Alternative Cooling

My favorite alternative cooling device is a gin and tonic. It’s portable, easy to operate and provides instant on-demand refreshment. Is there such a thing as a Tanqueray energy tax credit? Although you can install solar panels, a wind turbine or micro hydro to generate the electricity to run an air conditioner, the only true whole house alternative cooling method is a geothermal ground source pump. The cost of this type of system can be recouped in as little as two years on a new house installation, but the initial capital outlay is more than most homeowners can afford. Let’s say you re-mortgage your house for $20,000 and you have a choice between a new kitchen and a geothermal heat pump; how many new heat pumps have your neighbors been showing off lately?

Weatherization–The only people who haven’t learned the value of caulking, weather stripping and insulating yet are living in caves or tents. Fans–Ceiling, paddle, and portable fans produce air motion across your skin that increases evaporative cooling. Whole House Fans and Evaporative (Swamp) Coolers–These devices can reduce your air conditioning costs by 50% or more but are only effective if you live in a dry climate (less than 40%humidity). White Roofing–Elastomeric roof coatings reflect 90% of the sun’s rays and will reduce the indoor temperature by 7 degrees according the independent research laboratory MER Corporation. These coatings are for flat roofs and cost around .50 per square foot to apply. Radiant Barriers–These shiny, reflective barriers keep excess heat out of your attic in the summer or keeping your floors warm in the winter. Stapled under the rafters or joists, it reflects 97 of the radiant heat that strikes it. The non-profit Florida Solar Energy Center has shown that an attic radiant barrier can reduce air conditioning costs by at least 20%.

If you want to make a fortune in alternative cooling, invent an air conditioner that runs on corn. The author used to help people with waterproofing. He’s now opened an online shop trading in kitchen design and drain unblocking. If you want to know more about cooling device, you can also turn to him.

Best Advice About Troubleshooting Heat Pumps Problems

Is your heat pump in a need for repair? Are you facing heat pump problems? If yes, then go thru this article to grasp the tips for troubleshooting heat pumps.

Heat Pump Problems : heat pump troubleshooting
Heat pumps are the mechanical devices that are configured for transferring heat from one location ( source ) to another ( sink ). In most of the cases, heat pumps draw heat either from the atmospheric air or from beneath the Earth’s surface. The previous type is called air source heat pump, while the second machinery is called geothermal heat pump. Heat pumps serve for both cooling and heating the home in extreme environmental conditions.

The technology of heat pump is employed in some home appliances such as heating system, freezers and air conditioners. A heat pump works by consuming a touch of energy for transferring heat from an area with low temperature to another with a higher temperature. It is more energy efficient compared to heating and cooling devices like furnaces and ACs. Nevertheless like other machinery, there are certain heat pump Problems, which may arise over a period of time. Let’s debate in detail about troubleshooting heat pumps.

Troubleshooting Heat Pump Problems

A short knowledge about the parts of a heat pump will help in a simple diagnosis of the heat pump Problems. The basic elements include an evaporator ( circulating fans ), reversing valve, condenser ( fridge coil ) and a compressor. Prior to beginning with heat pump troubleshooting, turn off the power supply at the main circuit breaker. Following are some of the common heat pump issues and ways to troubleshoot them :

No Heat Production : If there isn’t any heat production, then the difficulty may be because of failure in the main power supply or overloading of the motor. In order to troubleshoot this malfunction, check the power supply and thermostat and fix them ( if necessary ). In case there is power supply, reset the motor by pressing the reset button. Also, check the ignition of the heat pump for any defects. If none of these tips work, then you can hire a pro for correct fixation.

Insufficient Heat Production : inadequate heat production is one of the major heat pump issues. In most cases, it is caused due to obstructions in the air ducts. Other reasons for this defect may be low thermostat setting and presence of dust in the air filters. You can check these systems whether or not they are functioning correctly or not.

High and low Head Pressure : A heat pump problem with low head pressure can be due to a lack of refrigerant, damage of the compressor and dirty evaporator. To the contrary, high head pressure regularly results from overfeeding of the refrigerant and mucky condenser. Watch these systems and recheck whether the heat pumps start working normally or not.

Freezing of Heat pump : Freezing of the heat pump unit may be caused because of a faulty air blower or accumulation of dust and dust in the filters and evaporators. For fixing this problem, check for the unfreezing option in your heat pump unit. If there is, you can defrost it and check the compressor for any defects. Don’t forget to test the calibration of the thermostat.

Loud Heat Pump : noisy working of the heat pumps is caused because of the reasons like loose screws, wrong fixation of the belts and noise from the air channels. To repair and troubleshoot this malfunction, you can tighten the screws, check the belts and introduce a plastic insulation within the metal air channels.