The Furnace Filters » HVAC

Is Your Air Conditioner Energy Efficient?

Jared Williams — Wed, 19 May 2010 20:16:51 +0000

Energy efficiency has become a hot button issue in recent years as the environment has become a concern to most citizens. As a result consumers are constantly targeting for replacement the older appliances in their homes which require large amounts of energy consumption. One such system that is often overlooked or simply brushed off because of the complexity of the system is the air conditioner.

For most people this system is to complex to simply replace however professional HVAC technicians are usually available to audit the efficiency of your system. HVAC service software and expertise may be all that’s needed to identify ways of increasing the efficiency of your home’s air conditioning system. The service professionals may even be able to identify ways to improve efficiency without completely replacing your entire system. Other energy saving tactics can be found on the HVAC talk forum.

It’s pretty important to ask the question of energy efficiency regarding your air conditioning system because this system is responsible for a huge amount of energy consumption in most households. Electric bills for many homeowners multiply many times over during the peak summer months simply because of the usage of an air conditioner.

The costs of replacing or hiring professional HVAC service technicians to service your system may be high but in the even that you can save hundreds of dollars every month in energy savings you can actually come out saving money in the long-term simply by making the investment in your home today. Obviously every home is different and every electric bill is different but your local HVAC service business can help you sort through your options.

If you haven’t considered bringing a professional out to your home you may be wasting away more money than you should and you may be contributing unnecessarily to further environmental damage. Yes, change out yourlight bulbs to energy saver bulbs but consider the elephant in the room as well. You won’t regret it in the long run.

Finding HVAC Parts for Old HVAC Units

Jared Williams — Fri, 07 May 2010 00:53:44 +0000

Once your HVAC units start to age quite a bit, you will be required to find more and more parts. This can get harder and harder the older the units get. Many HVAC parts are becoming hard to find as manufacturers have gone out of business and no longer produce these parts. If you are in search of a hard-to-find part for your HVAC unit there are a couple of steps you can take to find these parts.

Searching for HVAC parts online will typically yield good results. When doing a search for an HVAC part, you should be as specific as possible. Always use the name of the manufacturer in the search such as “Carrier HVAC parts”, “Trane HVAC parts” or “American HVAC parts”. Of course you will want to also include the name of the part. There are many different websites which carry hard to find HVAC parts. The rarer the part the more you will likely have to pay. This is simple supply and demand and if you need the part there is really nothing you can do about exorbitant prices. A good place to ask about hard to find parts is on the HVAC talk forum which is frequented by HVAC experts.

If you have no luck with online searches or you are not comfortable on the Internet then you can still have good luck finding your part. This will require a few phone calls on your part. Many local HVAC companies have warehouses in which they keep their parts. Often times they may have parts which may be sitting on a shelf for decades and forgot about. Many of these companies do not have sophisticated inventory computer systems, but they do have many longtime technicians which may remember seeing a part lying around somewhere. This may take several calls to many companies but it can often yield good results.

If you cannot find your part or it is becoming increasingly common trying to find the parts for your HVAC unit it may be time to upgrade. You may end up saving more money by installing a new energy-efficient unit than trying to keep your old unit running. When the time comes to upgrade be sure to select a strong company like HVAC Kings, to ensure you get quality service at affordable rates.

Acquiring HVAC Parts

Jared Williams — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:15:40 +0000

Although heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment is built to last, there comes a time when almost any system is going to require some maintenance. When this happens, it is important to be able to find good quality replacement HVAC parts.

Locating HVAC parts

There are a number of ways to go about locating a replacement HVAC part. Many businesses have a maintenance company or department that deals with the HVAC systems. However, if you are a small business needing HVAC repairs, or a homeowner, it can be helpful to learn how to locate high quality HVAC parts.

There are a number of methods that companies and home consumers can use to locate high quality American HVAC parts. While it is possible to locate parts locally, many people turn to the Web when shopping for replacement HVAC parts. There are many advantages to using the Internet.

It can sometimes be difficult to locate just the part you need when searching in local parts shops. When searching for HVAC parts online, this is rarely a problem. Even if you are looking for older parts, you should be able to find a suppler when searching online.

