Keeping a basement warm and dry can be a challenge at times, depending on how it is built and insulated. There are many ways to heat a basement and maintain a nice comfortable living space. This includes mini-split units, electric heaters, gas, kerosene, and more. With the many options, there is no one-size-fits-all unit. Electric… Read More: What is the Best Heater for a Basement? »
Mini split units are very popular since they have very high efficiency ratings and are very adaptable to many scenarios. Package types include 1-zone, 2-zone, 3-zone, 4-zone, and 5-zone multi zone systems. 5-zone systems, also called Quint units, are a good fit for a building that needs five rooms cooled and heated with a single… Read More: Our Picks for Best 5 Zone (Quint) Mini Split Systems »
Mini Split units are great DIY AC units to install and cool an open space or section of a home. After installing a unit, the wiring and refrigerant line-set is left exposed and is a bit ugly to look at. An easy, low-cost fix is to buy a decorative line-set cover kit that hides all… Read More: How To Install a Wall Cover Kit for a Mini… »
One of the biggest challenges to installing a mini-split is getting the line-set flares together correctly. The connections need to be sealed well for the system to work properly. Most DIY mini-split kits will come already with flared ends, but sometimes, these flares will need to be redone. If the tip becomes scratched or over-tightened,… Read More: Reasons Why A Mini Split Line Set Flare Will Leak… »
Below is the main tool list that an HVAC service technician will use to troubleshoot and fix heating and cooling problems. To see the basic HVAC tool list check out my basic HVAC tool list post here. Below I am listing the advanced HVAC service equipment, which, unfortunately, is also the most expensive. An HVAC… Read More: HVAC Tool List Advanced Service Technician Tools with Pictures »
Window air conditioners are usually not fixed when broken and most often tossed and replaced. However, they are fixable, often only needing a low-cost part or a refrigerant recharge to get them working again. One problem when repairing a window air conditioner is they usually do not come with a service port (Schrader valve) and… Read More: How To Install a Service Port On Sealed System Window… »
Large whole house air-conditioning units are great for cooling an entire home, but what if you only have a single room, such as a bedroom, that only needs to be cooled down? Small window-mounted air-conditioning units come in a variety of sizes and packages. The small cooling units are placed in a window that is… Read More: What Size Window Air Conditioner Does a Small Room Need… »
A contactor relay is necessary component in an HVAC system that controls the power. It is what controls the voltage coming into an air conditioner or heat pump unit. The main power, usually 220 volts, comes from a breaker and is fed into the contactor. The contactor is controlled by the thermostat to turn on/off… Read More: How To Replace a Contactor Relay on an Air Conditioner… »
2024 is a very good years for anyone looking for a quiet window air conditioner with many new designs making them quieter and more efficient than ever before. One type of new packages are a Saddle or U-shaped design that allows the noisy compressor to sit on the other side of the window. Most standard… Read More: Best Quietest Window Mounted Air Conditioners 2024 »
There are different types of furnaces and manufacturers, but below are the most common steps for a furnace to go through from start to blowing out hot air. While most furnaces will follow the below sequences of steps, there may be variations in models and manufacturers. Gas Furnace Sequence of Operation The thermostat reaches a… Read More: Gas Furnace Sequence of Operation »