Air Conditioning – Can it Be Installed in One Day?

Author: Philip Hamer
Source: ezinearticles.com

When fitting a new air conditioning unit to a property, the installer would normally attach the indoor and outdoor units to there required location. Various types and styles are available which attach to the wall or ceiling.

An electrician will install a power supply which feeds either the indoor evaporator or the outdoor condenser depending upon model. An interconnecting cable is then installed between the two units which enables the indoor unit to control the outdoor unit functions.

Two copper pipes are then installed between the two units. Brazing is used to solder the pipe joints and not plumbers solder. During the brazing process the pipe is filled with oxygen free nitrogen to ensure no scale builds up inside the pipe when brazed. If scale build up occurs it may break off and block the pipes or permanently damage the compressor.

Final connections of the pipes to the indoor and outdoor units are achieved using a copper flare connection, similar to those found on vehicle break pipes. The flare connection can withstand large pressures and when assembled correctly will not leak.

The pipes are now charged with oxygen free nitrogen under pressure. This pressure is recorded and if it lowers over time there is a leak on the unit.

From experience we recommend that the oxygen free nitrogen remains in the pipes for a minimum of 24 hours. Any changes over this time period can mean only one thing a leak.

When the pipes have been proved and do not leak the nitrogen is removed. The pipes are then connected to a vacuum pump which removes oxygen and condensable gasses such as water vapour from the pipes.

The final stage is to charge the refrigerant into the pipes and then commission the system.

So, can an air conditioning unit be installed in a day? Well, yes it can.

The main problem with a single day installation is the time the pressure test is left for. Some very small leaks will not be detected unless the nitrogen is charged for at least 24 hours. If there is a leak, the refrigerant will leak and eventually the unit will run out of charge.

Its efficiency will slowly degrade until it ceases to function. As the refrigerant also contains lubrication oil for the compressor, it will only be a matter of time until major compressor failure occurs. If this can be attributed to bad installation then any manufacturer warranty will be void. Some units incorporate low pressure detection and will shut the compressor down before a failure occurs but cheaper models available will not do this.

Our advice is to leave the pressure test for at least 24 hours and use LG Air Conditioning units which have proven reliability.

Magma Energy Services Ltd can service all your air conditioning equipment and regularly maintain it on your behalf. We have many years of experience in the air conditioning market. We recommend LG Air Conditioning.

Air Conditioning and Energy Consumption

Author: Kittipong Unparsert
Source: ezinearticles.com

The amount of money people are spending to keep their homes cool is having a profound effect on the heating and cooling industry. Homeowners are in hot pursuit of efficient cooling systems, hoping to reduce both the sizes of their bills and their carbon footprints.

We all know that summer electric bills can get high and that gives us some clue about the levels of energy consumption associated with cooling. However, our personal experiences don’t provide us with a look at the big picture. When you examine the overall levels of AC power consumption, you begin to understand just how much we’re spending in money and natural resources to stay cool.

Air conditioners use a great deal of electricity because they’re basically doing battle with the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which states that temperatures will always tend to even themselves out. Heat flows to cold. An AC will try to “beat” nature by taking a refrigerant through states of compression and expansion. That refrigerant will absorb heat from the interior of your home and will then be pushed outside where it will “dump” the heat. This only works because of the compression and decompression of the gas and that relies on electrically-powered pumps and compressors.

To make a long story short, when you’re fighting entropy you’re going to use some energy. A lot of energy, actually.

Consider the fact that almost twenty percent of the electricity used in the US every year is used for cooling. That’s right, one-fifth of our electricity consumption is AC-related. That amazing level of use has actually been one of the chief reasons why our power grid is outfitted with excess power generating equipment. The spikes in power use for which those systems are built come from our air conditioning use.

You can think about it this way. If you add up the amount of power we use for cooling, the total quantity is actually more than the TOTAL electricity consumption for Indonesia and India added together. We use more electricity to stay cool than the fourth and second largest countries in the world (in terms of total population size) use for everything.

When you realize just how much juice is mainlined by air conditioners, it’s easier to develop an appreciation for a growing trend of looking for ways to cool homes more efficiently. Air conditioner power consumption is more than just a way to inconveniently raise your summer electric bills. It’s a truly massive use of natural resources.

