If you live in a house that uses electric heating or cooling systems, chances are the HVAC system could cause more harm than good to your health. Not only is it just expensive to run the system, but it's also hard to troubleshoot if something goes wrong. This article will cover the types of heating and cooling systems available, what they're used for, and how to identify problems with them so you can easily fix the HVAC system on your own without having a contractor come out for hours and cost you thousands of dollars.
There are three main types of heating and cooling systems. The first type of system is an "air source heat pump," which uses a small, electric blower to blow air through the house. It then changes the air using condensation and evaporation into hot or cold air depending on your need. Heat pumps can work in both heating and cooling modes but this article will refer to it in its cooler state as a "swamp cooler" or "air conditioner. " It can cool the air by drawing in cool air from outside and using the blower to blow that air through your home. The second type of system is a "geothermal" system, which uses the earth's exchange of heat to power a high-efficiency heat pump that draws in cooler groundwater or air and blows it through your home. The third kind of system is a "ground-source heat pump" which also uses the earth's exchange of heat but uses a liquid called 'water as an energy source. In some regions, a fuel cell is attached to the system and it uses electricity from the utilities to generate hydrogen to run a motor that then pumps water from the ground.
These systems are used in homes that do not use either natural gas or oil as an energy source. Geothermal and ground-source heat pumps are used for heating and cooling small homes or greenhouses, water heaters, and fountains. Air source pumps are used in homes with electric or gas-powered heat and air conditioning systems. They are often used in conjunction with a central air conditioning system to keep the whole house cool during the hot summer months.
The first step to fixing these systems is figuring out what's wrong with them. Let's start with the easiest one, which is an air source heat pump. These will either be a "swamp cooler" or an "air condition" depending on the season and your need for cooling or heating, respectively. If it's not cooling, the easiest fix is to check the thermostat and make sure that it's activated. If it is activated, then check the wiring going from the thermostat into the blower outside. Sometimes, there may be a break in this wire, which can be easily fixed by splicing a new wire onto both ends of the old broken one. If this is not the case, call a professional for further assistance. If it's heating, check to see if the thermostat is activated and set to heat. If it is both activated and set to heat, then the problem lies in fixing or replacing the broken wire that runs between the thermostat and blower unit.
If you have a geothermal unit, there is a greater chance of something else going wrong with it than an air source pump because of its complex components inside. If it's not heating, try the measures above and make sure everything looks okay. The next thing you can do is bleed the unit to depressurize it and get rid of any air that may be trapped inside. This method is only useful if you know how to bleed a geothermal system, so ask a professional for help. They definitely make your work easy. Ground-source pumps are a lot simpler and if the motor is not working, then you can easily replace the motor. If the pump is faulty, then you can contact a company that specializes in ground-source heat pumps.
The next step would be to replace any broken wires with copper wire that is rated for outdoor use and insulated with a protective rubber or plastic coating that prevents it from breaking again. This process for dealing with broken wiring is called "rodding."
Geothermal units can be installed by a contractor or homeowners can do it themselves. The contractors normally install it to the thermostat but then you have to go to the next step of connecting power lines into the unit. A technician will give you a diagram of how this is done and show you where the breaker box is located, which must be very near your unit. Once you plug in the power lines, you must turn off all of the power to the unit. Then you have to reverse the process. You turn on that breaker, then plug in your new wiring and plug in power lines to those outlets, one at a time or all at once if you are connecting more than one unit. After that, you have to wait for it to come online and make sure it's working properly. If it's not working after all of that, then you need an electrician to troubleshoot it and fix the problem.
Conclusion:
If you can't take care of heating or cooling system problem yourself, you may want to consider hiring an HVAC contractor. When choosing a contractor, make sure they are licensed and insured in San Diego.
Author Bio:- Michael Cabral
Michael is a marketing manager at EZ Heat and Air. He loves writing about innovative and hybrid HVAC installation tips. His articles help readers to have valuable insights into the importance of duct cleaning, water heater maintenance and repair, optimum working of thermostat, Mini split and heat pump installation in Orange County. Read articles for more information on keeping your HVAC system in a tip-top condition and lead a hassle-free life.
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