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Ductless Heat Pumps

Jim — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:27:32 +0000

A popular option for homes with boiler or electric heat are Ductless heat pumps. These systems do not use ductwork to move condtioned air around a home. Individual modules or “cassettes” are connected to an outdoor unit with small copper lines and deliver heating or cooling to the space they are installed in. These units deliver conditioned air at very high efficiencies. They are quiet, programable, and easy to operate. www.daikinac.com . The most efficient units use inverter technology. This allows the outdoor unit (condenser) to vary its speed to match the load (amount of work to be done). Rather than cycling off and on as the indoor temperature varies, an inverter condenser continues to run at a lower speed when the load changes resulting in a more efficient and more comfortable air conditioner.

When do I choose replacement over repair for either my heating or cooling system?

Optimum Air — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:24:21 +0000

Having your heating system serviced regularly will ensure it is running at peak efficiency. If one of the main parts of the natural gas furnace fails and it is costly to repair, you may be better off buying a new system, particularly if the furnace is older (i.e., has a pilot light). With a more efficient system, installation costs could be recovered within as little as three to five years.

Regular servicing of your air-conditioner could well extend its life. Again, if repairs are costly, upgrading to a newer, quieter, more energy efficient system may be the better answer and will save you money in the long run. Remember, though, that due to global concerns about ozone-depletion, chlorine-based refrigerants are being phased-out and will become less available in the future, so the cost to service an air-conditioner with such a refrigerant may rise dramatically. You might consider going to an air conditioner that has a more environmentally sound, energy efficient and cost saving refrigerant.

Several family members suffer from allergies. Can anything be done to have cleaner air in my home?

Optimum Air — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:23:58 +0000

Yes, there is a selection of air cleaners on the market having varying degrees of proficiency, depending on the pollutant you wish to eliminate.

Useful Site: Bryant, Air Cleaners

Inside unit is running but the outside is not – what’s up?

Optimum Air — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:23:29 +0000

Check to see if the a/c breaker is tripped. Even if it appears to be off, turn it completely off, and then on again. If it trips again, leave it alone and call your contractor. If this is not the case, it could be your thermostat wiring is broken.

What size air conditioner do I need?

Optimum Air — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:23:05 +0000

The sizing of the air conditioning unit for a particular house cannot be accurately given until a heat loss and gain calculation is performed. The load calculation, as it is typically called, takes into account many factors such as total square footage of the house, wall construction and insulation values, and roof construction and insulation values. The load process is too complicated to allow a quote over the phone. A representative will need to go to your home and collect the data and quote the size and equipment you want.

How do I rate an air conditioner for sound?

Optimum Air — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:22:14 +0000

An air conditioner or heat pump sitting next to your house can create a lot of noise both inside and outside your home. To compare sound levels of different brands, ask your dealer about the bel rating of units you are considering. Bels, similar to decibels, range from 0 to 13. Most air conditioners and heat pumps operate at 8 to 9 bels; some units’ ratings are as low as 6.8. That may not sound like a wide range, but consider this: 9 bels sounds 10 times louder than 8 bels. That means one 9-bel air conditioner is as loud as 10 units rated at 8 bels. So we think taking the time to compare bel ratings is pretty sound advice. Matching your outdoor unit with a variable-capacity furnace or fan coil may also reduce sound levels inside your home.

The system will not run at all; what do you think is going on?

Optimum Air — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:21:59 +0000

The most common reason that a system will not run is because of a loss of power. In most every situation an air conditioning system is protected electrically be a breaker or fuse, which is located somewhere in the power supply lines upstream from both the air handler and condenser units. Find this breaker, turn it completely off, even if it appears to be off, then turn it back on again. If it trips again, leave it alone and call your contractor. The second most common reason for a system not to respond is problems in the control circuit – usually the thermostat connections or the transformer.

My air conditioner is running, but it’s not very cold. What’s wrong?

Optimum Air — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:21:33 +0000

The chances are your unit is low on refrigerant; somewhere there is a leak. The leak should be fixed before re-charging with refrigerant (by someone certified to handle refrigerants), otherwise it will leak out again. You can visually check the coils of the outside unit to make sure it is not excessively dirty or blocked. If the coil is dirty, you can flush it with a garden hose, keeping water clear of electricals. Check (listen) to see that the compressor is running; if not, you will require an a/c technician. You can also check to make sure that any air return duct in a hot area is not broken, split, or disconnected.

What is a heat pump?

Optimum Air — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:20:14 +0000

What is a heat pump?

A heat pump is a reverse cycle air conditioner. In the heat pump mode the heat pump has the ability to move heat from the outside air to inside. In the cooling mode, the unit moves heat from inside to outside in the same way a conventional straight cool unit does. These are great units because you can use them to cool your home and, in reverse, to extract heat from the outside air (air as low as 30 F or 0 C) and use it to heat your home when required. Energy savings can be big.

Why is my A/C unit icing up?

Optimum Air — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:08:14 +0000

Why is my A/C unit icing up? I have frost on the coil and copper tubing. Why am I getting such little airflow from my registers?

There are several things that can cause frost on your coil and/or reduced airflow. Anything that restricts the airflow through the inside unit will cause frost. As the frost builds up on the coil, the airflow becomes more and more restricted, making the condition worse. When the frost is also on the outside pipes next to the compressor, damage to the compressor can occur.

Look for the following:

1. Extremely dirty air filter restricting the airflow through the inside unit.
2. Extremely dirty (clogged) cooling coil, located directly above furnace, inside the ductwork, restricting airflow through inside unit. Should be cleaned by a professional.
3. Check your return grill to make sure that is not being obstructed.
4. System may be low on refrigerant, causing coil to freeze up. Should be seen by a professional.
5. Blower motor may overheat and “kick off” safety switch. Should be checked by a professional.

Tip: Dirt is the biggest enemy of your air conditioner! Using a good air filter will extend the life of your air conditioner because all the important parts will stay cleaner, operate more efficiently and last longer. An electrostatic filter is excellent – and as a side benefit, you’ll enjoy much healthier indoor air, free from dust mites, mold, mildew, dust, pet dander, etc