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How Temperature Control Works With Reverse Cycle HVAC Systems

The Basic Air Conditioning Controller

Your HVAC system will typically come with a thermostat that will tell you the temperature. While the temperature may be read from the controller itself, more typically, it’s found within the unit’s return air box. This can be found within your building’s roof.

Whenever the temperature is read from inside the return air box, it may not be as accurate as reading the room temperature. For instance, it’s possible that the room is actually quite cold (you may have your thermostat set to 70 degrees) but by the time the air finds its way back to the return air box it may have warmed up a lot (the air has heated up to 80 degrees). This means that your HVAC will continue to run even though you’re feeling cold. There are two different ways in which you can counteract this. The first thing that you can do is increase the temperature on the control so that the unit will cycle off faster. However, it’s important to understand here that the temperature that you set on the controller usually is inaccurate. Therefore it works on a scale where if you set it to 70 degrees, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your room is going to cool down to this temperature.

The second thing that you can do is place a ducted fixed constant in your hallway near where the return air grille is located. As the name suggests, this is something that will continually remain on. With this system, your conditioned air will be able to easily return to your unit’s airbox, helping the unit to cycle off. For instance, when your bedrooms are located a long way away from the return air, the air in the rooms will heat up too much before it’s able to make its way back to the air return. This is where your fixed constant would come into play. Its job is to bleed the air directly back into the grill so that the unit will cycle off and save you money because it won’t be running so much.

Variable Air Volume System (VAV) Air Conditioning Controller

With a VAV, the reverse cycle’s zone motors are ducted into your air conditioning system. This allows you to have some control over the temperature of the rooms that you’re in. Here a zone is a series of blades that allow you to close off a room’s ductwork, thus stopping air from flowing to that room. For instance, if you want to turn off the air to your bedroom you can close the blades so that the air won’t proceed down the ductwork towards your bedroom. Of course, the opposite is also true: you can open the blades up fully so that the air will start flowing into the room.

A VAV system doesn’t simply open or close the blades though. You can actually control what percentage they’re open. This is great for allowing you to control how much airflow makes it into a room – something that controls the room’s temperature overall. For instance, when you have a room whose temperature is around 70 degrees and you set the VAV controller in the room to 62 degrees, the air would enter and cool the room. When the room is about 62 degrees, the blades will begin to close in order to restrict the airflow so that the temperature is maintained. Once the room’s temperature is above 62 degrees, the blades will open again and allow airflow so you can maintain the temperature there.

The VAV system is one of the most basic types of HVAC systems. It’s an inexpensive way in which to control the airflow in just a few areas of your home. Understanding that it’s different from a VRV is important though. With a VRV multiple head units are running to one large compressor that’s located on the outside of the building.

Full Air Conditioning Temperature Control

Another system that works like the VAV system is the fully ducted temperature control system. With this system, you’ll have a controller that’s located in each of your rooms. This will read the room’s temperature determining whether the blades need to open or close so that each room gets the right amount of airflow to heat or cool it.

The main difference between these two systems is that a fully ducted temperature control system controls the temperature in your whole home, whereas a VAV controls it in just a few rooms. For this reason, a fully ducted temperature control system will make you feel more comfortable since each person can set the temperature they want in their living space.

You’ll also find that a fully ducted temperature control system is more economical and less expensive to run than a standard system. This is due to the fact that when a room reaches the desired temperature, it’ll turn off and the unit will also cycle off.

The Benefits to Choosing a Temperature Control HVAC System

By being able to control the temperature in each of your rooms, everyone can maintain the temperature they desire. Since everyone is different, it’s only normal to want different temperatures in our environment. Of course, there are also other factors that must be taken into consideration when determining a room’s temperature (e.g heat load, what people are wearing, what side of the house the sun is on). Fortunately, these are things that you can overcome by using a temperature control system.