Air conditioner power consumption is more than just a way to inconveniently raise your summer electric bills. It’s a truly massive use of natural resources.

My Home Improvement Ideas http://www.myhomeimprovementideas.com

Finding the Best Air Conditioning Repair Company

Author: Chuck R Stewart
Source: ezinearticles.com

It is not enough that you get a company that can provide you a specific service. What you need, and deserve, is one that offers quality and expertise. This is especially critical when you are in a large city like Louisville; finding the best Louisville air conditioning repair company among the many options that present themselves worthy may be like searching for a needle on a haystack. Everything becomes a lot easier, though, if you stick to a few rules before hiring anyone. To make things more manageable, here is a list of some of the factors you should consider when hiring a Louisville air conditioning service company.

Experience

While several groups have made their services available recently, many companies that have operated for decades are still one of the best options. Why? This is simply because, having been in the business for quite some time, they have already encountered, and solved, different types of air conditioning problems in many households and offices. They have probably exhausted the different possibilities and have also found solutions to them. Otherwise, they would have not stayed long in the business.

Efficient Technicians

You should not be afraid to ask about the qualifications of the technicians of the company you are planning to hire. In fact, you should never hire one if you have not asked this basic question yet. Knowing the licenses and training backgrounds of the technicians who would handle your system will not only give you peace of mind that they can do the task well, but it will also assure you that they are professionals who will not do anything that might cost them their licenses.

You also need to determine, even from your first call to their office, how friendly and efficient they are in answering client calls. You really would not want to work with unfriendly staff.

Quality Service Program

Do not be easily fooled by discounts and special offers. Always look for the base program that they can offer. While several companies can confuse you with huge discounts, remember that a quality maintenance program will actually save you more in the long run. Warranties are also important. This somehow tells you that they are committed to serve you until you are full satisfied.

Superior Products

When something needs to be replaced, ask what products are they using and how these compare to the ones being replaced or the ones you are familiar with, if they are different. Make a little research, too, if you haven’t heard of the kind or brand of products they use. Make sure that they provide you with only the best parts and services for your system.

Finding quality service is not really very difficult, although it is also not something you can take lightly. With the several companies striving to get a share of the market and with the economy undergoing a slowdown, you need to be completely sure that you get your money’s full worth.

Chuck R Stewart recently contacted a Louisville air conditioning repair specialist that works for a local Louisville air conditioning service to fix a problem in his office building.

Learn How Auto Air-conditioning Works

Author: Paul archer
Source: articledashboard.com

All air conditioning systems work in the same basic way, relying upon the principles of evaporation, condensation, compression and expansion, and consist of the same seven major components: the compressor, condenser, recover-drier, orifice tube or expansion valve, evaporator, hoses and of course refrigerant.

The refrigerant which is now HFC-134a (R-134a), boils at around-15.9F, which means it is typically a gas under standard atmospheric pressure. One of the basic principles upon which an A/C system operates is Latent Heat of Evaporation, which means that the refrigerant must be able to evaporate, so it must first become a liquid. If you’re unfamiliar with the Latent Heat Principle, it’s the same idea as how sweat helps regulate your body temperature on a hot day.

When you sweat, the moisture evaporates from your skin, absorbing heat in the process and creating a cooling sensation. With R-134a, to raise the boiling point high enough for the refrigerant to condense to a liquid at more realistic ambient temperatures, it must be highly pressurized.

The A/C system is a continuous loop that is split into a high pressure side and low-pressure side by the compressor. The high pressure created by the pumping of the compressor pushes the now heated and pressurized gaseous refrigerant through a hose into the condenser, where much of the heat causes the refrigerant to condense into a liquid state. The still-highly-pressurized liquid then flows into the recover-drier, which contains a filter to remove any debris within the system as well as desiccant material to remove any moisture or impurities from the refrigerant. (Moisture combined with refrigerant can form a corrosive acid)

The purified liquid refrigerant flows through the A/C hoses and into the cabin of the car, where it is then forced through a small orifice, either in the form of a fixed orifice tube or thermal expansion valve. the resulting fine mist that is metered by the valve (think of a finger over the end of a hose) blows into the evaporator located in the heater box under the dash. The drop in pressure caused by the expansion valve is sufficient to cause the refrigerant to vaporize as it moves into the evaporator, absorbing a good deal of heat in the process.

