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Oct 08
Love8
mini splits - ductless

Mini Splits/Ductless Systems

By Cooling, Duct Free Systems, Heating

How it works

There are a lot of applications that a ductless system can be used for In the Miami Valley. Mini split systems can be used for alleviating a hot or cold spot, help heat and cool a renovation or new construction, and even provide comfort for light commercial use. With many types of installation options available there aren’t many situations that a ductless system can’t help with.

Similar to standard air-source heats pumps, mini split systems have two main components, an outdoor condensing unit and an indoor air-handling unit. The link between the two units is called the conduit, it houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing, and a condensate drain. Ductless systems are available where no ductwork is needed while ducted mini split systems can use little ductwork in the ceiling or below the floor. The unit or units will operate to reach the temperature set on either thermostat or remote control. Some models can be controlled via a smart device as well.

Types

With many different application types and installation options their are a lot of options available:

Outdoor Units

  • Single Zoned Cooling Only, designed to provide a high comfort level to a single room for cooling purposes only while being energy efficient (up to 24.6 SEER) and very quiet (low as 48 dB).
  • Single Zoned Cooling and Heating, designed to provide a high comfort level to a single room for cooling and heating purposes year-round. Some models are designed to provide outstanding heating performance even in extreme cold. Models can be energy efficient (up to 42 SEER & 15 HSPF), quiet (as low as 47 dB),
  • Multi Zoned Cooling and Heating, Designed for whole building comfort for cooling and heating purposes. One outdoor unit can support up to 8 indoor units and each zone can be individually controlled to meet personal comfort needs. Units can be energy efficient (up to 23.8 SEER & 12 HSPF) and quiet, (as low as 49 dB)

Indoor Units

  • Wall Mounted, designed to provide cooling and heating to an individual room while monitoring room conditions and self-adjusting the fan for ideal personal comfort. Units can be very energy efficient (up to 33.1 SEER & 13.5 HSPF) and quiet (as low as 19 dB), cooling only, and available in 3 speed or 5 speed fan speeds.
  • Horizontal Ducted, designed to use ductwork which can be concealed in the ceiling or below the floor. Ideal for new construction or renovations. Units can be energy efficient (up to 19.6 SEER & 12.1 HSPF), quiet (as low as 23 dB) with 3 fan speeds.
  • Ceiling Cassette, designed to fit between standard 16” joists to provide cooling and heating to one area. Great option for renovations, new construction, and light commercial. Units can be energy efficient with SEER Ratings up to 19.6 and HSPF up to 12.1 while be quiet with Db levels as low as 24, with 3 fan speeds
  • Floor Mounted, designed to fit in rooms with little vertical wall height where a wall unit or ceiling unit will not fit to provide a room with cooling and heating. Units can be energy efficient with up to 28.2 SEER and up to 13.6 HSPF, while being quiet with dB rating as low as 21, with 5 fan speeds.
  • Ducted Air Handler, designed to accommodate new construction, renovations, replacements, and light commercial to provide heating and cooling through ductwork. Can be installed vertically or horizontally. Can be broken down to fit through tight access points and reassembled. Units can be energy efficient with SEER ratings up to 21.4 and HSPF up to 10.4 while be quiet with dB levels as low as 27 with 3 fan speeds.

Comfort

Mini split systems are designed to offer cooling and heating to rooms or areas to provide comfort to occupants. Designed to be energy efficient, easy to install, quiet, and easily adjustable to provide year-round comfort to make your living space comfort what you want it to be.

Features

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), mini splits are designed to treat the air in the area in which it installed. Filters are installed on all indoor units and some models can capture and remove allergens, odors, and other contaminants to make your air clean and keep you healthy.

Extreme Low Temperature Heating, some models are designed to provide comfortable indoor temperatures even during the coldest days (as low as -13 degree F)

Quiet, without ductwork or with little ductwork mini split systems are designed to deliver cooling and heating directly to the rooms they are intended to serve which means there is no need for fans, keeping the noise down, outdoor units as low as 48 dB and indoor units as low as 19 dB.

