Scroll Compressors

How Scroll Compressors Work
The Scroll compressor has one scroll, or spiral, orbiting in a path defined by a matching fixed scroll. The fixed scroll is attached to the compressor body.

The orbiting scroll is coupled to the crankshaft and orbits, rather than rotates. The orbiting motion creates a series of gas pockets traveling between the two scrolls. On the outer portion of the scrolls, the pockets draw in gas, and then move into the center of the scroll, where the gas is discharged. As the gas moves into the increasingly smaller inner pockets, the temperature and pressure increase to the desired discharge pressure.

Better Liquid Handling
Axial and radial compliance allow the scroll members to separate in the presence of liquid refrigerant, thus, providing protection against liquid damage

Greater Efficiency
More efficient over their entire operating range

Improved Sound
Operate at lower sound and vibration levels than traditional compressors

Unmatched Reliability

.70% fewer moving parts
.Ability to start under any system load, without start components
.Easy to service and maintain due to their compact size and lightweight, simple design
.Engineered for optimum performance with today’s chlorine-free refrigerants
.No complex internal suction and discharge valves for quieter operation and higher reliability

Is it HOT in here Honey?????????

Happens every Summer. Air conditioners that functioned fine all year when the average high temperature was 85 degrees can't keep up when the temperature spikes above 95. This can be an indication of an undersized system or an improperly installed duct system but 95% of the time it is an indicator of lack of proper maintenance.
While many people switch on their units in the Spring and hope for the best, savvy homeowners know that in order to assure that your air conditioning works in the heat of summer, you have to invest in proper care and maintenance.
Air conditioning maintenance checklist
In order to ensure that your air conditioner will keep you cool this summer, proper air conditioning maintenance should include all of the following steps:

• Clean the outdoor condensers and indoor evaporator coils – coils are among the most important parts of your air conditioner. The condenser coil houses the refrigerant lines and surrounds the fins that line the outdoor cabinet of your AC. The evaporator coil is the part of your AC that absorbs heat and makes the air cold. If you have dirt or debris on either of these, it can reduce your air conditioner’s efficiency and put unnecessary stress on the unit’s moving parts.
• Check the refrigerant level – too little refrigerant in your air conditioner will require your system to work extra hard to provide cooling, reducing the efficiency (and, ultimately, the lifespan) of your unit.and if you are low on refrigerant you have a leak or someone letting it out.This needs to be fixed if you can without replacement
• Inspect the indoor and outdoor drain pans and condensate drains – since air conditioners provide cooling as well as dehumidification, a lot of moisture can build up in the unit. If the drains are dirty or blocked, that moisture can become trapped either in the unit or in your house.
• Check the outdoor fan blades and indoor blower – the outdoor fan is what pulls air into the air conditioner; the indoor blower is what moves it through your home. These may need to be readjusted and cleaned as part of your air conditioning maintenance so they can provide maximum airflow.
• Check the compressor and the refrigerant tubing( I,E suction line insulation)
• Lubricate (fan motors, compressors, etc.)if needed
• Inspect all electrical controls, wiring and connections – all electrical components and hookups should be routinely checked during air conditioning maintenance for wear and damage.
• Run a general air conditioner test – an important step of air conditioning maintenance is simply turning the AC unit off and on to check the operating functions such as the start cycle and shut off controls. The air conditioning contractor will also check for unusual noises or odors, measure indoor and outdoor temperatures and check system pressures as needed.
• Check the ductwork for leaks or other issues –while you shouldn’t need to inspect your ductwork as part of your yearly air conditioning maintenance, you should have it checked at least every few years to make sure there are no leaks or blockages. Problems in your ductwork are one of the leading causes of inefficiency in forced air AC systems, sometimes accounting for as much as 30% losses in efficiency!
Are there any air conditioning maintenance steps you can do?
Yes! At home air conditioning steps are pretty simple:

• Clean or replace dirty air filters monthly – dirty air filters are the number one cause of slow air flow for most air conditioners. If left long enough, dirty air filters can get so bad that they can cause your evaporator coil to ice up! Make sure to change your air filters once a month to keep your air flowing as smoothly as possible.
• Keep your condenser unit clear – your outdoor air conditioner compressor draws air in from around it, which it moves through your system and blows into your house as cool air. Needless to say, the compressor needs easy airflow! Cut back any trees or shrubs around your air conditioner compressor so that you have at least two feet of space around all sides.
*Note – many people plant trees or bushes around the compressor to hide it from view. This is not recommended. Manufacturers suggest 24" of clearance around all sides of your outside unit.
When is the best time to schedule air conditioner maintenance?
The best time to schedule air conditioner maintenance is early spring, before the summer heat really starts to kick in. If you have waited until the middle of the summer, it is important that you consider having maintenance NOW! Don't be at the bottom of the list as a thousand other people scramble to get their air conditioners serviced at the same time. Remember – preventive air conditioner maintenance is always better than air conditioner repair or replacement!

