206 posts tagged with hvac.
Displaying 1 through 50 of 206. Subscribe:
HVAC Buyer's Remorse
Can I sell a recently installed combi-boiler? If so, how? If not, what are my options? [more inside]
Is my thermostat broken, or something else?
We have a ZONE950AC52ZA thermostat and a DHMC100ACV4VA...system. We bought this house 1.5 years ago and haven't had an issue until recently when the thermostat went black. As soon as I can afford to I will contact a professional, but for now, I'm hoping to at least exhaust things a semi-handy person can do themselves. Here are the steps I have taken so far. [more inside]
Given the electrician's description, can I use this thermostat?
Previously I asked for advice here on getting new thermostats for our baseboard heat. Eventually had to hire a electrician, who gave us a report but flaked when it came time for an actual quote. I think I could just install thermostats myself but I want to make sure I'm buying the right one. [more inside]
Hey HVAC people, is this as bogus as I think it is?
Hot house: a central air conditioning query
My in-laws live in a house built in the 1980s in an area known for hot, muggy summers. They've lived there for almost 30 years. The house has central air conditioning and the first floor is usually very cool and comfortable. But upstairs it's like there's no air conditioning at all (at least 10-15 degrees hotter than the rest of the house without much cool air coming through the upstairs vents). [more inside]
Old house/non-AC people: what are your best fan strategies?
We have a 150-year-old brick house that gets REALLY hot on summer days and our AC system can't keep up. I want to maximize air circulation and take advantage of outside breezes with fans and am debating between those super air blaster room fans and tower fans and on-a-pole fans. If you have a good setup for an old hot house, I'd love to hear all the details. [more inside]
Out of Whack with HAVC
Planning a significant Reno to my small home (less that 2000 sq ft). Spiraling in Heat Pump world on YouTube. Inverters, SEER, 2 phase, COP's, back up furnace. Need a professional consult. Reccos for an heat pump/HVAC expert on eastern Long Island, NY? [more inside]
HVAC drain line cleanout: shop air -> ? -> oversize Schrader valve
I have an HVAC drain line with a cleanout valve. I need to connect shop air to the fitting on one side of the cleanout, but am at a loss for how to find the connecting part. Details and pics below. [more inside]
How to get the HVAC advice I need?
My hot water boiler (for my heating system) is likely nearing the end of its life. I’m also interested in adding a heat pump someday for cooling and shoulder-season heat. But, maybe I should save my money and move to a heat pump sooner for everything. Who do I need to hire or what do I need to ask for to have someone take a close look at my home and advise on the best approach? [more inside]
How to help my little air conditioner cool the room
My room has an old thru-the-wall air conditioner like this model. The landlord mounted it in a wall hole that's a foot above the floor. The A/C blows cool air which hovers near the floor, and the majority of the room is still hot. What can I do to use the A/C more effectively? [more inside]
Does your mini-split heat pump do this?
We just got new mini splits installed in two upstairs rooms. The one in our bedroom is doing this thing when it's cold out and I'm not sure if it's normal operation or something we should call the installer about. If the latter, any info you might give about what could be happening would help prepare me for that conversation. [more inside]
Energy efficiency grants for schools
What grants are available to private non-profit schools for building energy upgrades in Washington State, specifically in Seattle? [more inside]
2 Thermostats, 1 Downstairs
I have two thermostats downstairs: #1 controls the heat/AC for all of the downstairs except the converted garage. #2 controls the heat/AC for only the converted garage. When #1 heat is running, the heats comes out of only the vents that #1 controls and sends nothing to the converted garage. However, when #2 heat is running, it's sending heat to the entire downstairs. I think this is a recent development, but we're still kinda new to this home so it may have always been that way. Is it a damper problem? Can I just reset the #2 thermostat so that it sends only to the converted garage?
Programmable thermostats for baseboard heat not working
We recently bought a condo with baseboard heat, and are replacing the ancient (60s-era?) thermostats with programmable Honeywell RLV4305s. When we do so, the display starts flashing random symbols. What could be the issue? [more inside]
How do I handle this HVAC edge case for another week?