Energy Efficiency

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) is a ratio of the amount of cooling produced (BTU) divided by the amount of electricity (watts) used. The difference between SEER and EER is that SEER accounts for changes in outside temperature instead of just one temperature. EER should be used as a comparison when the outside temperature is consistently over 95 degrees F.

The higher the SEER the greater the heat pump’s efficiency could be. Generally, most single stage heat pumps rate from 14 to 16 SEER. Two Stage units rate from 17 to 19. Variable speed units rate from 18 to 21. Comparing against a 10 SEER heat pump over 15 years*, a 14 SEER could save $1395, a 16 SEER could save $1,830, and a 21 SEER could save $2,550.

HSPF (High Seasonal Performance Factor) represents the total heating output of a heat pump (including supplementary electric heat) during the normal heating season (in BTU) as compared to the total electricity consumed (in watt-hours) during the same period.

DIY

With normal maintenance and care mini split systems can last over 20 years. Make sure to keep the filters and coils clean. Make sure the outdoor unit is free from obstruction and the unit is free of debris. Check the drain pan to ensure it stays clear of moisture. Inspect the refrigerant lines, visually confirming the lines are insulated and not damaged.

Service

Our experienced technicians can help you maintain the life of your equipment by performing a HCPP check on your mini split system. Some checks the technician will perform are refrigerant levels, ensure the coils are clean, check the drain pan, check the entire outdoor unit, inspect the refrigerant lines, and ensure the units are set to manufactures specifications. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!

Aug 16
Love8
evaporator coil

Evaporator Coils

By Cooling, Heat Pumps, Heating, Residential

An evaporator coil is the part of an air conditioner or heat pump that absorbs the heat from the air in your house. It is located inside the air handler or attached to the furnace.

How it works

Located inside the blower compartment or air handler, the evaporator coil holds the chilled refrigerant that the compressor moves into it.  As the air from the blower fan moves over the coil, the cold refrigerant removes the heat from your home’s air. The refrigerant becomes warmer and travels to the condenser coil outdoors.

With a heat pump, the process reverses in the winter and the evaporator coil expels heat from the refrigerant into your home, instead of absorbing it and taking it outdoors. Most heat pumps have auxiliary heating elements that are part of the evaporator coil components to supply heat when temperatures fall below a certain point.

Types

  • A-Coils – Shaped like an A, produce better airflow which allows for the most efficient airflow allowing for high efficiency ratings.
  • N-Coils – Shaped like an N, are more compact than A-coils and are better suited for tighter applications.
  • Slab Coil – When the coil has to be installed horizontally, these are preferred.

Features

  • ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND, ENERGY-EFFICIENT – Bryant® Preferred™ Series aluminum evaporator coils are designed for use with Puron® refrigerant to provide years of environmentally sound, trouble-free performance.
  • ENHANCED COMFORT – Our Thermostatic Expansion Valve (TXV) ensures proper refrigerant flow during fluctuating pressures and conditions for top reliability and energy-efficient operation.
  • DURABILITY AND DRAINAGE – Our base pan is made of a corrosion-resistant composite material. Integrated sloped drainage helps reduce build-up of mold, bacteria and other airborne pollutants.
  • LASTING LOOKS AND PERFORMANCE – The sturdy cabinet on our cased models is painted to match your Bryant® furnace to provide years of scratch resistant good looks. (Models CAPVP, CAPMP, CNPVP, CNPHP, CSPHP)
  • LONGER LIFE – Bryant advancements in aluminum manufacturing technology result in higher product reliability.

What system is best for you and your family? Contact us for a consultation today or call 937-325-0636!

Jul 26
Love6
heat pump comfort features

Comfort Features – Heat Pump

By Cooling, Heat Pumps, Heating

It might seem difficult to think about something called a “heat pump” being of practical use in the summer, but fear not – a heat pump can also cool your home!  Not only that, it does so in an efficient manner and can save you money in energy costs.  ENERGY STAR certified heat pumps have higher ratings for seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), energy efficiency ratio (EER), and heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) and use about 5% percent less energy than conventional new models.

