Choosing the Perfect Heating System for Your Home

 

The role of choosing residential HVAC that is appropriate can be really daunting and difficult given the numerous options that we have in the market.

The central home heating system provides the heat for the entire home sourcing from one location.

Choosing the right HVAC system is essential for this can save money, fuel and energy. It can also enhance and lift up your home’s value.

Choosing the best HVAC system on the market suited with your home’s area and construction materials is not just a matter of picking up a brand of boiler or furnace, it will also entail other important things to consider.

The first thing to know and do is to learn about the main types of central heating system, enumerating the advantages and disadvantages and being able to run through the home heating systems comparison.

The following are the main central heating systems used:

• Electric Based

  • Electric heating which is also called resistance heating, is a type of home heating options that directly converts electricity to heat. Electric heat is usually more expensive than those produced through combustion equipment which includes propane, natural gas or oil. This can be produced using space heaters, furnaces, radiant and wall heaters as well as thermal storage systems. The electric boilers will allow a home owner to have a central heating system and hot water in one.

• Geothermal heating

  • Geothermal heating is one of the residential HVAC system types that transfers heat from the ground. This type of heating method utilizes the earth as the source of heat or heat sink. The system benefits from the moderate temperature of the ground, thereby reducing operational costs at the same time boosting efficiency. The benefit of using geothermal heating is that geothermal heat pumps can cool down the house during the summer and not just heat it up every winter due to the fact that the equipment moves heat rather than generating it. This is not only considered as the best residential hvac systems but also for commercial or business ones.

• Solar Based heating

  • Solar heating system provides central heating and hot water using solar thermal collectors and oneof the most innovative & best heating system for house. These collectors or heating plants heat the water and distribute it through pipe networks. These are mounted on the roofs. The system may involve large thermal storage used for seasonal storage. This is necessary to store heat collected during summer. Central solar heating offer cost-efficiency compared to solar combination systems. Solar heating is also reliable for hot water supply.

• Steam heating

  • Steam heating system uses burned bunker oil to product steam. It is energy efficient especially when used on a larger scale. It is also one of the oldest types of central heating. A central boiler is used to supply pressurized steam, which is then distributed within the home through pipes. This system is implemented mostly in factories.

• Gas central heating system

  • This is one of the most common type of heating system in houses which is comprised of three main types of heating methods in this system:
    • Combination boiler - This system heats water, as you need it, no longer requiring the use of hot water storage. It uses main water pressure thus eliminating overflow tanks.
    • Gravity fed – An older gas heating type that relies on gravity for water pressure.
    • High Pressure - It operates from the mains water supply at high pressure, so shower pumps are no longer needed. This is ideal for large homes and families.

What matters when choosing the most applicable and appropriate residential heating system, you should not only answer the question on what hvac system should i buy but also try to consider the appropriate size compared to the area to be heated.

Other considerations needed should be the efficiency of the equipment, how long to heat the area, home heating systems prices, green house emissions and heat settings.

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How to Keep Your Heating Bill Low this Winter

Unless you reside in a place where it really has a very hot climate, heating your home is crucial and important.

Homeowners exert much needed effort in looking for the most appropriate home heating system.

Another unavoidable consideration will be the cost tagged along the installation and utilization of the best heating system for your house.

Cutting back unnecessary energy  use is an easy way to keep your hard earned money in your pocket. Rather than letting this pass and accepting this annual hit on your wallet -

Below are helpful tips to raise the heat and lower the bills:

