Many consumers think of HVAC contractors only as a source for heating and cooling installation and service and are unaware of the role they can play in improving indoor air quality (IAQ). HVAC contractors should take note of the fact that interest in IAQ has spiked tremendously of late and should educate themselves and their […]
When the Department of Energy announced in 2014 that the Fan Furnace Efficiency Rating (FER) would go into effect on July 3, 2019, it immediately became apparent that most residential gas furnaces equipped with permanent split capacitor (PSC) motors simply could not achieve the required efficiency. Manufacturers have made the shift from PSC to energy-efficient […]
Last week was to have been National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction OSHA’s outreach campaign to raise awareness about fall hazards. (This event was postponed until summer due to COVID-19, dates TBA). Falls from elevation is a leading cause of death in the construction industry, accounting for 320 of the 1,008 construction fatalities […]
We’ve all encountered bad listeners in our private and professional lives. We state our budget constraints but we’re shown the deluxe model. “A little off the top” becomes a scalping. Two-way conversations turn into tedious monologues. The goal of every HVAC contracting business should be to build trusting relationships through exceptional customer service, an essential […]
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI, also known as UV-C) as a method of eliminating microbial growth in HVAC systems and improving indoor air quality has long been underutilized in residential and light commercial sectors, despite the fact that it’s efficacy has been widely proven by industry experts, not to mention the CDC. HVAC contractors are finally […]
When a compressor fails, it seldom happens due to a defect in the compressor itself. In fact, 90% of compressor failures occur as a direct result of issues found elsewhere in the system. If a new compressor is installed without identifying and fixing the root problem, the new unit will likely fail as well. Loss […]
Hot and cold spots indicate uneven airflow, lack of airflow, or the infiltration of outside air in the space. Bad design can result in airflow problems. Oftentimes a residential HVAC system can be oversized, thus turning the unit on and off much more frequently with excessive airflow and insufficient humidity. Another example is undersized ductwork […]
E.P. Homiek Sheet Metal & HVAC Supply has hosted several seminars over the last few months, including Airflow Testing & Balancing (TAB), Electrical Diagnostics in HVAC, Ductless Mini-Splits, ECM Motors, and NJ HVACR Continuing Education 5-Hour Course. As a supplier of HVAC equipment including Goodman, Daikin, Bryant, Crown Boiler, and others, we think it is […]
An inverter compressor utilizes a variable frequency drive to control the speed of the compressor motor in order to modulate cooling output. Inverter compressors offer a number of advantages over traditional compressor technology. Inverter compressors conserve energy. Unlike traditional single-speed compressors that cycle off and on at maximum capacity as indoor temperatures rise and fall, […]
Understanding power and controls in residential and commercial HVAC is critical for any field technician, as about 80% of problems on a service call are electrically related. Residential HVAC technology has made significant advances in the past decade with the introduction of microprocessors and microelectronics. Most new HVAC systems now include ECM motors, variable speed […]