Heat Recovery Ventilators and Energy Recovery Ventilators (HRVs and ERVs, respectively) are balanced ventilation systems offering the gold standard for household ventilation. Both systems intake and exhaust air in equal volume. Exhaust-only vent fans tend to depressurize the house while intake-only ventilation  inducts overly hot or cold outdoor air. Removing stagnant air from areas like the kitchen and utility rooms through dedicated, small-diameter ductwork and adding fresh outdoor air to bedrooms and living spaces, the HRV and ERV preserve indoor air balance and temperature.

The heart of both systems is a central controller that incorporates individual blower fans for both the intake and exhaust air streams.  As the air streams are routed through the controller, a heat exchanger extracts heat from the warmer air stream and adds it to the cooler air stream. In summer, heat naturally present in incoming outdoor air is removed and added to the outgoing air stream in order to maintain indoor coolness. During winter, heat is taken from indoor air on its way out and added to cold incoming air to sustain indoor warmth and keep heating costs low.

HRV and ERV ventilation systems have three principal differences, which are as follows.

Humidity Control

In addition to transferring heat, the core in an energy recovery ventilator also moves humidity from the more moist air stream to the dryer air stream. While not a full-featured dehumidifier, this reduces the amount of outdoor humidity infiltrating the house during hot summer weather while also sustaining a more comfortable indoor environment in winter, when household humidity may be overly dry.

Heat Recovery

Because water vapor contains heat energy, the humidity transfer process of an ERV increases the heat recovery efficiency of the unit. An ERV typically recovers about 30 percent more heat than an HRV.

Condensate Draining

Because an ERV transfers water vapor instead of reducing it to condensation, the unit does not produce condensate water that must be drained like an HRV. This saves the additional cost of installing a condensate drain line.

For more information on HRV and ERV technology in Southeast Virginia, contact Russell's Heating & Cooling.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about HRV and ERV differences and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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The warm summers of the Hampton Roads area become a lot less enjoyable when your air conditioner isn't doing its job. If your A/C is tripping the circuit breaker, there are a few things to look for so you can solve the problem and start enjoying the summer again.

Airflow and Electrical Issues

A dirty air filter or outdoor condenser unit can restrict airflow so much the air conditioner overheats and trips the breaker. If your filter has a layer of dust, put in a clean filter. If your outdoor unit is clogged, carefully brush the exterior fins clean, then remove the top and use a hose to spray down the fins from the inside out. It's safe to reset the breaker after this, but if it trips again, contact a technician.

If low airflow isn't why the A/C is tripping the circuit breaker, inspect the breaker for excess heat, damage such as frayed wires and burned or melted spots, and the smell of hot plastic. Any of these mean the breaker should be replaced by a professional.

Loose wires and electrical contacts anywhere in your air conditioning system can also cause the breaker to trip. Wires expand and contract as their temperatures change and can eventually work loose. When this happens, they can overheat or arc and trip the breaker, or worse, start a fire. Pinpointing and repairing a loose wire requires experience and specialized equipment, so call a technician for help.

More Complex Issues

If your A/C was having trouble starting up before it began tripping the breaker, a bad capacitor could be to blame. If you've noticed a steady drop in cooling capacity recently, a refrigerant leak could be causing the problem by forcing your system to draw an abnormal amount of power. A condenser fan that isn't running correctly and a weak or locked-up compressor are also possibilities. All these issues require a technician's care.

For professional assistance when your A/C is tripping the circuit breaker, contact us at Russell's Heating & Cooling in Hampton Roads area of southeast Virginia.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about A/Cs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Problems with frozen evaporator coils can be serious and need to be dealt with immediately. The evaporator coil normally lies at the base of the air handler and carries the cold refrigerant that collects the heat from your home. When the coil freezes, the refrigerant can’t absorb heat, and it returns to the compressor at the wrong temperature, which can damage it.

Some cooling systems have automatic shut off switches when they sense the coil is freezing over, but many don’t. Sometimes the only symptom of frozen coils is the lack of cooling, even when your air conditioner continues to run.