A fan located in the heater box blows ambient air across the now chilled evaporator, which absorbs heat from the air, and the resulting cooled air blows through the vents into the cabin. Because the cooled air has less capacity to hold moisture, the evaporator also dehumidifies the air.

Condensation develops on the evaporator and the water drips away through a drain in the evaporator box and causes the puddles usually seen under vehicles with the A/C running.

Depending upon the system design, as the gaseous refrigerant is sucked back toward the compressor, there may also be an accumulator attached to the outlet of the evaporator that serves to ensure no liquid refrigerant or moisture makes its way to the compressor.

And that’s about it when it comes to learning how the A/C in your car works.

Can Your Central Air Conditioning System Handle The Summer Heat?

Author: News Canada
Source: free-articles

(NC)โ€”Do you rely on central air conditioning to make the summer’s heat and humidity more bearable? If so, now is the time to ensure that your equipment is in tip-top shape. If you fail to maintain it, your cooling system will suffer a steady decline in performance while your energy use and utility bills will increase.

While there are some maintenance jobs that you can do to prolong the life of your equipment and keep it running at peak efficiency, other jobs are best left to the professionals. Some of the simple things that any homeowner can do include:

Filters should be routinely cleaned or replaced. (some are reusable while others must be replaced).

Ensure that the outdoor condensing unit has adequate airflow by checking that the area around the unit is cleared of debris and that foliage is trimmed back at least two feet.

Other maintenance tasks that are best left to a trained technician are as follows:

The evaporator coil should be checked every year and cleaned as necessary โ€” dirt reduces airflow and insulates the coil, reducing the cooling ability of your air conditioner.

Outdoor condenser coils can become dirty as well and should be cleaned.

Aluminum coil fins on evaporator and condenser coils outdoor should be checked and, if necessary, straightened to ensure that airflow is not blocked.

Supply and return air ducts should be checked for leaks. A professional service technician can detect and correct duct leaks that could allow cool air to leak out and hot air to leak in, wasting an enormous amount of energy.

Checking to ensure the proper working pressures in the refrigeration circuit. A qualified service technician will have the tools and experience necessary to determine that your cooling system is operating as it should be.

To find a properly qualified cooling contractor, look for the HRAC Member Company Logo โ€” members of the Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors of Canada (HRAC) have the training and experience that you are looking for. Visit the HRAC website at www.hrac.ca to locate a contractor in your area.

- News Canada

Some Things to Know About Central Air Conditioning

Author: Koen B
Source: ezinearticles.com

Central air conditioning is really popular these days and around eighty percent of new homes in the United States of America are looking to install such a cooling unit. Such a system can also be installed in old homes and this is a reason for its popularity. However, there are many different things that you need to keep in mind when thinking of getting a central air conditioning unit installed in your home or apartment.

The first and the major thing is energy efficiency. Not all air conditioners are energy efficient and therefore you need to choose really carefully. These days most manufacturers are trying to give customers energy efficient product which is safe for the environment and the household and will also help to save on power bills.

Another thing is that when you are thinking to get one installed, you should always consult a qualified contractor. A good engineering company will help in choosing the right thing and will install it correctly. It is general knowledge that a larger area needs a larger unit and a smaller area needs a smaller unit, but it can be difficult at times to choose which one will be most suitable for your needs. For these reasons, getting help from a qualified company can be of great advantage.

Central air conditioning units are the most effective way of cooling homes. It will allow cooling in all areas of the home and you do not need to have separate units installed in separate rooms.

This article is written by Koen B. He owns a number of websites and enjoys sharing information about his websites with readers. Not only does this author specialize in a large range of topics, you can also checkout his newest website on Central Air Conditioning which also explains information about Portable Air Conditioner

Common Home Air Conditioning Problems

Author: Ryan Coisson
Source: ezinearticles.com

You never realize just how much you rely and appreciate the heating and air conditioning in your home until one or the other is broken. Suddenly the summer days become unbearably hot and humid. Ceiling and stationary fans just don’t quite cut it. If you’re without a heater in the winter, the days and especially the nights can be so painfully cold that no amount of blankets or clothing layers can quite keep you warm enough. It can also be damaging if the severe cold causes your pipes to freeze.