1. Fill those gaps - You’ve spent money on purchasing the most efficient heating system in the market, so the last thing you want to do is to let that heat seep out. Warmed air leaking out around poorly sealed window frames, power sockets, recessed light fittings, and other gaps is a big source of heat loss in homes. Also, when the wind blows, you can feel drafts from those gaps. Use caulk, foam strips or expanding foam to seal up unwanted holes in your home. Ventilation is important, but you can control it.
2. Insulate is the key - Add extra insulation to your home cheaply by layering up mineral wool in your attic as home heating options. Place thick curtains to help insulate glass at windows. If your windows are single-glazed, consider sticking transparent polythene film to your internal window frames to act as super-low-budget double-glazing. If your house is modern and well constructed, its walls, floors, ceilings, and roof will already contain some insulation material.
3. Discard and remove thermostats – We understand that some people are cautious in identifying the running temperature inside homes, if you have room thermostats, decide what temperature you want for each room, set them, and then leave them alone. They have one job, so let them do it. Fiddling with them won't do much besides cost you money.  Other than the effort in how to choose the right size hvac system, you may want to consider buying ultra-efficient learning thermostats which automatically track your patterns of temperature preference and auto-adjust accordingly.
4. Turn down water heater – Water has a specific heat capacity. To reduce the amount of energy being consumed, turn down the hot water heating systems a little. Many water heaters are factory-set to a 140°F (60°C) default, and reducing the temperature by as little as 10°F (5.5°C) will save you money up to five percent of your water-heating costs.
5. Let the sunshine in – Open drapes and curtains and let the sun heat your home for free. This is a natural type of heating method. Open your south-facing curtains at sunrise to make best use of passive solar gain. This works particularly well if your home has stone or concrete floors, as they have a large thermal mass, meaning they soak up a lot of heat and release it slowly.
6. Work out and exercise - Working out raises your body temperature by burning calories of heat faster.

Learn More Here: How to Keep Your Heating Bill Low this Winter

Types of Heating Systems for Commercial Buildings

There is a vital need to ensure proper heating is in place especially for large spaces like a warehouse or factory and is all boils down into two heating, warm air or radiant.

The commercial heating systems should be properly maintained and operated effectively to ensure productivity of employees especially in cold regions or areas.

Every  commercial heating units under the two categories have particular characteristics that is why it is very important to have knowledge in the nature of the space being heated and the type of business heating required in order to make the rights decisions.

2 Types of Commercial Heating System

Warm air heating

Warm air heating classified as the first type of heating system makes use of fan to draw air across a heat exchanger, which increases the temperature of the air and distributing it evenly throughout an area or space. These are ideal for areas which require constant temperature.

The process of such commercial heating systems explained starts from a gas or oil fired burner as the source of warm air, hot water then is circulated through the heat exchanger or an electric element.

These heaters can be situated suspended above the space being heated or mounted on the walls or on the floor.

The floor standing models may use outlets to direct the warm air to specific areas or they can be directed to a duct work system to distribute the warm air to a bigger area. The choice will depend on the floor area or layout of the space.

Commercial heating services are also particular with wasted energy as with heating systems, some of the heated air will inevitably rise to the top of the building potentially escaping energy. They recommend combine warm air heating with destratification fans to return the warm air from the roof space back to the occupied space to provide necessary temperature.

Other companies make use of free-standing air rotation heaters. These utilize high-efficiency axial fans to move large volumes of air through the space at relatively low temperatures. Warehousing or logistics facilities where dense racking may be in use and occupancy rarely occurs are the most suitable place where air rotation heating systems can be in place.

Radiant heating

Radiant heating in large areas is the next type of commercial heating system. It is typically provided by radiant tubes situated in built in duct works through the roof. In some cases, radiant plaque heaters may be used.

In both situations, the heat energy is emitted in the form of infrared radiation from the hot surfaces of the heaters. The infrared radiation warms the people or occupants and other objects exposed to it.

As a result, the air temperature in a radiant heated space is lower than in a warm air heated space. What heats the people would be the body comfort maintained as long as these people are in direct line of sight of the heat source.

Commercial heating Chicago companies should take into consideration the reliability and running costs as the most important factors in commercial heating systems.

The contractors or heating experts should be experienced and should be able to find the right system for the organization and offer the best solutions for the complete air comfort.

They should all be well versed with most major types of boilers or heaters within all types of commercial buildings including:

• Boilers and multi-boilers (gas, oil, LPG, wood)
• Heating controls and sensors
• Valve and pump
• Forced draft and warm air conditioning systems or hot water systems

Large scale structures including factories, exhibition halls, leisure and convenience centres, museums and galleries and other open plan buildings require carefully designed heating installations.

Advancement in heat pump technology also made underfloor heating much more popular way to heat newly built commercial establishments. It is also cheaper to install underfloor heating than the traditional wet heating systems.

This efficient heating system involves feeding heated water through under floor pipes to distribute heat evenly in ever location of a given structure or floor.

 

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How to Choose a Heating Contractor

The degree of importance of choosing the most suitable and appropriate heating and ac contractor can be as important as the HVAC equipment you choose, as it entails a considerable amount of skills, experience and knowledge in installation and maintenance in order for the equipment to operate as safely, reliably and efficiently as possible.

