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Exploring HVAC Systems: Repair Insights, Chattanooga, TN

Heating And AC Repair A Look At Different Types Of HVAC Systems   Chattanooga TN
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Depending on how your home is constructed, the contractors may have installed a different type of HVAC system. Each HVAC system has its own unique traits, advantages and drawbacks. By learning about the different types of HVAC systems available, you’ll have a better idea of what your system may need and what type of heating and AC repairs may be necessary in the future.

It’s also a good idea to provide the heating and AC repair company in Chattanooga, TN with information about your HVAC system before they arrive. Some inspectors and operators may be more familiar or more comfortable with certain systems. By providing them with this information, the HVAC repair company will know who might be the best fit for the job. With that said, all contractors should be able to work on any type of HVAC system.

Learn more about the different types of HVAC systems below. If you have any questions or concerns, you should contact an HVAC company. One of the representatives should be able to help you better understand the type of system that you have at home.

#1. Constant Air Volume Systems

Constant air volume systems will deliver a constant amount of airflow to each space. In order to heat up or cool down a room, these types of systems will need to heat up or cool down the air or switch the AHU on and off. These systems do not modulate the volume of air supplied to each room.

Because of the unique design of these systems, they usually operate with a fixed minimum percentage of outdoor air, also known as an air economizer. The economizer is a damper and control system that is used for cooling or dehumidification purposes. Essentially, it allows outdoor air to be added directly to the recirculating ventilation air.

Because these systems can provide supply air at a uniform temperature to all places that it reaches, they are usually found in large open areas that do not have a lot of windows. These systems are also less energy efficient than variable air volume systems. However, they are simply easier to manage when it comes to outdoor air delivery.

#2. Variable Air Volume Systems

As mentioned above, variable air volume systems are more efficient than constant air volume systems. Due to this reason, they have become a lot more popular. But, what are they?

Variable air volume systems are able to maintain the temperature by varying the amount of heated or cooled air that is delivered to each space rather than heating or cooling the air. The systems will rely on a thermostat that controls the airflow with dampers using a VAV box. Because each area of the home, like the kitchen or the bedroom, requires its own VAV box, this type of system can be more expensive to install and maintain. You might pay more for heating and AC repair services for this type of system.

However, since it can regulate the air in different areas of the home, it can improve your overall quality of living. For example, if you like being in areas with warmer temperatures while your children like cooler temperatures, you can set your own bedroom or home office to be warmer. Your children, on the other hand, can set the temperature of their room to be cooler. Everyone gets what they want.

That said, the most common heating and AC repair jobs that are required for this type of system involves the way that it works. If the system is not adjusted to respond to each thermal load appropriately, the different regions can easily over cool or overheat. It’s also easy for some of the regions to become under-ventilated.

#3. Multi-Zone Systems

Multi-zone systems were very popular in the 60s and the 70s. However, these systems consume a lot of energy. Due to this reason, they have become less and less popular.

In multi-zone systems, each zone is served by a dedicated duct. This duct connects directly to the central AHU. The temperature of each zone is controlled by its respective thermostat. In general, multi-zone systems can provide two or more zones with air at different temperatures, and the main supply air is blended with dampers to adjust it, so it can meet the zone temperature requirements.

If you have a multi-zone system installed in your home, you might want to speak with the HVAC company to see whether you can install a new system instead. It’s worth the money because you’ll be spending less on heating and AC repairs in the future. You might also notice that you have a slightly higher quality of living once you switch to a different type of HVAC system.

#4. Dual-Duct Systems

In general, you only find your doctor systems in older homes. Because the systems are not very energy-efficient, they are now actually prohibited under many new construction codes. These systems are likely to have high velocity ductwork upstream of the mixing box. They also provide for humidity control.

If you have this type of system installed in your home, you’ll likely need quite a lot of heating and AC repair throughout the years. Most heating and AC repair companies will recommend that you install a new type of HVAC system instead. Although this might be very costly, changing to a new system can pay for itself. First of all, you’ll need fewer heating and AC repair services in the future. Second, the cost of the heating and AC repair services in Chattanooga, TN will also be much lower.

The concept behind this type of system is fairly simple. You have a fan that discharges air. The air is then directed through a cooling oil or heating coil and then it travels through a dual duct mixing box. This will determine which path the air will take.

