Air Conditioning Suppliers
Air conditioning suppliers work to keep HVAC systems running smoothly. Learn about the complex supply chain that brings equipment and parts to your local technicians.
Air conditioning shortages have impacted residential replacements, repairs and new construction homes. Some projects are running two to three weeks behind. Here are some strategies your business can use to navigate these challenges.
Enclosure Air Conditioners
Electrical enclosure air conditioners (also known as control panel air conditioners) are designed to keep equipment within electrical cabinets cool and protected from damage caused by overheating. These units are available in a variety of configurations and are capable of cooling electrical and electronic enclosures up to 20,000 BTU/hour. They come in a number of different sizes to suit various cooling requirements and are rated for use in both indoor and outdoor applications, as well as in hazardous locations.
The design of these units includes components like fans and compressors that provide both forced convection and closed loop cooling to help maintain a cool temperature range in electrical enclosures. They also have a dust and particle filter to prevent contamination of enclosure components, as well as an internal heater package that can be activated if necessary in colder environments.
When purchasing enclosure cooling units it is important that they are properly sized for the heat load of Air Conditioning Supplier the cabinet. A unit that is too large will cycle frequently and have difficulty maintaining a cool enclosure during summer peaks, while one that is too small will struggle to control the enclosure temperature and could overheat the compressor and damage the equipment. This can be avoided by using an online cooling capacity calculator to establish the correct air conditioner size for a particular application.
Fan Coil Units
Fan coil units are commonly used in apartment buildings, multi-family housing, offices and schools. They’re usually referred to as air handling units or AHUs when connected to the main decentralized HVAC system and can be either two-pipe (cooling only) or four-pipe (both cooling and heating).
These terminal units are often located near each occupied space they serve, meaning they can offer greater control of temperature in specific rooms than other central HVAC systems can. Fan coils can also be used in standalone applications powered by electricity rather than a gas burner.
A typical FCU consists of an enclosure with a fan and motor, a cooling coil and a filter. Cooling is accomplished by passing water over the coil, and a fan is used to circulate that cooled air throughout the room. The FCU is Air Conditioning company usually plugged into the building’s ductwork, and controlled by a thermostat or a BMS.
Some of the newest models of fan coils feature a variety of intelligent controls that allow them to be continuously altered based on various environmental and economic influences such as occupancy, window switches, time clocks and even air quality sensor input. This allows the unit to save energy as it provides heating and cooling in accordance with precise user demand. However, like any other type of equipment, it’s not infallible, and issues can arise that warrant professional repairs or replacement.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps have been around for decades and are the primary HVAC systems in more than 10 percent of U.S. homes, but they’ve improved by leaps and bounds over the past decade, making them a practical option for climate control in most homes, even in colder areas where they used to have trouble. Heat pumps cool and warm using the same refrigeration cycle as air conditioners.
As temperatures rise, a liquid refrigerant, usually in a coil or long tubes, undergoes a cycle of condensation and evaporation to create cold air and remove energy from the air. A fan blows air over the coil or tubes, causing the temperature and pressure to drop. As the temperature drops, the refrigerant moves in the opposite direction of the airflow, absorbing heat and moving it to the warm part of the house via the reversing valve.
If you’re experiencing problems with your home’s heat pump, such as a failure to reach the desired temperature, ice buildup on the evaporator coils or an unusually high utility bill, there could be a refrigerant leak. A professional can inspect your system and fix the problem.
If you’re looking for a new system that will cool, dehumidify and filter your indoor air while using less electricity than other HVAC options, consider a ductless heat pump from Carrier. These systems are a great choice for new construction or for homes that don’t have existing ductwork, such as an unfinished attic or a home addition.
