hvac technician

hvac technician

A group interested in developing standards for excellence in the HVAC/R industry got together in Arlington, Virginia, in 1997. The result was North American Technician Excellence, Inc. (NATE). It provides the opportunity for candidates to “earn installation and/or service certification in nine specialty areas: air-conditioning, air distribution, heat pumps, gas heating, oil heating, hydronic gas, hydronic oil, commercial and light commercial refrigeration and senior efficiency analyst.”

This non-profit certification program for technicians in the heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) industry is the only one supported by the entire industry in both the United States and Canada. Certification is granted through a variety of programs throughout the two countries and is conscientiously overseen by an industry dedicated to self-improvement and a consistently high quality of service.

hvac technician

In January of 2009 NATE launched its extensive website, which is designed as a ready resource for homeowners and business owners. Here, they find answers to questions about installation and maintenance of their equipment. Various “dedicated” sections address frequently asked questions (FAQs) about heating and cooling issues with answers written in layman’s terms.

hvac install

hvac install

As the manager of a business, or manager of quality control for a series of buildings within an office park, you are ultimately in charge of operations. Your decision helps determine the financial prosperity of your company, and to achieve high profits often means making sure your employees remain healthy and productive. When you consider the overall health of your workforce, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a solid insurance plan that takes care of people when illness or injury threaten the workflow. You may not consider a sound heating and air system as an important element, but this is definitely something on which you should stay aware.

Why HVAC is Important to Your Business

The commercial grade HVAC system you install in your office building or office park must operate efficiently to keep activities during work time running. Regardless of the location of your headquarters, the airflow should function as well as heating in winter. If employees complain about too much heat or low

hvac install

temperatures in the office, one’s first inclination may be to simply bring in a sweater to work, or set up a desk fan. Good temporary solutions, but there are reasons to look deeper into any commercial HVAC problems that go beyond the simple moments of discomfort.

hvac installation

hvac installation

With winter approaching, if you have buildings that have T-bar type ceilings and you see brown stains on the tiles, then generally you have leakage from your air conditioning unit on the roof. Package units on the roof, generally have metal ducting or plenums (the metal boxes). When a plenum is assembled, there are numerous joints that need to be sealed. Water gets into these joints by circulation of the air actually sucking rain water into the plenum during rainstorms. The plenums should be inspected at least yearly for cracks from previous duct sealant and any joints that are not sealed. The cracks in the joints are easy to see. A duct sealant is applied with an inexpensive or throw away (chip brush) paint brush readily available at your favorite home improvement store. Sealant is usually either tan or gray and is also a standard stock item at your local home improvement store.

If you have a maintenance contract with your HVAC guy, this is a service that should be included in your annual preventive maintenance. Check with your HVAC guy to make sure your contract covers this service if it doesn’t already.

hvac installation

While you are on the roof, visually inspect your electrical connections and watch for conduit coming apart and exposed wires. Exposed wires can result in shorts and extensive and expensive repairs. Another red flag is water leaking from the bottom of a unit. This indicates an obvious leak in the air conditioning unit itself. Also watch for rust and doors or panels missing from boxes. If you encounter any of these problems, either email me immediately or call your HVAC guy as soon as you get off the roof.

hvac commercial

hvac commercial

By maintaining your HVAC system correctly, business proprietors can help guarantee the comfort and safety of your employees. Let us talk regarding what every business proprietor should have the knowledge on requirements on maintaining most commercial HVAC systems.

The requirements for maintaining HVAC systems for commercial use are not the same as HVAC systems for residences. And what’s more is, maintenance of commercial systems depends on the occupancy of the building. Factory occupancy is not the same as office occupancy. The generation of dust, for example, which is higher in some factories, will cause you to replace the filters more often.

hvac commercial

For residential use, filters get replaced once or twice in a year even if homeowners are instructed to change them every month. But in a commercial occupancy, filters should be changed at the least four times in a year, that’s once every 3 months. In factories wherein chemicals are being used or there is a build-up of dust, the filters should be replaced more frequently than that.

commercial hvac

commercial hvac

Instead of performing regular commercial HVAC service maintenance on their systems, many building managers tend to put off inspections and maintenance until something goes wrong. Being proactive about industrial air conditioning service and maintenance can save on costly repairs later on in the life of the system. Not only can regular HVAC inspection and maintenance relieve the costs of small issues which have turned into expensive problems, it can also help save a significant amount of money by ensuring that the HVAC system is performing as efficiently as possible. Since HVAC energy consumption often reaches up to forty percent of the energy use for an entire building, it’s always in your best interest to keep it well maintained to achieve maximum energy efficiency. The most common reason given for not getting regular commercial HVAC service inspections is simply not having enough money to invest in it. Although simply not having industrial air conditioning service performed regularly can save a bit of money initially, in the long run it will end up causing more severe issues with the HVAC system which can lead to a costly replacement.

