HVAC Archives - Page 2 of 2 - North Point Air Conditioning & Heating

What Are the Major Parts of an Air Conditioner?

Posted on April 6, 2021 | by North Point Air Conditioning & Heating | Leave a Comment

The air conditioner has come a long way since it was invented in the early 20th century with several innovations in design and technology to enhance its performance and efficiency. The air conditioner is made of up several components that work on circulating cool air to your home or office. A fault with any of the major components of the air conditioner can lead to the compromised performance of the air conditioner, a decrease in energy efficiency, and a shorter life span for the components.
To keep your air conditioner running at an optimum level, it is important to have the major components of the air conditioner running in top condition. Here are the major parts of a typical modern air conditioner.

Refrigerant

The refrigerant is a blend of fluids designed to complete the heat transfer process of a refrigeration cycle. A refrigerant can effectively absorb and release heat from the air as it flows through the cooling tubes and copper coils. It can change the state from liquid to gas at certain temperatures of the refrigeration cycle.

When the technician refers to “low gas” or an “AC recharge service”, they are referring to services related to the refrigerant. There are different types of refrigerants depending on the type of air conditioner. Over time, refrigerants have become more efficient in the cooling process and more environmentally friendly compared to earlier types.

Compressor

If the refrigerant is the blood of the air conditioner, then the compressor is the heart. To complete the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant needs to be compressed or pressurized to raise its temperature. As heat flows from a hotter body to a colder body, the high-temperature refrigerant can carry and dispense the heat outdoors. This allows the heat to be removed from the air that flows into the interior. This process is completed with the use of a compressor, which is usually located in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner. The compressor is connected to the inner unit using a refrigeration tube.

Condenser

The condenser is also located in the outer unit of the air conditioner. The condenser receives a high-temperature pressurized refrigerant from the compressor. The coils of the condenser are designed to complete the heat transfer from the hot refrigerant to the outdoors. The condenser has a fan that helps dissipate the heat transferred from the refrigerant. As the refrigerant cools down, it turns into a liquid state and flows into the expansion valve, where is it depressurized to cool down.

Expansive Valve

Before the refrigerant is ready to go to the evaporator coils from the compressor, it needs to be cooled. This is achieved through an expansion valve, also known as the metering device. When the pressure of the refrigerant decreases, the temperature also goes down. This is based on the Ideal Gas Law. The expansion valve reduces the pressure, allowing the refrigerant to cool down. Another role of the expansive valve is to control the flow rate of the refrigerant into the evaporator coils.

Evaporator

All evaporator is usually located in the indoor unit of the air conditioner. It is an important component for the cooling of the air that flows through the system. The evaporator coils are mostly made from copper, which is a good conductor of heat. The copper coils of the evaporator contain the depressurized refrigerant. This makes the temperature of the copper coils of the evaporator very cold. As the air passes through the copper coils, the heat from the air is absorbed the copper coils, reducing the temperature of the air that flows into the interior. The blower fan in the indoor unit of the air conditioner helps to blow air over the copper coils. At this point, the refrigeration cycle is complete. This cycle is continuously repeated to cool the air that from the outdoor to the indoor.

Contact Us at North Point Air Conditioning & Heating for Heating and Cooling Services

At North Point Air Conditioning & Heating, we offer a full range of heating, cooling, and air conditioning (HVAC) services. We serve residents of Spring, TX, and all surrounding locations. Our technicians can perform air conditioner repair and cooling installation service, heating repair and furnace installation, insulation services, commercial services, and more. To schedule a service with us, you can contact us through our North Point Air Conditioning & Heating website or give us a call. We are proud to have all our technicians trained, experienced, and certified in performing HVAC services. We offer affordable prices for services and parts. Contact us now to schedule a service.

Contact North Point Air Conditioning & Heating today

What Are Ways I Can Conserve Energy?

Posted on March 17, 2021 | by North Point Air Conditioning & Heating | Leave a Comment

Extreme weather is becoming more commonplace in the Spring, TX area, and many homeowners are looking for ways to conserve energy and reduce their utility bills. On average, utility costs account for up to half of the average household, so making changes to reduce energy use adds up very quickly. Fortunately, there are many easy, affordable ways to reduce energy costs. You may also want to consider investing in your heating and cooling system to reduce energy use in the coming years as weather patterns become more unpredictable. North Point Air Conditioning & Heating can help you along the way.

1. Seal Doors and Windows

Doors and windows in a typical Spring household are where you lose the most money in utility costs. We recommend that you check the seals around these areas to see if air is coming into your home or escaping to the outdoors. The glass of your windows also transfers heat that causes colder indoor temperatures during the winter and warmer indoor temperatures in the summer. If you are not ready to replace your windows, consider investing in thick drapes to minimize the effects of heat exchange.

2. Close Your Garage Door

Few garages in Spring are connected to the main heating and cooling system. The air inside your garage will easily enter your home every time you enter your home through the space. When you keep the garage door open all this time, more air will enter your home on windy days.

3. Insulate Your Attic

In addition to doors and windows, attic spaces in the Spring homes allow for a significant amount of heat exchange. In older homes, the voids are typically not insulated, so you lose a lot of heated and cooled air. North Point Air Conditioning & Heating offers spray foam insulation for attics, and we can seal up the attic quickly and efficiently. We can also check the insulation in the rest of your house to make sure that you are not losing energy elsewhere.

4. Replace HVAC Filters

Your HVAC system has filters that allow air to pass through while trapping particles such as dust, pollen, and pet dander. Over time, the particles clog the filters, and air cannot pass through as efficiently. As a result, your system runs longer to maintain comfortable temperatures inside your home. You can reduce energy consumption by changing your filters every six months.