Find HVAC parts online

Another advantage to searching online for HVAC parts is that you can easily locate just the brand that you need. For instance, if you are looking for Carrier HVAC parts, a simple Internet search should produce plenty of options for stores and sites that carry the products you need. Many sites also contain online catalogs of HVAC parts, which make it easy to find parts, and compare prices. The Internet is also a great place to research your particular HVAC system and get spec information. If you need information on how to service your heating, ventilation or air conditioning equipment, you’ll be able to find this type of information. You can also use the Internet to find a HVAC technician, if necessary.

Companies that sell HVAC parts

It is also easy to find information about the site or company that you plan to purchase the parts from. There are usually reviews available not only for the companies that supply the parts, but also reviews on the particular HVAC parts as well. It can be very helpful when shopping for HVAC parts online to be able to read about the history and reputation of the company you plan to purchase parts from. Also, if you prefer a certain type of part manufacturer, such American HVAC parts, the Web is a great way to locate that as well.

If you want to learn more about HVAC parts and other topics you may find interesting information on HVAC talk, a forum for HVAC topics.

HVAC Service Software Increases Efficiency in HVAC Companies

Jared Williams — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:16:34 +0000

With demands on businesses increasing these days, many companies that are in the HVAC industry are utilizing HVAC service software. This software helps them manage their service requests and even materials in order to make their workforce very manageable.

When an HVAC business starts up, it is easy to manage the service calls and technicians that are providing HVAC service to your clients. It is very easy to note it down or input it into your computer database. However, once your business grows, you might not be able to keep up with all the demands of your business. You might find yourself dispatching multiple parts, technicians not doing their jobs and worst of all, losing your important clients.

So where does the HVAC service management software come in? First of all the management software allows you to enter all service calls that you have to attend to plus the technician that will take care of that client. In this way, you will be able to track down the specific technicians that are assigned to do the service task and you can track them down if the client states that there has been no service done yet on their systems.

Aside from just taking note of the technician, the program can also serve as HVAC service dispatch software. One of the major problems experienced by companies that offer service is that there are some instances when the technician actually pockets replacement parts. They might be selling these parts to others or simply using them for private service calls. With HVAC service software, you can track down which technician has which replacement parts and make them take full responsibility when parts are unaccounted for.

Not only will your software manage your workforce, it will also help you manage the orders that you have to make for the replacement parts. Since you enter needed parts into the software and then assign the job to a technician, you will be able to monitor if specific replacement parts are running low in stock. Since everything is automated, the parts being dispatched will be subtracted from your stock so you can easily manage your inventory.

With HVAC service software, the efficiency by which your company operates will greatly increase and this will result in increased profits and good customer service.

HVAC service software and other topics are discussed on the HVAC talk forum.

HVAC Talk Support Forum

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:00:50 +0000

HVAC talk is the leading support forum for heating, ventilation and air conditioning experts and other interested parties as well. Acquired recently by PENTON1, in an undisclosed acquisition contract, hvac-talk forum is posed to grow further by the years. With PENTON’s support, users can now look forward to more and more interactive support and a better business networking side to it all. Penton, with its host of offline media products and magazines, has yet another ace in his deck now, with HVAC tech talk facilitating better communiction with its consumers by enabling them to interact online as well. Penton already has a reputation for their committment to serve their customers and fulfill their strategic goals in a wide variety of ways, including offline and emedia platforms.

The HVAC talk forum is one of the leading online forums that provides support and help to interested parties over a multitude of products. It helps bridge the gap between the qualified professional and the contractor. With a specialized forum for the professionals and beginners alike so they may interact about the content of their interest.

The site was founded by the owner of an HVAC software company, and ever since its inception, it has grown both in size and in its sophisticated facilities. Taken care of by Buildcentral Inc. and now by Penton, HVAC talk has the resources, the users and the system to take it further.

The site also has an educational platform, that trains new HVAC technicians and helps develop the skills of existing ones. It has a lot of articles, expert opinions and user support on topics of general principal to specific circuitry. Interestingly it also has a trade specific ”LOL” section that can provide an HVAC technician with a few moments of jokes that compliment his training and the failures of his co workers.