A commercial HVAC installation is one of the major investments made when a building is built. Just as cars are big investments needing regular maintenance in the form of tire rotations, oil

commercial hvac

changes, and general inspections, commercial HVAC service is necessary as well. A major difference between these two investments is that most people are familiar with the maintenance that is required for cars, whereas many people invest in a commercial HVAC installation without learning about how to maintain the system. If you want this investment to last for the full expected duration of it’s life, it’s in your best interest to learn a bit about what needs to be done to the system and when.

hvac unit

hvac unit

Having air conditioning was once considered a luxury in many areas but now is considered a necessity especially in warm climates that are only getting hotter. Global warming has changed the climate and temperatures all across the nation and most areas are warmer than they were just ten years ago. To combat the increasing temperatures, it is important to have your current HVAC system cleaned and maintained by a Fort Myers AC repair company or get your current one fixed and parts replaced by a Fort Myers AC replacement. It may also be a good idea to get a new air conditioning system for your savings, the environment and your health too.

If your home does not have central air conditioning installed in it it may be time to consider doing so. Many states that were once consistently cooler and never needed air conditioning are now feeling the heat, literally. Two examples are the mountainous

hvac unit

states like Vermont and Colorado. As early as just ten years ago, many new homes were being built without central air conditioning because it seemed like something that would never be used. The temperatures rarely get out of the 70′s in the summer and the evening got quite cool and comfortable to sleep through. Now, it is quite common to have temperatures in the 90′s frequently in the summer and those homes are roasting with heat.

hvac units

hvac units

Did you know that the energy consumption from your HVAC unit comprises of at least half, if not more, of your energy bill? That is a significant investment in the comfort of your home. For this reason, the purchase of your HVAC units should not be something that is taken lightly. Of course, your bottom line should be to purchase a unit that saves you money on your energy bills, but does its job at the same time. Others may purchase “smarter” units that conserve energy because they genuinely care about the environment and would like to reduce their use of resources.

Luckily, whatever your motive may be, there are options for you to conserve energy by “going green”. One of the most significant investments in “going green” one can make is to purchase an energy smart HVAC unit. The most widely known energy smart appliances are

hvac units

certified as “Energy Star”. What does this mean? Basically, in its simplest terms, this means that the unit passes certain qualifications laid forth by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) that ensures the appliance is using fewer resources, and thus conserving energy. The requirements for each appliance will vary (i.e. a dishwasher will have different requirements that need to be met in order to be Energy Star qualified than an air conditioning unit).

hvac ducting

hvac ducting

Ducted air conditions require very little maintenance. Below are the few things you need to do in regards to regular maintenance for your ducted reverse cycle air conditioner.

The return air grille is the big grille (usually located in the hallway). It needs to be cleaned about every 6 months (or sooner if it gets dirty quickly). Some controller’s will display a filter on the screen every 6 months or so to remind you of this.

To clean the filter you need to pull back the clips or turn a screw and the grille should pivot down. Then you can vacuum the filter whilst still in the grille or you can remove the filter and either vacuum or clean with soapy water. If you clean with soapy water, remember to not dry in the sun as this will cause the filter to warp.

hvac ducting

Once cleaned the filter will not need to be cleaned again for around 6 months. However,if the return air grille of your air conditioner becomes noisier than usual, or the air conditioner cools/heats less than normal it is a good sign that the filter needs a clean.

The outdoor part of the air-conditioning unit is largely maintenance free. You will notice water dripping from the drains of the system but this is a sign that the air-conditioner is running correctly. Keep the fans clear of debris and sticks and consider applying a spray or film on the outdoor unit to slow down rust if you live in a coastal area. Before applying any chemical however you should check with the manufacturer.

hvac ductwork

hvac ductwork

Now that the heat and humidity of summer is fast approaching, most home owners need to think about having the home’s air conditioning serviced and inspected. Those families which have had a brand new HVAC system installed this year should not need to worry about having the a/c serviced. Most families and individuals, however, do not have a brand new air conditioner.

With the past harshness of the most recent winter season and the taxing demands most heating system were put through, many HVAC systems should at the very least have an inspection and tune-up performed by a qualified repair technician. Through normal wear and tear and exposure to the elements, outside a/c compressors can take a beating. The good news is these components from quality brands are designed to take a beating from nature.

hvac ductwork

The bad news is when the hardware itself fails, it can be very expensive to repair or replace. However, not every repair or service call will be prohibitively expensive. Some of the most inexpensive services will be to charge the unit with refrigerant or change out air filters.

hvac ducts

hvac ducts

Are you or anyone in your household suffering from a mysterious allergy or cold-like symptoms with seemingly no source? Has the problem been ongoing and common treatments such as medications or removing allergen sources been unsuccessful? The problem might not lie within dander, pets, or pollens, but rather your ductwork. Mold and dust can collect and grow within the ducts of your house. Once your air conditioning or heating unit is turned on, the debris is pushed around and inhaled, causing illness or other unpleasant reactions. Professional HVAC contractors can help you clean and seal your ductwork to ensure that any traces of dirt and mold are fully removed.

hvac ducts

Regular ductwork maintenance is an important part of regular home care as well as a way to keep your entire family healthy. Before calling in an HVAC contractor to assist you, check the ducts yourself by giving it a quick visual inspection. Look for mold or dirt buildup that has accumulated. A musty or strong odor is another indicator of potential problems. Other potential signs of dirty ducts include excessive dust on furniture tops, even after cleaning, visible particles floating through the air, and poor heating or cooling due to improper air flow. Physical symptoms that the excessive dust can cause include headaches, dry eyes or nose, stuffiness, sneezing, and sore throat.