The one thing these systems are unable to do is to perform separate heating and cooling operations. Therefore if you set the unit to cool, it’ll only be able to cool the rooms in your home. If someone wants to heat up a room, they won’t be able to do so. Nevertheless, this is the simplest way of explaining how temperature control works when you have a reverse cycle (refrigerative) HVAC system. IF you ever need help with air conditioning in Canton MI, just do some research.

 

Choosing A Reliable HVAC Contractor

We all know it’s important to get a professional to do the job, no matter whether you’re getting your car fixed, calling a plumber or going to the doctor. You want to know that the job has been done correctly, especially as it’s costing you.

Even bigger problems can be the result if you don’t have the problem fixed properly the first time. Or, you can end up having to pay to have the same problem fixed a second time. It’s important to hire the right HVAC contractor the first time you call one, and maintaining and installing your HVAC system must be done correctly to avoid potential issues in the future.

Why It’s So Important to Choose the Right Contractor

One of the biggest investments you’ll make is the HVAC system in your home, and it represents a major investment in keeping your family comfortable. When you know that it’s being taken care of by a reliable and experienced HVAC contractor, it can give you peace of mind and avoid issues in the future.

You may be tempted to save money by choosing the HVAC contractor with the lowest prices or one offering a special deal. However, the quality of the work may not be all that you expect it to be. Your HVAC system may simply have the same problems again before too long, or have even costlier issues if the problem isn’t addressed properly the first time around, and if the workmanship is below par to keep a contractor’s costs down, this can be a real problem. Having to pay for more costly repairs because something wasn’t fixed properly is not what you want to do.

To ensure you don’t have continuing problems with your HVAC system, choosing a reliable and experienced contractor the first time is a must.

What To Look For In An HVAC Contractor

You want to be assured your chosen contractor will do the best possible job, and these are some clues to look for:

Signs Of An Unreliable Contractor or Of Poor Work

  • Communication with the customer is poor.
  • Lower prices that just seem too low.
  • Not all contractors do this, but be careful of being sold parts or services that you don’t really need.
  • Claiming to have done work that, in reality, was not done.
  • A solution or explanation seemingly too good to be true may be a sign of an unreliable HVAC contractor.
  • Difficulty or reluctance answering your questions.
  • Equipment and appearance do not make a positive impression.
  • Lack of insurance and/or not licensed.

Signs Of a Reliable HVAC Contractor and Quality Work

  • Shows respect to you, your family and home.
  • Has all the tools and equipment needed.
  • Able to answer your questions and seems knowledgeable and experienced.
  • Responds to communication or requests from the customer and will determine the customer’s needs by asking questions.
  • Is insured and licensed.
  • Uses quality brand name parts and equipment.
  • Determines the right size of your system by carrying out a load calculation.

Always ask questions; if you don’t understand something your contractor tells you, you can probably trust them if they willingly answer you, and the response seems to make sense. You may want to be wary if they seem to have difficulty answering your questions, or seem evasive or deceitful.

Many HVAC customers end up with a big headache when the contractor doesn’t register their products; to avoid problems, ask who registers that contractor’s warranties. And just as important is training; it’s acceptable to ask your contractor about their training, experience and background to ensure the work will be of quality.

Go With Your Gut Feeling

We all learn to trust our gut instinct and make a decision based on what we feel or a first impression, and that’s no different when it comes to choosing a good HVAC contractor. You may want to call the next person on your list if you just don’t get a good feeling about the person you are dealing with and if they seem evasive or don’t seem to be especially knowledgeable.

A Second Opinion

Online reviews and comments can give you a useful second opinion. And asking for references from a company is also an effective way to help feel you’ve made a good choice.

Ensure The Efficiency Of Your Air Conditioner

Now that the temperature is getting hotter, this is a signal that summer is almost here. It’s time to make sure your air conditioner is ready to keep you nice and cool. But how can you ensure it’s performing well? Chances are if you notice any of the following signs, it’s time for an AC repair or replacement.