5. Install Programmable Thermometers

Programmable thermostats conserve energy by eliminating the need to constantly change your temperature settings. The devices are easy to install and let you set different temperatures for each time of day. You can have one temperature for daytime, another for nighttime, and a third for when you are away from your home.

6. Use a Zoning System

If you close vents in your home to save money, a zoning system is a much better option. Closed vents make your HVAC system work harder, and it can result in unnecessary repairs. Zoning systems work by adjusting a series of louvers inside the ducts and individual thermostats in each zone of your home. The design prevents uneven temperatures in the summer and winter.

North Point Air Conditioning & Heating also recommends zoning systems for Spring homeowners who have certain rooms that are rarely used, such as guest bedrooms. We also carry ductless mini-split systems that can be installed in the additions of your home without modifying your current HVAC system.

7. Service Your HVAC Equipment

North Point Air Conditioning & Heating recommends that you schedule maintenance for your HVAC system two times per year, ideally in the spring and fall. The service includes checking filters, lubricants, moving parts, ducts, and more to keep your system running efficiently. We also look for signs of wear and tear that can be addressed early before your system has major failures and needs costly repairs.

8. Update Your Heating and Cooling System

If you take these steps to reduce energy consumption and want to save even more money each month on utilities, we can help you find an affordable new HVAC system for your Spring home. The investment that you make now is returned by the reduction in energy costs every month for many years to come.

Learn More About Reducing Energy Consumption

The experts at North Point Air Conditioning & Heating help homeowners in Spring and surrounding areas find ways to reduce energy consumption and save money each month on utilities. We offer installation, repair, and maintenance services for residential heating and cooling systems. Call us today to learn more. Be sure to ask about our indoor air quality products!

How Often Should You Get HVAC Maintenance?

Posted on February 18, 2021 | by North Point Air Conditioning & Heating | Leave a Comment

Spring, TX, is a great area but the weather can vary greatly all year round. We depend on our HVAC units to keep us warm and cozy during winter and comfortable during the summer months. Not only is a good HVAC system good for your household, but it’s also one of the biggest investments in your home. To protect your investment, ensure you conduct regular maintenance and checkups.

Professional maintenance goes beyond simple tasks you can handle on your own such as cleaning and changing air filters. Professional HVAC maintenance services include testing, inspecting, and cleaning every component that makes up your unit. Therefore, you should make sure you turn to the professionals at North Point Air Conditioning & Heating who have the skills and knowledge to perform maintenance on your unit.

Routine Maintenance

Sadly, most homeowners underestimate the importance of HVAC units’ preventative maintenance and servicing. You should treat your HVAC system like your vehicle. You make sure to service your car regularly, your HVAC system should also be serviced and inspected regularly. HVAC experts recommend that components of your HVAC system should be serviced and tested at least once or twice annually. This will ensure that your system is running efficiently when needed.

HVAC unit preventative maintenance benefits include:

Increases your unit’s lifespan
Increased efficiency and lower utility bills
Gives you peace of mind
Increases your home’s comfort
Improves your indoor air quality
Reduced number of repairs
Reduces every-day wear and tear
Saves you money on expensive repairs

The lifespan of your unit and its efficiency depend on how well it’s maintained. With good maintenance, your unit could last up to 25 years. However, poorly maintained units may not last longer, leading to breakdowns and expensive repairs and replacements.

Scheduled maintenance will allow technicians to spot potential problems and breakdowns before they cause any more damage. This gives you a chance to replace worn-out parts and resolve any issues beforehand.

Air Filter Maintenance

It’s essential to read the manufacturer’s instructions to understand how often to clean or replace your system’s air filters. Cleaning and replacing your air filters are among the most effective and easy ways to keep your unit functioning at its best. A dirty or clogged filter will make your system work harder when it’s trying to filter your indoor air. This may lead to the premature breakdown of the furnace and air conditioning unit and increased energy bills. Most manufacturers recommend that homeowners should replace air filters once every month.

When Should Your HVAC System Be Serviced?

The best time to schedule maintenance and inspection is during the months when you’re not using the unit. You should schedule a maintenance service in the fall for your heating system. This is because in the fall you don’t need your heating system. On the other hand, your air conditioning maintenance service should be scheduled doing spring. These are the seasons when HVAC contractors are likely to be busy with emergencies such as repairs and installations.

Increase Your Household’s Safety and Comfort

One of the essential reasons to schedule an HVAC maintenance is for your household’s comfort. As time passes by, your HVAC unit’s efficiency will start to deteriorate. The unit also experiences normal wear and tear, making it less effective.

Regular maintenance is also essential for the safety of the people in your home. This is especially true with heating systems powered by gas. Operating a heating system with a cracked heating exchanger could lead to hazardous issues such as exposure to carbon monoxide and increased fire risk. Fortunately, with regular maintenance and servicing, such potential problems are easy to spot, and the technicians can do repairs promptly before they become a safety hazard.

Call Us Today

Winters in Spring, TX, can get very cold while summers are hot and uncomfortable. For this reason, ensuring your HVAC system is functioning efficiently is crucial for the comfort of your home. Your comfort and safety are our top priority at North Point Air Conditioning & Heating. Our technicians will work hard to maintain, replace, and repair any issues with your HVAC system.

At North Point Air Conditioning & Heating, we also offer a preventative maintenance program for your heating and cooling unit that will help you reduce your energy bills, improve your IAQ and save you money on expensive repairs. We also offer other services such as heat pumps and furnace installation, maintenance, and repairs. Call us today for all your heating and cooling systems needs in Spring, TX.