Troubleshooting Frozen Coils

If you suspect frozen evaporator coils, turn the air conditioner off immediately and set the thermostat so that the fan runs to melt the ice. If you don’t have the fan only option on your thermostat, use a blow dryer to thaw the coil. Follow these steps to troubleshoot the problem:

• Check the air filter. If it’s clogged with dust, replace it. A clogged filter won’t allow much air to blow over the evaporator coil, which keeps it cold longer. The humidity in the air flowing over the coil can freeze when the air velocity slows.
• Inspect the evaporator coil. Dust and mold can cover the coil, acting as insulation. Unless you’ve had the coil cleaned as part of professional HVAC maintenance or you’ve done it yourself, this is possibly the cause. Clean the coils yourself or have HVAC contractor clean them.
• Check refrigerant. Low refrigerant can cause a frozen coil and you’ll have to have an HVAC pro check the amount in your system. If it’s low, the technician will trace and repair any leaks before adding more.

The pros at Russell’s Heating & Cooling can help you prevent frozen evaporator coils. We’ve provided outstanding HVAC services for Hampton Roads homeowners since 1977.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about frozen evaporator coils and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Occasionally, homeowners have the option of replacing either the air handler or the outdoor condenser for a central A/C system. However, replacing your outdoor and indoor A/C unit together makes more financial sense under most conditions. The cost savings achieved in the short term by replacing one or the other are seldom enough to recoup the hidden costs that installing unmatched components may cause.

Compatibility

Central air conditioners use two separate coils to complete the cooling process. The coils contain the refrigerant that removes the heat from your home. The first is the evaporator coil that sits inside the air handler. The fan blows over the coil and as it does, the refrigerant inside the evaporator coil absorbs the heat from the air. The refrigerant then flows into the condenser coil, where another fan blows air over it to dissipate the heat to the outdoors. Both the indoor and outdoor coil must have the same capacity.

Energy Efficiency

When HVAC systems are rated for energy efficiency, they’re tested as a matched system. By replacing your outdoor and indoor A/C unit at the same time, you should achieve the same efficiency as the rating promises, as long as the HVAC installer follows the manufacturer’s requirements for a precise installation.

Warranty

HVAC warranties are an important consideration when you’re installing a new system. Unless the indoor and outdoor units are a perfect match, the manufacturer may not honor any warranty the individual part carries. Considering the cost of parts and labor for repairing or replacing HVAC equipment, it’s almost always worth the extra expense of replacing the whole system in lieu of part of it.

Protect Yourself

Before approving a new air conditioner, ask the HVAC contractor to give you the ARI Certificate of Certified Performance or an ARI Reference Number. These documents indicate all parts of the system are compatible.

To learn more about the benefits of replacing your outdoor and indoor A/C unit at the same time, contact Russell's Heating & Cooling, providing outstanding HVAC services for Hampton Roads’ area homeowners since 1977.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about A/Cs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Improving indoor air quality (IAQ) throughout your home lays the foundation for healthier living. The U.S. EPA reports that IAQ found in many homes is among the worst environmental hazards people face. When homes are tightly sealed summer and winter, IAQ often suffers because airborne particulates and potentially harmful gases build. Here are few ways you can improve IAQ throughout your home. 

Around the Home

Avoid using products that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), found in many household cleaners, perfumed soaps, candles and air fresheners, dryer sheets and home remodeling materials. New products are available with labels that state that they’re either low in VOCs or have a clean air label. VOCs cause mild to serious side effects.

Check and change the air filter for your HVAC system, and consider upgrading it so that it traps smaller particles. Look for filters labeled “better” or “best,” or go by the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) rating scale. Filters start at 1 and go as high as 16. Check with your HVAC contractor or the owner’s guide to learn the highest MERV-rated filter to use with your system.

Living Areas

Use high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) bags with your vacuum cleaner to trap small dust particles. It’s best to vacuum even if you have hard-surface flooring to improve indoor air quality, since sweeping kicks up airborne particulates. Opt for washable window coverings and try to keep pets off furniture. Launder bedding in hot water weekly to reduce dust mites.

Kitchen and Baths

Use the exhaust fans to remove excess humidity during the cooling season. When humidity levels reach 50 percent or higher in your home, mold and dust mite populations thrive. Dust mite waste is one of the most common allergy triggers. Keep an eye for mold growth around tubs, showers and the seals around the refrigerator. Undiluted vinegar mixed with baking soda will kill most kinds of mold.