Some providers don’t like HVAC talk because of its ban on discussing prices and other professional formalities. But a very significant number of other users disagree, for which the living proof is the huge number of registered members (43,000) and one 104,000 unique visitors and 2,700,000 page views per month. As per Alexa and other website ranking agencies, the traffic potential has yet to be fully exploited.

4 Things You Shoud Know About HVAC Work

Jared Williams — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:30:10 +0000

If you have heard the term HVAC and were not sure of its meaning, you are in for an explanation. HVAC is an acronym for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning. It consists of all the different branches of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. You may have seen HVAC ductwork in various buildings or homes. In HVAC, every component has a function, for instance, the air conditioner uses a refrigerant (Freon but recently CFC-free refrigerants are being preferred) evaporation to lower room temperature, the heating element uses a small furnace or a heat pump (the better and modern alternative to furnaces) to diffuse heated air into a closing, by sucking in the cooler air and passing it through the heated metal or pipes.

How do HVAC systems work?

It is not easy explaining how HVAC systems work, but for further convenience, let’s break it down to four components. These are all normally incorporated into HVAC duct work and the following details have been kept to as few technicalities as possible.

1. Furnace
A furnace is part of a system that pulls in outside fresh air, and passes it into the home. It then sucks in the air from inside, and retaining most of its energy, exhausts it outside. This way, the energy is consumed but the room stays fresh and healthy. It consists of a pump and a blower wheel.

2. Air-Conditioning
Air conditioning basically works on the same principal, but it involves a refrigerant instead of a furnace and sucks in warm air, and gives off fresh cool air from the outside. Note: a heat pump and fan coil work basically on the same concept, but the heating and cooling function is taken care of by an electronically powered air pump and fan coil.

3. Zoning system
A zoning system helps to moderate room temperature according to the needs of the homeowner by incorporating a thermostat that can be altered to turn the room temperature up or down. If one portion, for instance, requires more cooling then the other, the cooler air from the other room is pumped into the room that requires it more. This system conserves energy and works wonders and is prompt as well due to its energy management system.

4. Packaged system
A packaged system is a hybrid unit that has both the heat pump and the fan coil. Some systems also have the ability to switch to natural gas for heating and electricity for air conditioning. This allows you to save on electricity in the winter.

If you are interested in learning more about HVAC work you may find some interesting information on HVAC talk, a forum for HVAC topics.

If you are looking for alternatives with easier installations for heating or cooling, portable units are a good choice. There are also ceiling fans that work both to heat and cool. A ceiling fan heater does a good job at heating a room.

Learn the Facts About HVAC Training

Jared Williams — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:10:58 +0000

HVAC is the abbreviation for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Not only is job training in this field oriented and requires great skills, it also demands staying in touch with the latest developments in the fields of heating, ventilation and air conditioning. In an ever evolving line of work, your skills and HVAC technician training need to evolve too. The best way to do so is by having a rigorous training strategy – checking and subscribing to training and development programs. You can even look for a competitive HVAC training online. Some products are brand or area specific and might differ from any conventionally general online free HVAC training, and so you may need to learn a couple of more things about that as well.

The best way to train and continue skills development is by finding HVAC training schools near your home or if that is not possible then search online. Your local poly-technical institute might help you with a lot of hands-on experience, but the bulk of knowledge is definetly available online. You need to be able to understand all the different branches of HVAC sufficiently to be able to provide a professional and hassle free service to your clients. This involves dealing with a lot of very complex and mechanically challenging instruments, but when you have the right training and experience, they are merely tools of the trade. Make sure you work hard on your training to avoid the long and arduous re-training programs.

A good training program should cover all the very general aspects and should also take the training to a more advanced level to cover the control and circuitry mechanisms used by the modern HVAC systems. In many instances, you may learn that there is a lot of technical difference for example in Korean equipment as compared to German or American equipment. A freelance or self-employed job awaits you as soon as you complete your training, since you can now work on your terms, at your rate and with your tools. Some hvac trained analysts even make as much as $200 per hour for specialized consultation and visitations. The good side is that HVAC prospects are expanding even in the credit crunch and as soon as it weather proofs itself from the recession, it is bound to grow even more. Consequently, training as an HVAC engineer can provide you with a long and rewarding career.

To communicate with others in the field, check out the HVAC talk forum.