You are here: Home / Archives for HVAC

HVAC Acronyms Deciphered

January 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

2hv28.jpgHVAC itself is an acronym, which stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. Clearly, and like most industries, the HVAC field has its own language of acronyms that can cause some confusion for home and building owners/managers. Here is a quick guide to those acronyms, since the majority of us aren’t HVAC professionals.
ASHRAE
ASHRAE stands for American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers. Founded in 1894, ASHRE’s mission is to advance the HVAC and Refrigeration industry to better serve humanity and promote a sustainable world.
SEER
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, which, technically, is a measure of BTUs of cooling output per watt-hour of energy consumed.

Related Coverage

HVAC Contractor – What and Who That Is

Home Improvement A brief over view on the HVAC tech training and job prospects to work on HVAC systems. HVAC is the acronym for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and it is something most people are familiar with as the heat and a/c for their office buildings or home. The heating, ventilation and cooling systems are set up to share the same duct system that runs throughout the whole building to push heat through in the winter time and cold air during the hotter months of summer. In order to keep the system running smoothly it is generally maintained, repaired and installed by a HVAC tech. … Deciphering the Pyramid Text

The Great Giza Pyramid has captivated the minds of many and is known as “the Bible in Stone.” Like the Hebrew Bible, the Great Giza Pyramid speaks to us in the language of mathematics. HVAC Systems – Understanding Its Applications According to What the Term Stands For

What are HVAC systems? Understanding the concept is explained by what the acronym stands for. Dog Behavior Patterns Can Be Deciphered

Dog behavior patterns are a challenge to understand, but it is possible to figure out your dog behavior patterns. Here are some tips to help you figure out your dog behavior patterns.In layman’s terms, this is the amount of cooling you get out of an AC unit for every unit of energy you put in. The higher the SEER, the more efficient your AC unit is. All newly made systems must be at least 13 SEER, according to 2006 energy legislation.
BTU
BTU Stands for British Thermal Units, a measurement of energy. One BTU is equal to the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree. Most commonly, you will find BTU’s showing up on your gas bill, as they are the units in which you pay for natural gas. When someone in the HVAC business mentions a ton of air conditioning capacity, they are referring to 12,000 BTUs, which is the amount of heat required to heat one ton of ice in a 24 hour period. For reference, a BTU equals 251.9 calories. For more reference, a pound of coal should generate about 15,000 BTUs and 1 pound of gasoline (about 1/6 of a gallon) should produce about 19,000 BTUs.
AFUE
AFUE stands for the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating, which is a measurement of a piece of heating equipment’s thermal efficiency.
The AFUE rating takes into account the actual operating costs, instead of just a snapshot measurement. The higher the AFUE, the more efficiently the devices converts energy into heat.
MERV
MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value. This is a measurement created by ASHRAE that tests and rates air filters to see how effective they are at removing particles from the air. Before it was called MERV, they had a much longer title for it, ANSI/ASHRE Standard Test Procedure 52.2. The test involves creating different sized particles in various quantities and passing them through a filter in an air stream. This helps measure how many pass through, and what size they are, thus ranking the filter on the 16 point scale with 16 being the best and 1 being the worst.
BACNet
BACNet stands for Building Automation Control Network. The BACNet is basically the HVAC equivalent to the internet. It is the set of governing rules on how individual units in an HVAC system communicate with each other. It includes the boilers, chillers, thermostats, motors, vents, lights, emergency systems, and everything else in your HVAC system. BACNet makes sure that all pieces communicate together to run efficiently and safely.
 
These are just a few of the common heating and air acronyms that you may not be familiar with. If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about the HVAC industry or air conditioning tips and maintenance, check out the blog at http://www.airsystemservices.com/blog.
 

Filed Under: HVAC Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How Much Do HVAC Techs Make?

January 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

1hv31.jpgHow much do HVAC techs make is a popular question by lots of already inside the field of HVAC or somebody contemplating the field. The answer, nonetheless, is based strictly on education, expertise, plus the desire to move forward in a chosen career.

HVAC is the acronym for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. Occasionally an R is added (HVAC-R) which represents refrigeration. A HVAC technician is required to know the elements of installation, maintenance, and repair along with theories and practices for troubleshooting a system that’s not working correctly.

You’ll find various levels of HVAC positions and the pay scale increases with every level too as job responsibilities. The following can be a look into how much HVAC techs make:

Entry Level non-certified – The median anticipated yearly salary is $25,000. This position works along side a certified HVAC technician as a helper. Non-certified technicians are typically known as apprentices who are in school for HVAC certification and are working under the supervision of a certified HVAC technician even though studying on-the-job.