However, we cannot just rely mainly on the popularity or accessibility of local hvac companies within your area and it doesn’t equate that they are the right fit for your facility. HVAC service providers will always be in demand with the constant need arising from either residential or business sources from service requests to repair and replacement.

As a consumer and valued client, one has to step up and do their homework to check local AC and heating companies’ credibility plus reputation before entering into an agreement. It is a vital concept to master the art of choosing the right HVAC contractor because not all HVAC service providers are typically the same.

It is all about getting the difference between getting a solid, professionally repaired or installed heating system and just plainly getting robbed or ripped off. This article will feature valuable suggestions and tips to help you veer away from troubles and inconveniences and to likely ensure that your heating system whether a new furnace, heat pumps or boiler keeps running smoothly and efficiently for years to come.

Reminders on choosing a local heating and air contractor

• Be extra cautious of a residential HVAC contractor or commercial one that gives you a bid or an estimate over the phone

Heating units can be very complicated and not all equipment works the same way. Depending on the fuel source, fan and duct system, distribution system and heat exchanging flow, it is important that a skilled technician is mindful on the actual issue or problem.

Giving an estimated price of the actual service and project activity will never be accurate and enough.There are several areas that a technician cannot see over the phone: How is the ducting? Are there proper amount of registers per area or room? What are the sources of heat and heat exchanging unit? ….. And a lot more questions and factors to consider.

None of this can be executed just by talking over the phone. If this occurs, it just clearly manifests how the person you are speaking with is inexperienced or is just trying to gain your business without even giving effort of visiting your house or establishment. A true residential hvac contractor will go the extra mile of crawling in your attic or basement and would not hesitate to squeeze himself in tough spaces and investigate the whole entire house.

All reputable HVAC contractors is proactive in giving a written bid that they will adhere to. This should include a list of everything that will and should be accomplished with the corresponding price and timeline. The contract should also detail the payment due dates and options available.

• Residential HVAC companies and commercial ones ensure that all their contractors and technicians should be licensed by the Contractors State License Board

Be sure that you check HVAC Contractor’s essential paperworks. Depending where you live or where your business is situated, a HVAC contractor may be required by the state, municipality or county to obtain a license or a certificate of passed exams and technical HVAC training.

There is definitely too much at stake as each technician is expected to do complex tasks such as manipulation of gas lines as well as electrical and plumbing works and we do not want to leave these to inexperienced ones as this will mean danger in our safety and lives. You may check specific websites to verify your states’ requirements or check if your local heating and ac contractors are licensed: Contractor’s License Reference Site and National Contractors websites.

Other important licenses and certifications include contract license surety bonds as a precaution against unfair dealings. It will serve as a financial insurance in case something goes wrong with the agreement initially signed. In case the worker or technician gets injured, you may also need to secure a worker’s compensation insurance.

• Secure referrals or read online reviews

One can have the option to ask at least three referrals from former or current customers of HVAC contractors within your area or household. Take some time and effort in calling the referrals and ask all the questions you may have in mind and you wish to get answered. Through this, you can ensure that your selection of your local hvac companies will lead to a successful business transaction for all perspectives and sides involved.

Google is also an ideal online reference and would not filter reviews which make it a reliable source in choosing a HVAC company. Check the companies track record, client testimonials as well as an overview of the price and cost of the services and repair maintenance. But at the end of the line, it is you who makes the final decision, use your common sense. Choose your favorite and preferred review site and do tons of research as you may please to do so.

• Strike a balance between cost and efficacy or quality of the service

Be very careful especially with those offering the lowest bid or cost. Unfortunately, study shows that 25%-30% of the residential business in 2015 came from fixing botched installations from what they call bargain contractors. Two possible results may include your home not being properly heated or worse yet, it will fail and will cost you even more.
What do you do? Get multiple bids, and go with your gut feel.

Ask yourself series of questions from who you trust the most to who does the job best? It will be cheaper in the long run to go with a reputable HVAC contractor upfront, even if the cost may be quite higher. Never assume that you’ll save more if you go to a cheaper one.