Russell’s Heating & Cooling can help you with improving indoor air quality throughout your whole home with your HVAC system. We’ve provided top-notch HVAC and IAQ services for Hampton Roads area homeowners since 1977.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Very few systems, if any, work harder than your HVAC system. It is almost always running to make your home more comfortable. Unfortunately, many homeowners their systems for granted and neglect to schedule routine maintenance. If you also make this costly mistake, it's high time you learned the consequences of ignoring HVAC maintenance.

Wasted Energy

The key to your system's efficiency lies in its overall health. Problems as simple as a buildup of dirt and debris can force it to work harder to keep you cool during the summer and warm in the winter. It will use a greater amount of energy than it ought to. Consequently, you'll have to pay high utility bills.

Expensive Repairs

If regular maintenance is not performed, minor issues will turn into major problems. A professional HVAC maintenance company will perform several crucial activities such as cleaning the condenser coils and lubricating the moving parts. If the condenser coils are not cleaned, airflow and heat transfer are greatly reduced. Lubrication of moving parts will prevent them from drying up, overheating and ceasing to operate.

Shorter Lifespan

Your HVAC system is just like a car. Failure to keep up with the recommended maintenance schedule can shorten the lifespan of car parts. Similarly, ignoring regular maintenance can lead to the premature death of your HVAC system.

Safety Issues

If your gas furnace is not checked regularly, you're courting disaster. The heat exchanger develops cracks that can allow the release of the odorless carbon monoxide gas into your home. Carbon monoxide causes symptoms such as headaches, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. High levels of the gas can be fatal. Gas leaks and other faults in HVAC equipment can cause fires, resulting in property damage, injuries and even death.

Avoid all the consequences of ignoring HVAC maintenance by simply scheduling regular precision tune-ups. They will save you time and money, and extend the lifespan of your HVAC unit.

For more information on HVAC maintenance, contact us at Russell's Heating & Cooling. We serve the Hampton Roads area of southeast Virginia.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about HVAC maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Identifying the features to look for in central A/Cs may seem daunting at first, but it’s worth the time to narrow down your options. Some cooling systems perform better in terms of lifetime costs and overall comfort in our climate. Since summer humidity plays such a role, choosing one that excels at both cooling and dehumidifying will improve your short- and long-term satisfaction.

Sizing

Even the most energy efficient central cooling system won’t perform as well as it should if it’s too large or small. Ask your contractor to use Manual J software to find the best fit for your home. A larger system leaves behind humidity, increases energy consumption and may break down faster. Systems that are too small won't handle the hottest days of summer.

Moisture Management

All central A/C systems remove humidity to some degree. However, once your HVAC professional has sized the system for you, ask him or her to use Manual S software to match the best system for your home based on its ability to remove humidity.

Energy Efficiency

The seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating is another of the important features to look for in a central A/C. The minimum starts at 14 and runs into the mid-20s. Each single increase in the SEER indicates the system uses 10 percent less energy, as tested under laboratory conditions. More efficient systems do cost more, but the savings they provide on monthly cooling costs offsets their price.

Running Speed

A central A/C or heat pump that has a dual-speed compressor will increase your comfort and likely lower your energy bills. Most of the time the system will run on its lower speed, which helps with humidity removal. When it’s paired with a variable-speed air handler, you’ll also enjoy lower noise levels indoors.

Filter Check Light

This warning light helps you make regular air filter changes to keep your system running as efficiently as possible.

To learn more about the features to look for in a central A/C, contact Russell's Heating & Cooling, providing top-notch HVAC services for Hampton Roads area homeowners since 1977.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about central A/Cs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Thermostat problems can have a significant impact on your comfort, and they often masquerade as serious HVAC system issues. Learning how to solve thermostat malfunctions can help you quickly restore comfort and may help you avoid the cost of a professional diagnosis.

Here's how to troubleshoot three common symptoms of thermostat problems.

HVAC System Is Unresponsive

A loss of power to the thermostat can cause unresponsiveness, so replace the batteries first. If that's not the problem, then check your main electrical panel for a blown fuse or tripped breaker. Next, switch off the breaker so you can troubleshoot the thermostat's internal components. Does it look dirty inside? If so, gently clean the components using a soft brush or compressed air. Next, look for loose terminal screws or wiring that needs to be tightened up. If you see corrosion on any components, replace the thermostat.

Room Temperature Never Matches the Thermostat Setting

This problem can be cause by a buildup of grime, so clean the thermostat's inner workings as described above. If it's a non-digital model, check whether the unit is off kilter by placing a carpenter's level on the wall above it. If necessary, make adjustments to level the thermostat.