Certified HVAC technician – Certified HVAC can anticipate to make up to a yearly salary of $30,000 – $55,000 a year. Certified HVAC technicians will usually have an Associates Degree in HVAC.

HVAC Engineer – The mechanical engineers job would be to figure load calculations, design the HVAC system, suggest other equipment for the project, implement the project, and oversee the project. An HVAC engineer can anticipate a yearly salary of up to $72,000. This position has advanced education requirements.

HVAC Sales – Many HVAC system suppliers need sales staff employees to be certified HVAC technicians. This position is mostly commissioned based, but the median salary in HVAC sales is approximately $100,000 a year. This position also requires sales aptitude and most likely numerous years of sales expertise.

HVAC salary facts was gathered from the United States Department of Labor and it’s fairly clear that salary increases are substantial with advanced education.

Where does a person begin with HVAC training?

Training is very easily accessed via community colleges, universities, or trade schools. On the other hand, for the prospective student who is employed full time or just can’t commit to being in a classroom on a certain schedule; on-line learning is the best choice.

On line courses are becoming the new typical in education. This is largely for the reason that on the internet courses are typically much less expensive and attendance requirements are broader. A student has a bigger window of time to attend class and submit assignments.

When searching for on-line sources for HVAC courses, pay attention to the accreditation of the school. There are only 3 accrediting agencies that have set the academic standard for HVAC programs. The 3 agencies are: HVAC Excellence, the National Center for Construction Education and Analysis, and also the Partnership for Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Accreditation.

Online HVAC course training and on-the-job experience directly relate to the question of, “How a lot do HVAC techs make?” Future employers appreciate and typically reward advanced education with financial incentives.

Filed Under: HVAC Tagged With: ,

Energy and HVAC Optimization

January 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

01313012363_hvac.jpgLet’s talk about 30-40% of your electricity bill. That’s how much it costs the average homeowner or commercial building owner to provide proper heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC).  A good HVAC system is the key to maintaining a comfortable, healthy and interior environment. Through the years, I have been asked by many owners for a strategy to reduce their cost of energy and HVAC. They don’t want to sacrifice the interior environmental conditions, but they do want a point-by-point plan to follow. The interesting thing that often happens is that energy bills are lowered substantially and the HVAC system performance is improved. This is a standard function of any mechanical engineer specializing in energy and HVAC.
The information on this page will help homeowners, building owners and building operators make informed decisions about existing HVAC systems or future upgrades.
Load Reduction
HVAC Systems
Control Systems
Operation and Maintenance

Load Reduction

The first step to achieve energy and HVAC system optimization is load reduction. This step normally consists of a long range plan which itemizes the actions to be taken based on best return on investment. Reducing your building load allows the existing HVAC system to operate more efficiently. If a new system or systems are being considered, it will be more cost effective to design for the reduced load as opposed to the existing load. A few common load reduction strategies include:
 
Tighten the building shell and add additional insulation. Adding insulation in existing buildings may not be achievable in some instances, so more consideration should be aimed at the exterior shell, especially windows and doors.
Installing energy-efficient windows. This is a big item on some buildings that still have single pane windows. The installation of double pane windows with a thermal break is a great return on investment. Make sure they are ENERGY STAR qualified windows. Tinting or Low-E coatings will even be better.
Upgrading lighting systems. The average commercial building has a lighting density of 2-3 watts per square foot which maintains proper lighting levels. This is a significant part of the HVAC load and almost any efforts in this direction will lower the cooling requirement for the building. Accent lighting (sometimes called architectural lighting) are not always energy efficient and should not be considered if you want to reduce energy and HVAC costs. Energy-efficient lighting systems emit less heat into conditioned space than older incandescent technology. If you have a return air plenum instead of return air ductwork, consider light troffers so that some of the heat from the lights is returned to the HVAC system instead of going into the occupied area.
Selecting efficient equipment and electronic devices that have a power saver option will reduce the sensible heat gain in the space. Items to consider include copy machines, kitchen equipment, computers and refrigerators.
Control ventilation by having your outside air balanced. Most building owners have drawings of the original HVAC system installation. Have the drawings reviewed by a mechanical engineer to confirm your outside air flow rates conform to the latest code requirements. If no drawings are available, your mechanical engineer should still be able to make recommendations for improvement.
Addressing these items is your first step to reducing energy and HVAC costs.

