Choosing an Air Conditioning Supplier
Until the supply chain issues that caused COVID-19 shortages end, HVAC companies and their technicians will need to focus on maximizing efficiency. Here are some strategies they can use to accomplish that goal.
When evaluating enclosure air conditioning suppliers, verify that they offer products with a variety of thermal capacities. Also, check if they have units that can work in corrosive environments.
Air Conditioning Parts
Whether you need air conditioning repair, installation or just to make your unit more energy efficient, you want to work with a company that knows its stuff. A trusted professional will take the time to explain how the system works and give you a better understanding of what each component does. It will also be able to provide the best possible service for your money, making sure that your home or business is comfortable year-round.
An air conditioner is a complex system that takes heat and humidity from the indoor air and moves it outdoors. It works by circulating a liquid called refrigerant, cooling the air Air Conditioning Supplier and then returning it to the home. The most important components are the compressor, evaporator coil and expansion valve. The compressor is a large electric pump that pressurizes the refrigerant gas and converts it to a liquid. The evaporator coil is a series of copper tubes that receive the de-pressurized liquid from the expansion valve and absorbs the heat. The expansion valve is a small part that regulates the flow of refrigerant throughout the system.
Other air conditioning parts include the thermostat, ductwork and fans. The air filter helps to keep dust and allergens out of the system while the fan provides a source of air circulation, moving the cool air back into the home. The ductwork carries the cooled air to living spaces and is also used to vent exhaust gases from the air conditioner out to the outside.
When working on an HVAC system, it’s important to use OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) replacement parts. These are designed and produced by the same company that manufactured the original equipment, ensuring proper fit and function. They are also backed by the manufacturer’s warranty. Universal replacement parts are usually cheaper, however they may not have the same quality as OEM parts. A HVAC distributor like US Air Conditioning Distributors has the knowledge, training and access to genuine residential air conditioner parts to help you get the job done right.
Air Conditioners
Air conditioners are used to condition the temperature, humidity, cleanliness and movement of air in residential or commercial spaces. They use a refrigerant to cool the air, with some also offering heating capabilities. Air conditioners are available in cooling only and heat pump configurations, as well as in a number of types including evaporative coolers and misting systems for industrial spaces.
AAON, based in Tulsa, is one of the leading commercial air conditioning companies in the world. The company manufactures a range of equipment for cooling, dehumidification and air movement, with an emphasis on energy recovery elements. In addition, AAON runs the AAON Technical Academy, a series of courses designed to educate technicians on how to install and maintain its products.
The key to the operation of an air conditioner is a cold liquid refrigerant, which is used in a closed system to absorb heat from the room and transfer it outdoors. The refrigerant changes from a liquid to a gas in the evaporator, then passes through a compressor to increase its temperature and pressure. When it reaches the outdoor unit, the refrigerant transfers its heat to the ambient air through coils in the condenser. The liquid then returns to the evaporator, and the cycle repeats itself.
Some air conditioners are ductless, such as the units supplied by EIC Solutions in Warminster, PA. These are simple stand-alone systems that don’t require the ductwork present in most homes, and they can be easily installed by a licensed HVAC technician. Some are also able to be used as portable units, making them convenient for office extensions or other locations that have no windows.
Allied Commercial, headquartered in Louisville, KY, is another of the industry’s leading manufacturers of heavy-duty industrial HVAC equipment. Their portfolio includes packaged rooftop units, fan coils, modular central plants and more. The company also offers a Air Conditioning company range of air conditioning accessories for maintaining, installing and controlling these systems.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are heating and cooling appliances that use electricity to move heat from the air to the building or vice versa. They are more efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional fossil fuel furnaces and boilers. Heat pumps also provide a more stable indoor climate than forced-air systems and offer the air filtration benefits inherent in such systems, as air is drawn through an air filter before being redistributed to the house through the ductwork.
When operating in heating mode, an electric heat pump absorbs ambient heat from the air outside the home and transfers it inside via a vapor cycle. This process is similar to the way an air conditioner works, and it involves metal coils and a refrigerant that circulates through a one-way valve, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. When the heat pump is operating in cooling mode, it reverses this process, pulling heat from the air within the home and sending it outdoors via a two-way valve.
Unlike combustion-based heating systems, heat pumps generate very little carbon dioxide, which makes them a much more environmentally responsible choice. They are also much less energy-intensive than electrical resistance heaters, because they do not create their own heat.
The efficiency of a heat pump depends on the difference in temperature between the reservoirs from which it is transferring heat. The COP (coefficient of performance) is an inverse function of this differential: a high COP value indicates a good match between the two thermal reservoirs.
Heat pumps are popular in many parts of the world, including some that have colder climates than the United States. These systems are typically more expensive to install than furnaces and boilers, but their efficiencies reduce energy bills and carbon emissions. In addition, some state programs are designed to help consumers afford these greener options.