I have a new heat pump outdoor unit showing up (hopefully) next Friday, but it's going to be warm and I want to be cool until then. [more inside]
Boilers and AC in the age of sustainability and efficiency
I am buying a house, yay! The boiler is from 1969 and is leaking methane gas, yikes! Are there better options than an old fashioned gas boiler? I'm also looking at putting in high velocity AC (i.e. SpacePak/Unico) and wonder if it's worth it to add another unit to zone the first and second floors. [more inside]
Choosing a HVAC system and installer
We're replacing our ancient furnace and AC with a heat pump system soon. Should the brand of system sway the decision more than our experience with the prospective installers? [more inside]
bad smell in HVAC window unit
I'm in a rented apartment with an HVAC unit (cooling, drying, fan, and heating) that has gotten to smelling awful. It's like vinegar, sweat, or socks. The smell is not always present, especially if I wipe down the filters with spray cleaner and put them back, but it's persistent. The maintenance guy doesn't have an answer, probably because it didn't stink when he got here and I couldn't demonstrate. Can I fix this myself as a non-handy person? And if I can't, is it liable to give me Legionella or something dangerous? [more inside]
Is DP 1030 sealant appropriate for internal use in residential ducting?
I just had a repair completed on my residence's HVAC system. The repair person used DP 1030 inside the ducts to seal all the way around the supply ducting, where originally there had been gaps that let in unfiltered air from the attic. [more inside]
Who do I call to insulate my windows?
Our above-ground basement windows are old but we don't want to replace them. What we do want to do is better insulate them to stop bugs and air from getting in. Do we call a window repair/installation company, an HVAC place, a handyman, or someone else? [more inside]
Leaking radiator, house edition
The heat's been off for months, why are the radiators leaking? [more inside]
Minisplit advice
Sister is considering adding minisplit units to 1900 era two-family home she owns in Medford, NW of Boston. She's done the Mass Save energy audit and recommended work. Wanting to keep boiler system for emergency heat, even though the planned equipment would provide heat to -10F, so understands that Mass Save rebate would be based on tonnage of installed systems, rather than straight $10K. She has questions about expected cost - at least one estimate has been pushing $60K?! - and timing of install to take advantage of newly-enacted federal incentives. [more inside]
Ventless portable AC in New England? Get landlord to pay for hotel? Cry?
We moved, yay! New place is supposed to have central air, it is broken, may take weeks to fix and there is a heatwave scheduled PLUS for extra fun the windows are non-openable, boo. Any hope? [more inside]
Power Outage> Generator> Furnace/AC> How?
My house has central air through a gas-fired furnace. It doesn’t function when the power is out. What is the simplest/cheapest way to use a generator to supply the necessary electricity for the AC to work? I’m aware of the high end solutions and know that an electrician/new wiring is probably involved. I’m trying to ascertain the range of possibilities that won’t damage anything. Thanks!
HVAC under warranty failed and damaged home - legal questions
This is a legal question rather than an HVAC question. Last year, we purchased a new residential secondary HVAC unit for the second floor in our home. It is a major brand. An authorized installer performed the labor and warrantied their work. HVAC has a 10 year warranty. It has had three major, but different failures over the past year. Each time, the installer has come out and fixed the issue under warranty. [more inside]
Dehumidifier not drying, compressor is hot.
My GE dehumidifier doesn't take water out of the air, even when the room is humid. The compressor get quite hot, and there's a ring of rust around its base. Did the refrigerant leak? [more inside]
My air conditioner doesn't have a filter. This is a problem, right?
I've been in my house for three years, and it just occurred to me that I don't know where the filter is on our newly-installed central air conditioning system. And so I looked in the air handler and the air return vent just leads straight to a (now very dusty and gross) V-shaped heat exchanger made of thin metal fins. I brushed the heat exchanger clean but...something is missing here, right? [more inside]
Can we freshen our air?
Our new condo does not appear to have filters for the HVAC. Should it? [more inside]
What's appropriate compensation for water damage in my home?
HVAC repairman broke a water line in my attic, causing damage to my home. They are paying for all repairs, but I still would like some additional compensation for our troubles. What's appropriate to ask for? [more inside]
Fix my (intermittently misbehaving) furnace, please!
