What is a heat pump? A heat pump is simply a device that absorbs heat from one environment and deposits it in another. A refrigerator is a common example of heat pump technology — heat is absorbed from the inside of your fridge and deposited into the air of your kitchen. However, heat pumps for residential use are different in an important way from what you’ll find in your fridge — they’re reversible. This means they can be used to […]
Read more ›During the recent heat wave, our neighbors down in Tucumcari tied their second highest temperature on record at a staggering 108º. You probably heard that the Phoenix airport got so hot that some passenger jets couldn’t take off – 118º! While we haven’t cracked the 110º mark yet here in New Mexico, you may feel your swamp cooler isn’t living up to your expectations. If you find yourself blasting the cooler, opening windows, and still not getting the cooling performance […]
Read more ›This article is part of a two-part piece on HVAC. If you haven’t already read part 1, I reccomend you do so before continuing. HVAC – Ventilation Ventilation is responsible for keeping the air in our buildings breathable. Without ventilation, our buildings would fill up with carbon dioxide and other contaminants and become uninhabitable. Ventilation systems replenish oxygen, filter out dust, bacteria, foul smells, smoke, and other pollutants, and prevent interior air from becoming musty and stagnant. Ventilation apparatus fall […]
Read more ›Everyone knows the HVAC repairman fixes your heater or cooler. But what is HVAC? HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. HVAC is actually much broader and more complex than just your heater or air conditioner. It is responsible for making modern buildings habitable, in terms of thermal comfort in as well as the indoor air quality. For large facilities, HVAC design requires a team of engineers with skills in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics. For […]
Read more ›Steps for swamp cooler start up: Check the function of the float valve. Wait for the pan to fill with water, and make sure the flow shuts off when it’s full. If the pan overflows, your float valve will need to be adjusted or replaced. Check the pump and lines. Water should be flowing freely and easily from all your cooler’s lines. If the flow is uneven, or you’re only getting a trickle, then you may have a clog. If […]
Read more ›How to get your swamp cooler ready for summer Swamp coolers are probably the simplest appliance in your home, but that doesn’t mean they’re maintenance-free. At the end of the season you need to winterize them to prevent damage to the unit caused by freezing pipes, among other things. Hopefully you winterized your cooler (or had it winterized) last fall. Now, it’s time to undo that process and get your swamp cooler ready for summer with a swamp cooler start up. […]
Read more ›A home energy audit is a great way to discover and prioritize areas where you could be saving on energy costs. Everybody knows that a new, modern water heater is more energy efficient than its obsolete counterpart. A New water heater; however, is just one of the many upgrades you can make that will save you money on your utility bills. As a homeowner, it can be hard to know which upgrades you should be focused on. A professional home energy […]
Read more ›Refrigerated Air Conditioning Vs. Evaporative Cooling — Costs and Benefits of Each So, what are the benefits of each type of system, and which one is right for you? There are several factors you should consider when choosing between refrigerated air and evaporative cooling. Cost — Generally speaking, swamp coolers are less expensive to purchase, install, and operate. Maintenance — Swamp coolers typically require more maintenance than refrigerated air systems. This is where you have to ask yourself how handy […]
Read more ›Refrigerated Air Conditioning Vs. Evaporative Coolers – Which is Better? In most of the country, the debate between refrigerated air and evaporative cooling (which we call swamp coolers) is irrelevant. This is because swamp coolers are only effective in areas with very low relative humidity. If you have a swamp cooler, you’ve undoubtedly experienced the consequences of this fact — your cooler doesn’t work when it has just rained or when the humidity is particularly high. Both evaporative cooling and […]
Read more ›Winter is on its way! This is probably a good time for some HVAC and water heater winter maintenance tips. If you want to maintain the value of your home, and also minimize the potential for costly emergency repair calls (not to mention freezing while you wait for the repairman!) it is crucial to take steps to ensure your electrical and mechanical components of the HVAC and water heater will work properly throughout the winter months. #1. Check the heating […]
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