A stuck anticipator arm is another possible culprit in a mechanical thermostat. Find the small arm attached to the circular dial and give it a slight push in either direction. If troubleshooting these issues doesn't help, location may be the problem. To resolve temperature inconsistencies, you may need to relocate the thermostat if it's near a heat source, in direct sunlight, exposed to cold drafts or isolated away from the living areas.

Frequent Cycling or Continuous Operation

This can happen if a thermostat isn't level or is dirty inside, so address these two problems first. An inaccurately calibrated anticipator is another possibility. To solve this, try adjusting the cycle length by moving the lever arm in one-notch increments toward "longer" on the circular dial. If there's no noticeable improvement, it's best to install a new programmable thermostat.

If you need professional help solving thermostat problems in your Hampton Roads home, contact Russell's Heating & Cooling.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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When you hear strange A/C noises other than the familiar hums and whooshes, it's often a warning sign that problems are brewing. To avoid serious equipment damage, inconvenient breakdowns and costly repairs, call an HVAC professional when you hear any of these ominous air conditioner sounds.

Banging and Clanging

Noises like these at the outdoor condenser/compressor typically warn of loose hardware, like a motor mount or fan blade. If they originate at the indoor air handler, the blower assembly may be loose or misaligned. To prevent further damage, have an experienced HVAC technician identify and tighten the loose part before it disconnects completely.

Whining or Screeching

If you start hearing a loud whining coming from the air handler, the air filter may be completely clogged and suffocating vital airflow. Piercing screeches or shrieks at the outdoor unit typically signal a dangerous rise in pressure inside the compressor. Shut off the unit at the breaker immediately and call for expert help.

Buzzing

It's often hard to pinpoint the source of a buzzing noise, but it's a clear warning of an electrical issue that poses a serious fire hazard. A certified technician can check the system's various electrical components like the compressor relay, circuit breakers and contacts to find the source and get it repaired so the A/C operates safely.

Squeaking or Squealing

It's normal to hear a squeak or squeal when an air conditioner starts up, but nonstop squealing or squeaking can point to a badly worn fan belt or lack of crucial lubrication on the motor bearings. A skilled HVAC contractor can identify the exact cause and get the issue resolved before the fan belt breaks or the motor seizes up.

Hissing and Gurgling

These sounds usually indicate an A/C refrigerant leak that needs prompt attention before it causes costly equipment damage and a loss of cooling capabilities. To prevent these problems, a knowledgeable pro needs to locate and fix the leak, then recharge the system with refrigerant.

If you hear worrisome A/C noises in your Hampton Roads area home, the HVAC experts at Russell's Heating & Cooling can help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about A/Cs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Most people know the link between leaky ducts and high utility bills. Unfortunately, many don't know how their ductwork can affect indoor air. A damaged duct system can cause poor indoor air quality in four major ways.

Duct Leakage in Less Frequently Used Enclosed Spaces

A duct system with a leakage or disconnection in enclosed spaces such as basements and garages can be hazardous. Pests like rats and insects can easily infest these areas, and substantial quantities of mold growth easily go unnoticed in these spaces. Leaky ducts can pull in air from these dangerous sources and circulate it throughout your house.

Unbalanced Airflow

Efficient performance of HVAC systems depends on balanced airflow. The volume of air your system supplies to your house should be equal to the volume of air it returns from it. If there's a leak on the supply side of the duct system, there will be negative pressure in the rooms, pulling air in from outside, as well as bad sources like the attic and crawl spaces. This quickly results in poor indoor air quality.

Backdrafting Due to Leakage

Combustion by-products such as nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide should be expelled from your fuel-burning appliances like the furnace or water heater. If your duct system is leaking on the return side, it creates negative pressure that can lead to a dangerous situation known as backdrafting. When backdrafting occurs, air being pulled into the house combines with these harmful by-products.

Reduced Moisture Control

Poor return ducts can pull in excess moisture from damp basements or crawl spaces. Excess moisture provides breeding conditions for biological pollutants like mold and mildew. These microorganisms can trigger allergic reactions and spread contagious diseases.

To avoid poor indoor air quality, ensure your duct system is properly installed and up to date on repairs and maintenance. For more information, contact us on Russell's Heating & Cooling. We serve the Hampton Roads area of southeast Virginia.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Chesapeake, Virginia and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about duct systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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