HVAC filter: We've had intermittent troubles with our furnace this winter. We've had our HVAC people out twice now and they haven't fixed it yet. Can you help? [more inside]
Don't know much about zoned HVAC Systems
We just moved into a house with zoned HVAC. I know nothing about using this system, other than sort of how it works (dampers close off the parts of the house you aren't trying to heat/cool at that time). For example, right now the temps are fluctuating wildly - High of 75, low of 45. It's conceivable that we might use heat in the middle of the night but want air by 4pm. [more inside]
Keeping the home fires burning... and also cool
My 27 year old furnace is likely not going to make it into another winter (possibly not another summer) so it will need to be replaced. I'd like some advice. [more inside]
Home Improvement Order of Operations
I have a bunch of work that will need to get done on and around my house's roof and electrical systems in the next fiveish years. What should I do first? [more inside]
Central A/C or mini-split heat pump?
We have a Seattle house with a gas furnace and would like to get it air conditioned . I have some questions. [more inside]
Central AC won't come on but "nothing is wrong"
Our problem- central air is turning on very intermittently and getting nowhere near our temp target. Landlord had someone come and look at it yesterday and they said nothing was wrong with it, but it's goddamned hot in here. [more inside]
Weird noise and lights flickering with AC running
I noticed last night that our lights were flickering faintly every minute or so. I believe it is related to one of our AC units, which is also emitting a regular noise, that sounds similar to the "AC startup sound," just a short pulse. It happens the whole time the AC is running, seemingly pretty regularly. [more inside]
New England Heating
Should I repair or replace my old gas furnace? If I replace it, what should I replace it with? [more inside]
Can this air return be moved? If so, by whom?
Our main air return is located in a central hallway. For many years it was never an issue aesthetically, but then we cut through a wall in our kitchen to bring in more light. Now it's kind of an eyesore and taking up good wall space that could be used for something prettier. [more inside]
Alabama Heat Pump Dual Fuel or Not
I'm buying a house in Tuscaloosa, Alabama that needs a new HVAC outdoor package unit. I have a quote to replace the unit with a new gas furnace & AC for $4,875. I have a second quote for a dual fuel heat pump for $6,575. Both units are quoted by the same company and they would be installing Heil equipment.
Questions: Will a heat pump save me money? Is it nuts to have a dual fuel heat pump in Alabama (we do have ~30 days a year below 35F)?
Help me understand this HVAC system!
New home owner, no info from prior owner, complicated to me! [more inside]
Reme Halo?
Does anyone have experience with/opinions on the Reme Halo air purifier? [more inside]
Looking for a two-part thermostat
I have a boiler. I would like to put a painting where a thermostat for one of my zones lives. Are there any two-piece thermostats wherein the part hooked up to the heating system wiring is just a plain, flat panel that wirelessly connects to a thermostat that sits elsewhere in the room? [more inside]
Does your Fujitsu heat pump fan stay on?
You have a Fujitsu heat pump. Does it have a setting in which the fan stays on while the heat (or cooling) cycles? [more inside]
Can't find the right size furnace filter. What now?
I need help determining the least-bad option for dealing with the furnace filter in my home. [more inside]
Resources to learn more about my antique apartment heating system??
Just moved in to a new apartment with an old heating system. I'm curious! I want to learn all about it. I'm also a little anxious, and I'm worried that it's unsafe for my cat. Link to pic (of both heater and cat) below. [more inside]
Less shared air?
Apartment search if prioritizing covid safety – no shared HVAC, private entrance if possible, low enough in the building you can take stairs not elevator – what else? [more inside]
You are not my HVAC tech...but I don't trust my HVAC tech
We had central AC added last summer. It sucks. I am trying to understand if our expectations are reasonable, and what next steps (if any) might be to improve the cooling of our home. [more inside]
How do I get rid of a mildewy smell in and around my HVAC?
How do I get rid of a mildewy smell that developed around my HVAC after it leaked? [more inside]
What the hell is happening to my wall/AC?
My AC is leaking. Or my wall is leaking? I don't know what's happening, please help me. [more inside]
central air conditioning installation, high velocity edition
We are in the process of getting quotes for installing central air. Yay!!!
Our house does not currently have ductwork. Our options are:
a) Conventional air conditioning with standard rectangular ducts installed
b) High velocity air conditioning (Unico) with mini ducts. [more inside]