WHAT IS A HEAT PUMP? Technically, a  is a mechanical-compression cycle refrigeration system that can be reversed to either heat or cool aInstallation for this type of system typically consists of two parts: an indoor unit called an air handler and an outdoor unit similar to a central air conditioner, but referred to asA compressor circulates refrigerant that absorbs and releases heat as it travels between the indoor and outdoor units. HOW DOES A HEAT PUMP WORK? Think of a heat pump as a heat transporter constantly moving warm air from one place to another, to where its needed or not needed, depending on the season. Even in air that's seems too cold, heatWhen it's cold outside a heat pump extracts this outside heat and transfers it inside. When it’s warm outside, it reverses directions and acts like an air conditioner, removing heat One advantage of a heat pump is that it moves heat instead of generating heat, giving you more energy efficiency.

powered by electricity, so you can save substantially on fuelwhat size ac unit do i need for my house calculatorFor example, a Trane  heat pump is among the HVAC industry’s mostac outside unit not running efficient, with a rating up to 19.00  and 9.00 .cheap central ac units Note that heat pumps are best for moderate climates, and a supplemental heating source may be needed for lower temperatures. year-round solution for home comfort, Trane heat pumps can become a key part of your matched system. An independent Trane dealer can help you decide if a heat pump system is right for you. One of the pleasant side effects of home air conditioning is the soothing white noise they produce, which can effectively block distracting outdoor sounds.

When your AC begins to make odd noises, it not only breaks up that barrier of white noise, it might also be a signal that the AC system needs attention. Of the different strange sounds an AC can make, rattling is one of the most common. We have often made service calls to attend to rattling air conditioning in Tempe, AZ, so we can explain some of the reasons it can occur. If you start hearing your AC rattle, contact Goettl Good Guys Air Conditioning, and we’ll get right out to you to discover what the trouble is and fix it before it grows into bigger trouble. Loose panels: This is the simplest explanation for a rattling sound. Sometimes the panels on the cabinets housing the condenser or the evaporator will become dislodged because of screws that have worked loose or weren’t screwed back tight enough after the panel was opened. Before considering other issues, make sure the panels are secure. Debris: Your air conditioner’s cabinets should be as free as possible from outside contamination.

But if the air filter becomes clogged, or the outdoor unit doesn’t have a clear area around it, then dirt, gravel, leaves, sticks, and other small items can enter the cabinet and start getting knocked around. This requires immediate attention: not only will such debris damage the AC’s components, but you have to find out how the debris got inside so you can prevent it from happening again. Misaligned fan: One of the AC’s fans may be striking its casing, either because of damage (from the debris mentioned above) or poor installation. This will become progressively worse until the fan no longer works, so have it fixed as soon as you can. Broken motors: The motors that run the fans and the condenser in an air conditioner contain the most moving parts of any component in the system. If the motors suffer damage or start to wear down, their internal parts can become dislodged and start to rattle around. This is another problem that debris infiltration can create. Although a rattling air conditioner may need only a simple fix, it could also indicate the start of an issue that will only grow worse and trigger a domino effect of other repair needs.

Since many of these problems come from debris, make sure you regularly change the air filter to keep the interior of the AC clean. But when that rattling noise starts, be prepared to call for professional help—you want the problem solved when it’s still small. With over 70 years providing Tempe, AZ with air conditioning repairs, maintenance, and installation, Goettl Good Guys Air Conditioning is the company to call. Friday, October 18th, 2013 at 9:16 pm | Max Efficiency: Replacing AC Pipe Insulation An imperative “rite of spring” in our house is checking our two central air conditioning systems to make sure they are working properly. This involves eliminating any dirt or debris that may have accumulated during the winter as well as checking the hoses and ductwork. This year, the main AC didn’t seem to have the cooling power it should, so we decided to have it checked out by a professional. As it turns out, this was an excellent idea. Related: 9 Ways to Lower Cooling Costs in Rising Heats

The technician checked our coolant levels and did a thorough inspection of the system, quickly discovering the source of our trouble: the insulation on the cooling conduit pipes between the inside and outside units was disintegrating. This lack of insulation was compromising the integrity of the whole system, the technician said. We were losing a good 10 degrees of cooling power! Always eager to maximize energy efficiency and save ourselves money, we gave this project top priority and headed off to the home improvement store to do some research on pipe insulation. There are various materials available—including fiberglass, foam rubber, and polyethylene foam—all offered in various diameters to fit different pipe widths. We felt the foam had several advantages, the first being that it was easy to measure and cut. Also, the foam lengths looked easy to install, because they featured a split all the way down the length, with self-sealing, sticky edges that would form a tight bond once the protective backing was removed.

Finally, the foam was inexpensive, so we could buy extra in case we needed more than we estimated. The first step was to carefully remove all of the old insulation from the pipes using a razor knife. We wiped down the pipes and then wrapped the new lengths of foam insulation around the pipes, one piece at a time, starting at the roof and working our way to the edge of the outside unit. Once we had all of the foam on the pipes, we removed the protective backing from the sticky edges of the slit pieces and pressed the edges together to seal them. We worked with one segment at a time, and where two pieces joined together, we wrapped the edges with electrical tape. The result: it not only looks better, but both air conditioning units seem to be running less often and cooling more quickly! In the future, you can be sure that we’re adding “inspect pipe insulation” to our annual to-do list for air conditioning maintenance. For more on energy-efficient home cooling, consider: