What You Need to Know About a Thermostatic Expansion Valve

Most air conditioning systems have thermostatic expansion valves (TXV) as a primary component. Knowledge of the valve increases efficiency in the HVAC operations conducted by technicians. The TXV complements other essential parts of a refrigeration cycle. The Function of the Thermostatic Expansion Valve The thermostatic expansion valve has a critical role in the refrigeration process. The valve controls the flow rate of the refrigerant fluid into the evaporator. This function is mistaken with the following: Control of air temperature Determining head pressure Controlling the capacity and humidity levels Altering suction pressure The Main Parts of the Thermostatic Expansion Valve The TXV is brass material. The valve contains an inlet and outlet, which help entry and exit of refrigerant. The TXV is between the condenser and the evaporator in the refrigeration cycle. The other parts of the valve include the main body, the powerhead, and the capillary tube. How the Thermostatic Expansion Valves Works The thermostatic expansion valve works by regulating the rate of flow of the fluid. The process ensures a continuous flow of the refrigerant into the evaporation coil. The constant flow occurs when the rate of evaporation is equal to the speed of fluid flow. The valve pins...

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3 Common Autumn Indoor Air Quality Problems

Autumn is a pleasant time of the year in Eureka, CA. As the outdoor temperature and humidity levels drop, deciduous tree leaves change color and jack o’lanterns decorate front porches. As the weather cools, you may spend more time indoors. Be aware of these three common fall indoor air quality problems that could affect your health, comfort and well-being. 1. Particulate Matter Many of the activities you’ll be doing this fall will generate particulate matter. Activities that create particulate matter include burning candles, burning wood in your fireplace, cooking with oil, using adhesives and paints and engaging in certain hobbies, such as woodworking. The particles float through your home’s air, and you breathe them into your lungs. Once in the lungs, these particles may trigger or worsen allergies, asthma and other breathing disorders. 2. Mold Spores Mold is another common indoor air quality problem. When mold grows, it releases spores. The spores float through the air and land on a surface. Once they land on an amenable surface, they grow into a new colony. Mold spores need warm, humid air. Once you turn off your air conditioner and switch to heating, your home will be an ideal environment for mold...

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4 Signs Your AC Has Storm Damage

While Eureka’s climate is relatively mild compared to other areas in California, we do experience occasional storms. Wind, heavy rains, and flooding may happen, which could potentially cause damage to your home’s air conditioner. Not all of this damage may be visible or apparent at first. And if not detected, it could lead to further damage or promote a hazardous situation. Here are four signs that your AC may have storm damage and requires repair from a professional air conditioning technician. 1. Your AC Won’t Turn on After a Storm Power surges are common during a bad storm. Your AC may or may not turn back on after one. A surge can fry your system’s electrical components or damage its compressor. If your AC won’t turn on or it does turn on, but you had electronic items damaged during a surge, it is time to call for a checkup and possibly a repair. 2. Your AC Keeps Tripping Its Circuit Breaker Circuit breakers act as a safety mechanism and trip when something is not right with your electrical system. If your AC’s circuit breaker keeps flipping back off after you reset it, your unit may have been damaged from a...

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Understanding Different Thermostat Modes/Settings

Air conditioning jargon can sometimes be confusing for many air conditioner users. With the new technology added to the modern thermostats, this becomes even harder. Essentially, thermostat modes are the different configurations that your AC uses to render the comfort you need in your house. Here we will debunk these modes and tell you what they do. 1. Cool Mode Most homesteads have their air conditioner running at cool mode. Essentially, the cool mode uses the fans and the compressor to take out the heat in your house. In addition to the compressor and the fans, the AC uses sensors to detect when a certain level of temperature is achieved. Basically, on achieving the optimum temperatures, the compressor stops, and the fan’s speed is adjusted to keep cool in your house. 2. Fan Mode The fan mode is responsible for keeping the AC’s fan running. Typically, the rotating blades pick the heat in the house and circulate. Normally, this creates a cooling effect. 3. Dry Mode Most homes located in humid areas use this mode. First, the thermostat turns on the compressor in bursts until all the humidity is driven out of the house. The compressor is then turned off,...

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How To Keep My Home Cool Without Air Conditioning?

If you don’t have air conditioning in your home, it’s challenging to keep it cool. While there are obvious steps to take, such as closing blinds during the day, there are other tactics you can use to keep your home comfortable. Vent Your Attic Attics get incredibly hot during the summer, which impacts the temperature inside your home. Install fans in the attic vents to help reduce heat. There are smart attic fans that automatically increase speed during the hottest days of the summer. Turn On Bathroom Fans The fans in your bathrooms pull in interior air and blow it outside. You can use this to your advantage on hot days to remove warm air from your home. Unplug Electronics Modern electronics are on all the time. Even when you’re not using them, they’re in standby mode and producing heat. Unplug things like phone chargers, Blu-Ray players and toasters. You can make this easier by using power strips to turn off several things at once. Install Outdoor Shade You can use plants, trees and awnings to keep your home cool. These help shade your home from the sun. These can reduce the temperature inside your home by as much as...