Most importantly though, it does a great job of keeping you comfortable in your home.

Thermostat

Heat pumps, like traditional central air conditioning and furnaces, can be controlled with a thermostat.  Having a thermostat that can auto change between heating and cooling is essential. New technology like Bryant Evolution Connex and Bryant Housewise allow Wi-Fi connections that allow you to manage your home’s temperature settings from anywhere, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Some thermostats qualify for utility rebates , check with your utility provider.

Back-Up Heating

Normally, air-source heat pumps contain a second source of heat that help warm your home on days when the unit is unable to draw enough warmth from outdoor air.  This is done using electric heat strips within the unit.  Hybrid units combine an electric heat pump and a propane or gas furnace into one, providing a much more energy-efficient alternative.

Dehumidification

We’ve talked about variable fan motor speeds in this space previously, and an added benefit for comfort is a two-stage or variable speed heat pump.  These units run with lower airflow, which reduces temperature swings as well as humidity in the space, making you more comfortable.  The compressor will run longer, but at a lower speed, allowing the air to be treated more efficiently.

Thinking about a heat pump?  Schedule a free consultation with us today!

Jul 16
Love6
quality features heat pump

Quality Features – Heat Pump

By Cooling, Heat Pumps, Heating No Comments

In the Miami Valley, air source heat pumps can be a viable option for your heating and cooling needs. They use electricity and are much more efficient than resistance heating units like furnaces and baseboard heaters. High efficiency air source heat pumps can also dehumidify better than standard air conditioners, resulting in less energy use and more thermal comfort during the summer months.

How it works

How does an air source heat pump work?

Like an air conditioner, air source heat pumps have the ability to transfer heat between the building and outside air.  Air source heat pumps also have the ability to heat your building as well.  Each Heat pump has   refrigerant system, which is a compressor and two copper tube coils, one outside and one inside, and the outside coil, which is encased in aluminum fins.  The refrigerant system extracts heat from the refrigerant as it condenses back to liquid for both heating and cooling with a reversing valve. The blower than moves that air though the building ductwork. When the thermostat is satisfied, the unit shuts off.

Compressor Type

When heat pumps were first developed, they used a single speed compressor that only operated at full capacity, thus using more energy and causing it to wear out faster.  Two-speed compressors allow operation at a lower level, which reduces wear and tear and can allow the heat pump to keep different rooms at different temperatures, provided a zone control system is installed.

Single Stage

A single stage air source heat pump turns on when indoor temperatures exceed or are below the temperature setting on your thermostat. Once the temperature set on the thermostat is reached it turns off again. Single stage heat pumps always operate at 100% capacity.

Two Stage

More efficient than single stage units, two stage heat pumps vary their output between two levels: high and low. Ideally, the low stage would satisfy the thermostat most of the time. When necessary, the high stage would turn on. This helps eliminate temperature swings and helps to dehumidify the air, making you feel more comfortable for longer periods of time.

Variable Speed

Variable speed air conditioners precisely control the airflow throughout your home in order to maintain the highest level of comfort. This allows the air conditioner to run continuously, while consuming far less electricity than a single stage air conditioner. The constant airflow has some key benefits: maximum air filtration, dehumidification, minimum cold spots and quieter operation.

Comfort

Heat pumps can be quiet, with models available up to 58 DB. Two stage and Variable speed units with a humidifier help to humidify the air more efficiently during heating cycles and also dehumidify air more efficiently as well during cooling cycles.  Used with an back up furnace, heat pumps can ensure your year round comfort and energy efficiency.

Blower Speed

The type of fan motor can also impact energy savings and air comfort.  A dual-speed or variable-speed motor reduces noise from the blower always running at full speed, and it also keeps air moving comfortably.

Geothermal Heat Pumps

Looking for even bigger savings down the road?  Geothermal heat pumps use the environment around them to transfer heat between the ground (or a nearby water source) and your house.  Since ground and water temperatures remain more constant than air temperatures, the cost to operate these is much lower and can reduce energy use by as much as 50%.

Which heat pump is the right one for your home?  Contact our experts today!

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