HVAC Systems

The second step to achieve energy and HVAC system optimization is knowing your system. Your HVAC system is critical to your interior environment, but it also represents a large component of your utility expenses. While it is beyond the scope of this article to discuss every system, a few recommendations can be addressed. Every HVAC system component has increased in efficiency over the years. If your system is more than 13 years old, it’s time to begin planning for an upgrade to new equipment. Well maintained residential systems have a life expectancy of about 15 years or so but seem to fail at the worse times. Have a replacement plan ready for the day your equipment fails. Commercial systems vary, but if your building is using packaged equipment or split systems, the same lifetime can be expected. For larger commercial systems and industrial applications, the HVAC system may be more complex and require an individual analysis by a mechanical engineer. As I said, HVAC systems vary and no one-size-fits-all analysis works for larger systems. What all these systems have in common is they are normally fueled by electricity. Electricity cost money, so any efforts in the direction of increased efficiency is a plus.

HVAC System Tips:

 
Find a qualified consultant you trust. If you are a home owner or small commercial building owner, find a good HVAC company or mechanic to evaluate and maintain your system. If you are a large commercial building owner, find a commercial HVAC company for normal maintenance and a good mechanical engineer for specific guidance. I do not recommend using a mechanical engineer employed by the HVAC Company; find a third party engineer for unbiased information.
Verify your HVAC system load. Home owners should use ACCA’s Manual J calculation method and all others should have a load conducted by a mechanical engineer. Commercial buildings have more requirements related to code conformance, minimum ventilation rates, etc and are individual to each building.
Load reduction-Read the information above.
Select equipment sized for your load. NEVER OVERSIZE! More-is-better does not apply for HVAC systems. It will cost more to purchase the equipment as well as operate it. Get the load and the equipment selection right the first time.
Purchase high efficiency or Energy Star equipment. Many of the new systems include variable speed drives for fans and compressors. Over the years of ownership this will be paid back many times over. Compare standard efficiency equipment to high efficiency equipment in terms of initial cost and life cycle costs. Any good HVAC company or mechanical engineer can obtain this information.
Consider some form of energy recovery for any air exhausted from the building and use it to condition the incoming fresh air. This is air you have paid to condition, so extracting some of the energy before exhausting it should be a priority.
For large commercial buildings, consider conditioning the outside air with a dedicated outside air unit. This will eliminate any problems related to humidity control in most instances. It will also increase occupant comfort and allow for further downsizing of equipment.
Commercial buildings should consider economizers on their equipment. Most current codes require economizers on equipment over 15 tons in size. Often available at a low incremental cost, these units draw in fresh air from the outside when the temperature (sometimes humidity) outside is lower than the temperature inside.
Home owners and small commercial building owners should install programmable thermostats. Commercial building owners should install a Direct Digital Control (DDC) system. The investment in either of these will pay back more than the cost in a small amount of time. Read more below.

Control Systems

The third step to achieve energy and HVAC system optimization is controlling your system.
Programmable Thermostats-The age of digital controls has made saving energy easy. One of the best investments for the homeowner or small commercial building owner is a programmable thermostat. These are simple to use and incorporate strategies based on time scheduling. Most manufacturers offer 7 day programs and setback/setup programs which will turn the HVAC system on and off to compliment your schedule and desired indoor temperature. This is a great way to ensure HVAC systems are used only when necessary.
DDC Systems-For the large commercial building, I consider this as a must have system. Installation costs have steadily decreased and the performance reliability has steadily increased. They can be integrated into any system and expanded as required. Some of the more popular features of these systems are optimized start/stop of the HVAC system, multiple zone control, multiple temperature sensor locations and ventilation control. The best part of these systems is their ability to be scaled up to the largest of commercial applications. This means you can install a simple system and add more controls later to incorporate your whole HVAC system. Again, the payback is short and well worth the investment.

Operation and Maintenance

The fourth and last step to achieve energy and HVAC system optimization is operation and maintenance. The most efficient HVAC systems are well maintained. Ensure reliability, efficiency and a long life for your HVAC system by following these tips.
Find a qualified consultant you trust. If you are a home owner or small commercial building owner, find a good HVAC company or mechanic to evaluate and maintain your system. If you are a large commercial building owner, find a commercial HVAC company for normal maintenance. Make sure you record and document all servicing with dates, times and names of the servicing person.
Home owners should always get a seasonal tune up. The operation of your system will vary with the seasons of the year.
Replace your air filters regularly. Don’t use anything less then a MERV 5 filter to assure dust and fibers are removed. Clean filters will save fan energy.
Coil Cleaning-This is always a big item overlooked by residential and commercial building owners. Condenser coils collect dirt and debris on their surfaces because they are outside. This makes the compressor work harder and results in a higher refrigerant temperature in your refrigeration system. Evaporator and heating coils collect dust and fibers that circulate inside your home or building. Clean them at least once a year.

Summary

Energy and HVAC optimization will reduce your electricity costs. A little time getting to know your system and familiarizing yourself with improvement strategies will save money and increase the life of your equipment.
 
Visit my site for more information on Energy and HVAC optimization.

Filed Under: HVAC Tagged With: , , , , , ,