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What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need for My Home?

Finding the right air conditioner for your home requires some research. You want one large enough to cool your house without breaking the bank and small enough for efficiency. An air conditioner that is too large will cost you more and use more energy than needed. Eureka summers may be mild, but when the humidity is high air conditioners also act as dehumidifiers. A unit that’s too large won’t be as effective in dehumidifying your home. Installing an air conditioner that is too small won’t cool your home effectively and will run constantly trying to keep up. The constant use puts unnecessary wear on the unit and hurts your wallet with a large energy bill. Factors When Choosing an Air Conditioner It’s essential to calculate the size of each room based on the amount of BTUs needed to cool it. Ideally, a room will need 25 BTUs per square foot to cool efficiently. In simplest terms, this means a 10-foot-by-10-foot room, which is 100 square feet, will need 2,500 BTUs. This can be a complicated calculation, and it’s often best to work with a professional that can factor in your home’s layout and other considerations. The size of your home...

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Who Invented Air Conditioning?

Air conditioning is the innovation that led to warmer parts of the nation becoming as populated as they are today. Before air conditioning, few people wanted to live where temperatures can regularly reach well beyond 100 degrees Fahrenheit. But who invented air conditioning? Willis Carrier Willis Carrier is the inventor of air conditioning. He was born in 1876 in Angola, New York. He graduated in 1900 from Cornell University with an engineering degree. In 1902, the Sackett-Wilhelms Lithography & Publishing Company of Buffalo had an air quality problem that needed to be fixed. In response, Willis Carrier designed the world’s first air conditioning system. Carrier’s Air Conditioning System Willis Carrier designed his air conditioning system with four basic functions. These were to control the temperature, control humidity, circulate and ventilate air and improve indoor air quality. It took him until 1906 to refine and test his invention. In 1911, Willis Carrier shared his paper on air conditioning. The paper was called Rational Psychometric Formulae. He introduced his paper at the American Society of Mechanical Engineer’s annual meeting. The paper explained dew-point temperature, absolute humidity and relative humidity. Carrier Engineering Corporation In 1915, Willis Carrier pooled his money with seven other...

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How to Drain a Hot Water Heater

It’s important to drain your water heater once or twice a year. By doing so, you’ll remove harmful sediment that forms on the bottom. Sediment reduces the efficiency of your water heater and makes it fail faster. Pressure-Relief Valve The first thing to do is check the pressure-relief valve. Turn your water heater off and close the valve on the cold-water supply line. Place a bucket under the pressure-relief valve and open it. Listen for air, and then see if any water comes. If either of these things happens, the valve works correctly and doesn’t need to be replaced. Run a Drain Line Attach a garden hose to the drain valve and place the other end outside. Open the valve, and then open the hot water tap in your kitchen sink. Let the tank drain completely before moving on to the next step. Flush the Tank With Water You need to flush the tank with water so that all the sediment is removed. Turn the water on for a few seconds at a time. This will stir up the sediment so that it goes into the drain valve. Repeat this step until the water coming out of your water tank...

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What Type Of Water Heater Is Most Energy Efficient?

When your Orick, CA, home needs a new water heater, choosing one that’s energy efficient will save you a lot of money. Water heating accounts for about 20% of a typical household’s utility expenses. An energy-efficient water heater will also reduce your home’s carbon footprint. If you’re thinking of moving soon, an efficient water heater will add value to your home. Here’s what you need to know about what type of water heater is the most energy efficient. Conventional Storage Tank Water Heaters Conventional storage-tank water heaters come in a range of efficiency levels. They’re less efficient than a tankless or on-demand water heater, but there are a few things you can do to boost their efficiency. Get an insulation blanket for the water tank. Insulate the hot water pipes. Set the thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Tankless Water Heaters Tankless water heaters are more energy efficient than conventional storage-tank water heaters. That’s because the tankless units don’t constantly use energy to maintain a supply of hot water. They only use natural gas to heat water once you turn on a hot water tap. Some tankless water heaters feature an intermittent pilot or a hot surface igniter, which further enhances...

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How Do Water Heaters Work?

You probably only think about your water heater when there’s a problem, such as only cold water coming out of a faucet. There are four types of them used in homes. Tank Water Heater This is the most common type of water heater. It’s a large, round tank of water usually found in a garage or laundry room. Tank water heaters use either electricity or gas to heat the water in the tank. The tank is insulated, which slows the amount of heat lost. The tank is heated on the bottom and warm water naturally moves to the top. There are electrical elements inside the tank and a pressure-relief valve on the outside in case there’s too much water pressure. Tankless Water Heater As the name implies, these water heaters don’t have a tank. Instead, they heat water only when it’s needed. When a hot-water tap is opened, cold water flows into it and it’s heated with electricity or gas. The hot water then flows to the tap. Once you turn off the tap, the tankless water heater shuts down. They are very energy efficient. of Eureka, CA, installs, and repairs water heaters. We sell Noritz brand tankless water heaters...

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