HOW a HEAT PUMP WORKS...

Using electricity as its energy source, heat pumps are used for either the heating or cooling of your home by transferring heat between two reservoirs.

In the warmer months, the heat pump acts like an air conditioner, removing heat from the air inside your home and transferring it outside.

During colder months, heat from outdoor air is extracted and transferred to the interior of your home. Believe it or not, even a 32° Fahrenheit day produces enough heat to warm a home using a heat pump.

Benefits of a Heat Pump...

Year-round, energy-efficient indoor comfort for moderate climates. A central heat pump helps maintain comfortable temperatures inside your home and reduces humidity levels year-round. Homes located in regions with severely cold temperatures may either require supplemental heating or be better served with an air conditioner/furnace combination.
Cleaner air. As your heat pump system draws air out of various rooms in the house through return air ducts, the air is pulled through an air filter, which removes airborne particles such as dust and lint. Sophisticated filters may remove microscopic pollutants, as well. The filtered air is then routed to air supply ductwork that carries it back to rooms. Whenever the air conditioner is running, this cycle repeats continually, constantly filtering and cleaning the air in your home.
Quieter operation. Because the compressor-bearing unit of the typical central heat pump system is located outside the home, the indoor noise level from its operation is much lower than that of a free-standing air conditioning unit.

How a Packaged System Works...

Package units are unique, all-in-one systems that supply both cooling and heating equipment in one "package." These units sit on the ground or rooftop outside of your home or business.

Package units come in three forms:

Packaged heat pumps offer heating and cooling using heat pump technology.
Packaged air conditioners cool your home and can heat it as well, using electrical strip heat.
Packaged gas-electric units offer all-in-one air conditioning and natural gas-powered furnace performance.

Benefits to a packaged system...

Space efficiency - Unlike split-system units, all components of a complete heating and cooling system are contained in one location, making package units ideal for situations in which indoor space is at a premium.
Energy-efficient heating and cooling performance - All package units offer 13 SEER or higher cooling performance. Our package gas/electric units offer 80% AFUE heating performance, as well.

Package units are unique, all-in-one systems that supply both cooling and heating equipment in one "package." These units sit on the ground or rooftop outside of your home or business.

Package units come in three forms:

Packaged heat pumps offer heating and cooling using heat pump technology.
Packaged air conditioners cool your home and can heat it as well, using electrical strip heat.
Packaged gas-electric units offer all-in-one air conditioning and natural gas-powered furnace performance.

Benefits to a packaged system...

Space efficiency - Unlike split-system units, all components of a complete heating and cooling system are contained in one location, making package units ideal for situations in which indoor space is at a premium.
Energy-efficient heating and cooling performance - All package units offer 13 SEER or higher cooling performance. Our package gas/electric units offer 80% AFUE heating performance, as well.

How a Central Heating System Works...

A furnace works to keep a home warm in the winter and plays a critical part in the operation of an air conditioning system.

Furnaces produce heat through the combustion of natural gas in the furnace's burner. The heat produced from this process then passes through a heat exchanger. Air from your home's return air ducts is blown over the heat exchanger, thus warming the air.

The furnace's blower then blows the warmed air into the ductwork, which carries and disperses the warmed air throughout the home.

During warmer months, the blower inside a furnace continues to circulate return air throughout the home--only this time, the return air has been cooled by being blown over the indoor coil portion of the home's split-system air conditioning system. The condensing coil is typically installed on top of the furnace.

Benefits of a Central Heating Systems...

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Indoor warmth any time it is required.
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Energy efficiency -The efficiency of a furnace can be determined by its AFUE--or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The minimum efficiency level for furnaces currently manufactured in the U.S. is 80% AFUE. A rating of "80% AFUE" means that for every dollar you spend heating your home; 80 cents are actually applied to the generation of warmth. Compared to many of the 60% AFUE furnaces in older homes, 80% AFUE furnaces are a significant improvement. However, for enhanced energy efficiency, you may wish to consider a 95+% AFUE furnace, such as Amana's line of 96% AFUE Furnaces.
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Cleaner air - As your HVAC system draws air out of various rooms in the house through return air ducts, the air is pulled through an air filter, which removes airborne particles such as dust and lint. Sophisticated filters may remove microscopic pollutants, as well. The filtered air is then routed to air supply ductwork that carries it back to rooms. Whenever the HVAC system is running, this cycle repeats continually, constantly filtering and cleaning the air in your home.
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This cleaning process improves with the installation of a variable-speed furnace. Variable-speed furnaces use variable-speed blowers, which shift between several speeds. These furnaces will run longer at a low speed, which causes them to filter the indoor air more frequently.
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And remember - because the furnace plays an important role in the operation of the air conditioner, its variable-speed blower helps maintain both a consistent indoor temperature and improved air quality year-round.
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Possible Tax Credit - As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the U.S. government has made a provision for tax credits of up to $200 for homeowners who install furnaces with an efficiency of 95% or greater between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2007. Consumers should discuss these tax credits with a tax professional to see if they qualify. and there are even more tax credits in 2010 and 20011 so ask your heating and air co you use for more info.

