Learning About Commercial HVAC Systems
About Me
Learning About Commercial HVAC Systems

Hello, my name is Jacob. I would like to talk about proper installation and repair of the HVAC system in your commercial building. Full scale HVAC systems for commercial buildings require ongoing maintenance and repairs to keep every floor and room at a comfortable temperature. These temperature control systems also control the air quality in the building by sending the airflow through filter elements. My site will cover all aspects of the upkeep needed for these systems. I will also talk about the benefits of keeping your air quality and temperatures at desirable levels. Thanks for coming to visit my website.

Learning About Commercial HVAC Systems

What Makes Some ACs More Efficient Than Others?

Isaiah Chapman

Age, maintenance, and sizing are some top factors determining air conditioning (AC) efficiency. However, an AC may be more efficient than another, even if both are of the same age, properly sized, and well maintained. Below are critical factors that determine intrinsic AC efficiency.

Blowers

The blower is responsible for your AC's air conditioning function. The blower has a motor and a fan as its major components. The motor runs the fan that gets the air circulating. ACs come with different blower motors, such as:

  • Single-speed motors that run either at full speed or not
  • Variable speed motors that vary their speed according to cooling demand

ACs with variable-speed motors are more efficient than those with single-speed ones. The variable-speed motors reduce their energy consumption when running at a reduced speed.

Thermal Expansion Valves

The thermal expansion valve (TXV), which sits between the evaporator and condenser, controls the amount of refrigerant that flows through the AC's evaporator. The TXV bases its refrigerant control on the evaporator's temperature and pressure.

An AC without a TXV circulates a constant refrigerant volume irrespective of the cooling demands. A TXV increases refrigerant when cooling demand drops and increases the refrigerant level if the cooling demand rises. The refrigerant control leads to AC efficiency since refrigerant flow requires electricity, and the system's electrical draw reduces with the refrigerant flow.

Thermostats

The same AC paired with different thermostats will perform at different efficiency levels. Smart and programmable thermostats encourage AC efficiency compared to other thermostats. For example, you can:

  • Program a programmable thermostat to reduce cooling when you are away from home or asleep.
  • Turn your AC on or off remotely if you have a smart thermostat.
  • Use different sensors, such as occupancy sensors, to control your AC's operations automatically if you pair them with the right thermostat.

Luckily, you can upgrade your thermostat independently of the AC unit.

Ratings

AC manufacturers design their products with different ratings that translate into different efficiencies. The seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) is the most critical rating for residential ACs. The rating compares the system's cooling output to its energy consumption during the same cooling season. An AC's efficiency increases with its SEER rating.

The best way to maintain your AC's efficiency is to maintain it regularly and use it properly. However, proper system selection and installation are necessary to set the best initial efficiency for your AC. An experienced AC technician can help you with both things.

Contact an HVAC dealer to learn more. 


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