.

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