5 Things To Look For When Hiring Heating Cooling Contractor

Ever wonder why the most inexperienced, costly contractors end up in your home? Actually it could have less to do with you than it does with the kind of information you’re gathering before you contact a heating and cooling company in for work.
Let’s be clear: You usually take the time to call a heating and cooling contractor because you are either: a) very hot or b) very cold. So an untimely breakdown (are they ever timely?) has forced your search for someone who can make the repair.
From this point, the service you receive can either soothe – or increase – your feelings of panic and irritation. There are several factors that contribute to both.
Here are the top things to look for before opening your home – and wallet:
1. Credentials
If a contractor begins to stutter or make up excuses when you ask for an Air Conditioning License, it’s probably a safe bet that you should take your business elsewhere. Oddly, many customers don’t ask but wish that they had.
In fact, all heating and cooling contractors should be able to readily (and eagerly) provide licensing and insurance information, plus references from recent customers.
Be sure to check the references and inquire about timeliness, job performance, and overall satisfaction of results. The best question you can ask is, “Would you hire them again?”
2. Technical Skill
Even though fairly common, you do not want your home to be the training ground of an inexperienced technician. By the time you see your contractor scratching his head or tossing “spare” parts back in his tool kit, it may be too late to ask about prior training.
Granted, not every company meets the stringent hiring and training advised by Trane. Heating and cooling work is serious business, and not suited for “guesswork.” Skilled training is the only path to proficiency and safety.
Plus, don’t necessarily assume that “30 Years of experience” is a fair method of judgment; it could very well mean one year of mistakes repeated over 30 years.
You’ll learn more about a company asking specific questions about training policies and experience requirements for hiring.
3. Up-Front Pricing
A couple of points here. First and most common are the contractors who just say, “We’ll let you know how much it is and how long it’ll take once we take everything apart.” That’s dangerous, since you could be stuck with parts scattered everywhere or just a “guess” on the completion.
A good Tech will arrive, ask questions, diagnose and then give you a price and schedule for the work’s completion. Then you decide to go forward or not.
Secondly, on larger jobs, beware of contractors that ask for a large deposit before starting work. If your contractor needs the deposit “to buy supplies”, that could be a bad sign; credible contractors should have accounts with local suppliers. Your deposit may be on the way to the bank and long gone before you realize you never confirmed a “return” appointment to have your air system replaced.
Legitimate heating and cooling contractors – and there are many- should give a price for services before work begins, and ask for payment only when work has been completed. We call this up-front pricing, and it’s the fairest, most convenient method.
4. Scheduling
Think about it. You’re hot or cold. And your HVAC contractor has just said he’d be glad to come out and take a look at your system a week from Tuesday. The fact is, if he can’t provide satisfactory relief in a timely manner , maybe you should keep looking.
Sure, the more popular contractors will have scheduling issues in the middle of a busy season – ALL included – but the scheduling should be explained with the assurance that the contractor will get there as soon as he can.
Many dealers offer Maintenance Agreement programs that allow for Priority Scheduling – even in the busiest times – which is one of many benefits. Regardless, when you schedule for a repair, ask for a specific time, and expect your contractor to keep it, with reasonable updates during delays.
5. Warranty
Most companies “say” they warranty their work but sadly, the words often get conveniently forgotten if a problem arises. And that’s the only time you’ll know…or care. Without a warranty on parts and labor, you may have another system breakdown and be expected to pay the same price to have it fixed again. That’s crazy.
Plus, on a replacement system, you’re investing in a long-term solution. That’s why manufactures state-of-the-art reliability into new systems, but gives you real peace of mind with some of the longest warranties in the entire industry.
So if your contractor answers your question with “Oh, trust me, it’ll be fine. What do you need a warranty for?”, then you should make other arrangements. Most dealers come with the assurance of pre-screening for prompt, efficient assistance to you. Your satisfaction, future and business and referrals are too important to us to risk otherwise.
Remember, you are calling a contractor because you have problem. His job is to solve those problems – not add to them. Understanding the above list can save you time, money, and quite possibly a few gray hairs.