Read Full Article Here: How to Choose a Heating Contractor

Professional Furnace Repair Services

 

Let’s start off by identifying what a furnace is and its categories. Typically, a furnace is used for high temperature heating. It originated from the Greek word, fornax, which means oven. The word furnace on its own refers to the residential heating system based on a central furnace, either a boiler or a heater in a more common language. The source of heat energy is produced by means of fuel directly supplied through combustion, by electricity such as electric arc furnace or through induction heating furnaces.

The residential furnaces are classified under large furnaces which are permanently installed to provide the necessary warmth to an interior area through intermediary fluid motion, which may be in the form of air, hot water or steam. The most common fuel source for contemporary furnaces in the United States is natural gas which includes items such as fuel oil, wood or coal. Electrical resistance heating is also an alternative which provides lower cost in electricity.

There are basically four categories of residential furnaces which heating repair service contractors should know, based on design and efficiency.

The first one is classified under natural draft. These furnaces are made up of cast iron heat exchangers built with outer shell steel. The heat exchangers are then emitted through brick chimneys. As air circulation happens, it goes through specialized pipes and would then channel the warm air into the floor or wall vents inside the house. It practically follows the principle of warmer air rises or natural convection.

The second classification is through forced air or an atmospheric burner style with a cast iron or sectional steel heat exchanger. The warmer air is being moved through a blower and is controlled based on the preferred speed of the user or homeowner.

The third category falls under forced draft. The main differentiator with that of the forced air is that it is more compact than the previous design. These are equipped with combustion air blowers that would collate heated air which would be more fuel efficient and would work best as central air conditioning system.

The fourth and last category is the condensing furnace which is considered a high efficient furnace. It includes a sealed combustion area, combustion draft inducer and a secondary heat exchanger mechanism. As the heat exchanger filters the most of the heat from the exhaust gas, it condenses water vapor and other chemicals as it undergoes the process. The combustion draft inducer allows for the exhaust piping to move vertically or horizontally and brings the fresh combustion air.

With the complex system as well as the equipment’ subjection into heat, chemicals and changes in temperature, it is vital to ensure a regular or annual furnace check up and furnace servicing to ensure that it still provides the necessary efficacy and efficiency . Without proper cleaning and inspection, you can expect the system to wear itself out quickly, to pump dangerous gases or carbon monoxide into your home or to simply seize to operate.

Before doing any system maintenance or check, whether personal or through heating and cooling repair service technicians, it is important to switch off the device and the fuel supply. It is important that every homeowner or user knows where the power switch plate is as well as the fuel shutoff valve which controls the oil tank or incoming gas pipe. Misaligned burners can seriously pose hazard by allowing gas to build up causing a back fire or flash fire. It is advisable to make sure that these are properly set up.

It is very common that deposits of carbon soot in the combustion chamber can cause corrosion on its walls. In order to avoid high cost in furnace fix brought about by such reasons, regularly clean these chambers with extra caution and attention.

Heating and cooling repair service experts are also very particular for any holes in the exhaust shaft or duct which could possibly lead to carbon monoxide lead inside homes which could be very lethal, specifically in areas where the pipes meet the furnace or boilers. By this inspection and application of furnace problems and solutions, it would greatly increase the efficiency level which could save money and life as well.  If you have an extra resource to put up, it is also best to install a carbon monoxide alarm in each floor. Since this gas is odorless and colorless, it is really hard to detect if there has been any gas spills inside your area. Given enough concentration, this could really be fatal and it is best to be safe than sorry.

In the process of furnace boiler repair, a common activity done is to replace the oil filter. This prevents the tiny impurities from clogging the oil burner nozzle which may result in a misfire that will eventually shut down the system. Other than replacing the oil filter, it is also important to have a timely change in the air filter, as well as adjusting the blower’s belt wear and tension.

Heating and air conditioning companies would also have combustion analyzers which will calculate the furnace efficiency by measuring the gas in the exhaust file. Technicians would ensure that the burner’s air gates are adjusted to reach the balance between fuel to air. A regular check up of the oil nozzle is also important which controls the fuel just before it ignites and verifies the flame color and shape of the igniter.

It is a must to clean floor vents and remove floor registers as well as to vacuum ducts which are main attractors of dust, pet hairs, small toys and food scraps. With these present, it can definitely reduce the efficiency of the furnace forcing to boost up more heat. This also provides more fresh air inside the home.