Warm Air

If the air blowing from your vents is hot, then look at the thermostat. Put it on the cooling mode and set it at a temperature that is lower than the current one. If you still feel warm air, the airflow is limited. You may have to repair the compressor.

Do not try to fix this problem on your own. Leave all HVAC repairs to a highly trained professional. Remember, your home is one of your biggest assets. The HVAC system needs expert calibration. Fixing it is too complex, which is something that should be left to the professionals.

Bad Airflow

Bad airflow usually means that your air conditioning unit isn’t working well or that something is stopping the air from moving through the ductwork. This could be attributed to a motor that needs repair or an air filter that is clogged up. Unfortunately, it could also be something else that is extremely problematic.

If the airflow is bad, we might suggest that you get an energy recovery ventilator. This helps your air conditioning unit work better by changing out the stale air for fresh air during each cycle. We may also suggest that your air conditioning system needs zoning systems, which helps get rid of bad airflow and boost cooling power.

Routine Cycles

Your air conditioner should have frequent cooling cycles. The time of the year or type of weather should not affect this. Yes, an air conditioning unit turns on more when temperatures are higher, but this doesn’t mean that it should turn off and on constantly. If your air conditioner has numerous cycles of this nature, contact an AC specialist ASAP. Your system may just need a tune-up. But then again, too much cycling may mean that an AC repair isn’t the answer. A new air conditioner may be the only solution.

High Humidity

There’s always high humidity on the outside during spring and summer, but this should not be the case on the inside of your home. An efficient air conditioner is designed to automatically cool down your home and remove humidity.

If your air conditioner cannot remove humidity, it needs repairing. An HVAC specialist can figure out the problem and determine if your air conditioning system needs calibration or a whole-house dehumidifier.

Water Leaks

Your air conditioner goes through the cooling cycle by using refrigerant. This is how your home reaches a nice and comfortable temperature. When it removes humidity, condensation occurs. However, there should never be a buildup or leakage of water or refrigerant in order for your air conditioner to work properly.

If the refrigerant leaks or water builds up around or within your air conditioning system, this is a serious problem. Your air conditioner isn’t performing efficiently. Speak with an AC professional. A leak could cause structural damage to your home, which is very costly to repair.

Horrible Smells

If your air conditioner is producing bad smells, this needs to be rectified before things get worse. An air conditioning professional can inspect your system and determine if an AC repair or cleaning is needed or a more technological solution. For instance, consider using ultraviolet lamps to get rid of microbial growth. This type of growth causes horrible smells. You could also clean your home’s ductwork. This is another place where smells can accumulate.

Weird Noises

The average air conditioner makes certain noises due to how cycling works. But if you start to hear loud, weird noises all of a sudden, this could be a sign that something is wrong. For instance, there could be a loose part rattling around. Call us, and our professionals can diagnose the problem and get your air conditioner running efficiently.

Lansings HVAC Company

We are the #1 premiere heating, ventilation & air conditioning company.
Whether you need new furnaces or furnace repair to latest heating / heat pump replacement for the cold Michigan winter months, to hvac air conditioning service including affordable air conditioning repair & install we got you covered. Our goal is simple, to make sure homeowners have ideal temperature control in their homes and be able to stay very comfortable regardless of the outside weather!

Air conditioning Experts, why do you want professional service?
air conditioner maintenance & repair service can actually make your units last longer & save money on the long run. we may replace hvac air filters that will help the efficiency of the machine, we can even inspect portable air conditioning units, auto & car air conditioning repair as well. For your homes we give the most affordable central air conditioning cost to repair or replace.

Heating Experts, why hire All Star Mechanical?

For those that still own furnaces, we can definitely help, but remember we also carry highly efficient home heating systems. Its not about just compressors, heat exchanges and valves. It’s about the upstairs bedroom being the same temperature as downstairs living room. It’s about having a home that retains heat properly and regulates a comfortable temperature no matter what time of the day.