If your air-conditioning ceases to function, it is likely a cause of a few common problems. One problem may be that the outside fan on your A/C unit is not functioning. The outside fan transfers the heat from your home to the outside. If the fan isn’t functioning, the a/c compressor might overheat and cause internal damage. Another common problem is bad wiring, which is one reason why it’s so important to hire professionals when installing your A/C unit. Bad wiring can prevent the unit from getting power, cause a circuit breaker to trip, or may even become a fire hazard.

Another problem might be that your thermostat is not working properly either because it was not installed properly or has become defective. A frozen inside coil could be another cause of air conditioning failure. This might indicate a problem with airflow. Because your air conditioning unit is so vital to your comfort, it is important to make sure it is installed and repaired by experienced professionals so you can continue to enjoy it without problems.

Home Heating Service Inc. (http://www.homeheatingservice.com/) is a heating and air conditioning Colorado Springs. Ryan Coisson is a freelance writer.

Air Conditioning Filter Replacement

Author: Ross Garnaut
Source: articlesbase.com

Sometimes we are unsure when we want to change our air conditioning filters. Sometimes the differences in efficiency are hard to detect, so it can be straining to know when our air conditioning is running inefficiently and not up to the needs you had from the beginning. Fortunately, you have an article such as this to better identify when your air conditioner could be removed. Mechanical ability of the filter. How much pressure the filter creates is normally described on the packaging. Also, taking into account the makeup of the filter, like the resilience of its walls, frame and holders when firstly installing in the filter, will give you an idea of when the filter will likely need removing. Changes in the effectiveness of the filter. Certain elements are less sensitive to changes in excellence, such as fine filters or HEPA filters. If you have a low quality filter, this is likely to happen quicker because of big pressure drops. Allowable air flow variations in the system. The filter will change the air flow due to dust buildup. The element has to be removed when the speed of the air flow has been reduced due to wear and tear. Bacterial difficulties. Some filters say that you should remove them at predecided time spaces, as testing has been prefromed and predetermined pressure loss has been shown in a certain duration of time. Appropriate time window periods. Some industrial areas will have elements replaced at certain holiday periods to prevent any shutdown difficulties. I.E,, some conglomerates will replace their filters every Christmas season. Monetary considerations. Some companies will simply wait until it is needed to replace their elements. However, doing this too inconsistently can up costs, as an inefficient filter will work inefficiently and up energy prices.

Cleanable Filter,
Separator Filter,
Mist Eliminator

A Place in Florida – Honoring the Unsung Hero of Air Conditioning

Author: Gene Ingle
Source: ezinearticles.com

There’s a place in Florida that honors the almost-forgotten inventor of air conditioning who received little fame and died a pauper.

Through the years, Willis Carrier has been credited with inventing air conditioning, without which Florida would be an unbearable place to live. Most textbooks call him ‘the father of air conditioning’. And it is true that Carrier invented the first modern electrical air conditioner in 1902 and applied it to commercial use.

But without Dr. John Gorrie and Stuart W. Cramer, who coined the term air conditioning in 1906, Carrier could not have done what he did when he did. And the state’s growth in the 20th and 21st centuries can be traced directly to Gorrie. Whoever gets the credit – and probably all three deserve some – the invention arguably might be more important than Edison’s light bulb, Edison’s movies or Edison’s phonograph.

This place in Florida, better known for its world-famous oysters, honors Gorrie as the inventor. While textbooks barely mention Gorrie’s role, Apalachicola has not forgotten what he did:

· There’s the John Gorrie State Park and Museum in Apalachicola.
· Gorrie Square in Apalachicola is named for Gorrie.
· The John Gorrie bridge across Apalachicola Bay connects Apalachicola with East Bay.

He also has been honored posthumously in other ways:

· In 1914, Florida gave a statue of Gorrie to the National Statuary collection in Washington.
· At least two Florida schools are named for him: Gorrie High School in Jacksonville and John Gorrie Elementary School in Tampa.
· The University of Florida annually gives the John Gorrie Award to the medical graduate most likely to become a successful general practitioner.
· The Liberty Ship USS John Gorrie was named in his honor.