In a way, these types of systems are quite similar to a multi zone concept. Both cool and warm air is produced by the central AHU. However instead of blending the air in the fan room with a single duct, this type of system uses separate ducts for the cold and hot air. These ducts run parallel throughout the air distribution network, and are then mixed at different mixing boxes in each zone.

#5. Heat Pumps

A unique type of heating system some homeowners might have at their home as a heat pump. A heat pump extracts heat from either the atmosphere or the ground. It will then release this higher temperature into the building. This is one of the most practical heating systems; however, it should only be installed in climates where temperatures do not drop too much below 50°F. If the temperatures are too low, that can also be drawn from groundwater. However this is a much more costly option.

An interesting thing about heat pumps is that they’re often installed with an auxiliary electric-resistant heating element within the unit. This element will supplement the heating capacity of the pump if it ever becomes efficient. It can also improve overall heating time, so your home warms up quickly. No one wants to have to wait for the heating system to work.

Although heat pumps are really practical, it’s important to know that they rely on the environment. Because field conditions can be harsh on the heat pumps, those who have these heat pumps installed as a heating unit in their home will usually need to call an HVAC company regularly for heating and AC repair services and maintenance. Without regular maintenance, heat pumps can become efficient rather quickly.

Other problems that may emerge include incorrect refrigerant charge, control problems, excessive duct leakage and refrigerant leaks. Fortunately, these are all problems that can be easily solved with heating and AC repair services. With that said, if you’re considering the option of installing these pumps, you should really keep this in mind.

#6. Fan Coil Unit

This isn’t an HVAC system that you often find in residential homes. However, it is an HVAC system that you will often find in schools, apartments, office buildings and hotels. One of the main caveats of this type of system is that it is easy for self-contained units to be overlooked during regular maintenance. If this happens, it’s not unusual for these units to quickly accumulate a lot of contaminants, which can affect their overall performance and efficiency.

With fan coil units, the fan will draw air through the filter. It will then blow this air across a coil of either hot water or chilled water. The hot water will heat up the air while the chilled water will cool it.

These types of units are often installed either beneath windows on the exterior walls or at the ceiling. They usually do not need a ducted distribution system and will distribute air directly into the room.

The fact that these units do not require any extensive ducting can be an advantage. In addition, these types of units can allow for control over individual rooms. People in each room can easily adjust the temperature to their liking without any effort. The disadvantage is that these fans can get kind of noisy especially during speech changes.

#7. Ceiling Plenum Supply and Return

This isn’t really a type of HVAC system. However, it is often installed as part of an HVAC system. It’s not too common, so there’s a good chance that it’s not something that you’ll have to worry about with your home. This type of system relies on using elements of the building construction to distribute cool and heated air. Due to this reason, the building materials and supplies can easily contaminate the circulating air.

This system uses pressurized supply plenums or return air plenums that are located in the cavity space either below the deck of the floor or above the ceiling. Because of this, it’s crucial that you constantly look for condensation on the pipes in the plenum areas. If there’s too much moisture, it means that the environment will become ideal for microbiological activity and growth. You could call the heating and AC repair company in Chattanooga, TN to come clean the pipes. However, there are also some things that you can try to do by yourself.

One of the main benefits of this type of system is that it is able to reduce initial HVAC system costs. However, these types of systems are quite difficult to maintain. You need to be able to take really good care of the environment, which includes the ceiling and the walls. If any of these areas have microbiological growth, you can basically infer that these microbes will be circulated in the air as well. Heating and AC repair services that are needed can also be rather costly when it comes to these systems. As a result, the systems aren’t very popular nowadays, and many buildings are moving far away from them.

Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air Can Handle Any Heating and AC Repair Jobs

It doesn’t matter what type of HVAC system that you have in your home. If you need any type of heating and AC repair in Chattanooga, TN, Metro Plumbing, Heating and Air can help.

We are a family-owned and operated HVAC company that has provided heating and AC repair services to those in Cleveland, North Georgia and Chattanooga, TN. You can count on us to provide you with both reliable and affordable heating and AC repair services no matter when you call. Our technicians are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. We’ll be here for you whenever you need it, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.

To get a quote for heating and AC repair services or to speak with one of our technicians to get a better idea of what you need, call 423-250-3502. You can also contact us online for more information or to schedule an appointment for heating and AC repair services.

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