When it comes to furnaces, an ounce of prevention definitely equates to a pound of cure. Given the proper knowledge and a few basic hand tools, one can do the routine maintenance check up. If not, you may always call your local heating and repair contractors for additional help and expertise.

Originally Published Here: Professional Furnace Repair Services

How Does an Air Conditioner Works?

Brief History

We deeply appreciate the man who pioneered this cool stuff in the early decades of the 20th century, Willis Carrier. This device that has revolutionized the working environments started when Carrier patented the air conditioner in 1902.

With expertise in the field of mechanical engineering, he designed a mechanical humidity controller in certain business establishments wherein air passed through a filter, then over coils containing the coolants.

As the number of commercial clients grew, he decided to also shift over to the residential needs and founded his very own company, Carrier Engineering Corporation in 1915. The industry flourished soon after the Second World War which placed home air conditioners & central air installation on top of the list for many American homeowners.

From Pebbles Kids Learning channel

How Does an AC Works?

Air conditioning or often referred to as A/C or AC is the process of varying the air through the removal of heat and humidity to achieve a more comfortable interior living environment. Through air having a lower temperature, the conditioned air is then distributed to several areas within an enclosed area or structure.

The parts of an air conditioning unit and refrigerators actually work the same way. While refrigerators cool just a small insulated space, an air conditioner cools a bigger scale such as a room, a whole house or an entire business establishment. ACs use chemicals that convert from a gas to liquid and back again. The chemical is also used to transfer heat from the air inside a given home to the outside air.

There are mainly three interacting parts of a central air conditioning system namely the compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. Both the compressor and the condenser are usually situated on the outside air portion of the device whereas the evaporator is located on the inside of the house and at times part of the furnace.

The AC fluid goes into the compressor as a cool, low pressured gas. The compressor squeezes the fluid which packs the molecules of the fluid closer together. Making the molecules closer and more intact creates a higher energy and temperature.

The working fluid becoming hot and high pressured gas leaves the compressor and goes to the condenser. The metal fins at the outside part of the AC situated outdoors appear to be like a radiator in the car and assist in controlling and dissipating the heat quickly. As the fluid leaves the condenser, it is now converted into a cooler and has now changed from gas to liquid under extreme high pressure. The fluid now goes to the evaporator along a tiny and narrow hole. The liquid pressure drops as it evaporates into gas.

As the liquid converts to gas and evaporates, it then extracts heat from the air around it. The heat present in the air is needed to separate the molecules of the fluid from a liquid state to gas. The moment that the fluid leaves the evaporator, it is then cool converting it to a low pressure gas. It returns to the compressor to begin the cycle all over again. A specialized fan is connected to the evaporator that circulates the air inside the house to blow across the evaporator fins. The hot air in the room rises to the top most part of a room.

There is an outlet or vent where air is sucked into the air conditioner and goes down the conduits. The hot air is utilized to cool the gas in the evaporator. As the heat is removed from the air, the air is cooled. It is then blown into the house through other ducts usually at the floor level.

The cycle continues over and over until the area reaches the temperature you want the room cooled to through proper ac installation. A designated thermostat indicates that the temperature has reached the right setting and turns off the air conditioner. As the room warms up, the thermostat turns the air conditioner back on until the room reaches the temperature.

A central air conditioning system isn’t just about luxury or comfort, it is proven that one is more productive at work and is believed to have a healthier well-being when a conditioned air circulates.

Studies also say that there are fewer health-related deaths in the United States than in Europe due to the greater usage of air conditioners. Though some sees it as balancing between efficiency and cost since having to use an air conditioner will definitely have higher cost compared to one using an electric fan but would be less efficient as it only circulates or rearranging the hot air inside a given space.

AC units used to have a very harmful effect on the environment as well. Until the late 20th century, most manufacturers used coolant chemicals known as aschlorofluorocarbbons or CFCs which were also widely used in refrigerators.

The chemicals escape into the environment when old units are opened up and broken. The chemicals then go into the stratosphere damaging the Earth’s ozone layer, which is the natural sunscreen that helps us be protected from the Sun’s harmful ultra-violet rays.

This paved way into using and manufacturing alternative coolants and banning the CFCs in the production of these units. Companies made use of halogenated chlorofluorocarbons or HCFCs.

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What Does an HVAC Service Include?

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