So how did Gorrie invent this significant machine in Apalachicola? And why did he die a pauper?

Gorrie, trained as a physician who studied tropical diseases, came to this place in Florida in 1833 because it was the third largest port on the Gulf Coast, harboring ships carrying cotton to New England and Europe.

A resident physician at two Apalachicola hospitals, Gorrie became convinced during a yellow fever outbreak that cold was a healer. He cooled hospital rooms with ice in a basin suspended from the ceiling, which led him to experiment with artificial ice.

He couldn’t wait for ice to be imported from Northern lakes, so he invented a machine that made ice – a machine that laid the groundwork for modern refrigeration and the machine that Carrier made a household word.

In 1851, Gorrie was granted Patent No. 8080. The original model of the machine and scientific articles he wrote are at the Smithsonian Institution. A replica is on display at the John Gorrie State Park and Museum in Apalachicola.

Gorrie failed to profit from his important invention. Impoverished, he tried to raise money to manufacture it, but the venture failed when his partner died. Humiliated by criticism, financially ruined, his health broken, Gorrie died in seclusion in 1855. He is buried in Gorrie Square in Apalachicola.

Copyright (c) 2009 Gene Ingle, an award-winning editor-writer-cartographer, is an expert on places to see in Florida. He has driven nearly a million miles in Florida researching places on maps you probably never heard of. This place in Florida is one of 213 featured in “The Famous Florida Trivia Game” available free at http://www.ebookserendipity.com – Test your knowledge of Florida free.

Air Conditioning Service – Is it Essential?

Author: Philip Hamer
Source: ezinearticles.com

Most air conditioning units will run for many years with no maintenance at all, but just like a car a regular service can avoid costly bills when a breakdown does occur.

Air conditioning units are very rugged pieces of equipment. They are manufactured to a high quality and designed to withstand all types of environmental conditions. They are often overlooked for maintenance purposes but regular maintenance can save money against costly failure of the entire system.

When an air conditioning unit or heat pump is not maintained, it will loose approximately 5% efficiency for every year it continues to operate. This has severe effects on the load the unit can handle and will make the unit perform poorly.

With proper maintenance efficiency can be regained and regular maintenance will maintain manufacturer’s claims. Maintenance costs will easily be recovered by savings in electricity bills and a properly maintained unit will cool, heat and dehumidify more efficiently.

As an end user you are expected to remove and clean the washable filters within the evaporator (indoor) unit regularly. Most units have an easy to open panel with the filter elements directly inside. The easiest way to clean them is to hold them under running water from a tap. Dry the filter before replacing. Try to clean the filters at least once a month or more often if the unit is operated for long periods or the indoor environment is dusty or dirty.

If the actual evaporator coil inside the indoor unit is starting to block with dust and debris then it will require cleaning. There are a wide variety of specialist chemical coil cleaners available but coil cleaning is best left to the professionals.

A good quality evaporator coil cleaner will also sanitise the drip tray and condense lines. This will also kill any bacteria that may be breeding in the unit and eliminate nasty odours that the unit may generate whilst operating. If a condense pump is fitted to the unit this should be checked and inspected and a quantity of water poured into the system to make sure it works.

The coils on the condenser (outdoor) unit should also be cleaned. Again there are professional acid based coil cleaners available which will remove all dust, debris and foreign objects from the coils. These cleaners are extremely powerful and should be used with caution. Use of these acid based cleaners should be left to a professional engineer.

It is worth checking the current that the compressor draws during operation. This can help identify problems before an expensive compressor failure occurs.
The four way valve within the condenser can also be tested (for heat pump models) and the system operated in heating mode to make sure that the unit is working correctly.

On a professional unit both the liquid and gas line pressures can be measured by attaching a refrigerant gauge to the corresponding service ports on the condenser unit.

Some units only have a single service port on the gas line, but the suction pressure can still be measured and compared for peace of mind.

Magma Energy Services Ltd can service all your air conditioning equipment and regularly maintain it on your behalf. We have many years of experience in the air conditioning market. We recommend LG Air Conditioning.