A heat pump furnace is the indoor portion of a split system heat pump, as opposed to a package heat pump, which combines a complete system into one package. A heat pump furnace is the section of a heat pump that moves the air through the ductwork. It can be an electric, gas, or oil…
An electric furnace does not have a heat exchanger because it burns no fuel such as gas or oil. Furnaces that burn fuels have heat exchangers that contain the products of combustion and send them up or out a flue pipe. Electric furnaces operate the same way as the smaller electric portable heaters you plug…
Nordyne has become Nortek Global HVAC. Under that name Nortek, they manufacture and distribute a complete line of residential heating equipment specifically designed for manufactured or mobile homes. When adding a heat pump or air conditioner to a manufactured home it requires a mobile home approved indoor coil. Mortex Products, Inc. is one manufacturer of…
You can run mini-split lines up, down, and vertically. Essentially, mini split lines can run anywhere you put them with a few restrictions. Good refrigeration line principles for mini splits are no different than any other heat pump or air conditioner. You can run a ductless line set up, down, or straight out. Try to…
Putting AC in a food truck has become a popular idea for food trucks. Mini split heat pumps can provide heating and cooling, and even be a good DIY project. Just consider these things before installing a ductless mini split or any AC unit in a food truck. There are some in my industry that…
Cover your b*** when looking at your mini-split warranties! If you don’t register your mini-split with the manufacturer, it could be for a shorter time. In order to have the full warranty you may have to register with the manufacturer. Registering your new ductless air conditioner or heat pump will qualify you for the most…
Ductless heat pumps and air conditioners work by the same principles as ducted systems. An outdoor compressor unit and an indoor air handler (head) to move the air. Ductless systems generally need a separate head for each area or room. For example, Daikin ductless HVAC systems can handle up to as many as eight zones…
Your best backup heat source would depend on your location, your climate, the availability of fuel, and what type of fuel meets the price you want to pay. I’ve worked on, repaired, cut on, bled on, and installed just about all of them except for wood backup. The simplest form of backup heat for an…
When you perform a duct leakage test with artificial smoke, you’ll be amazed at the leakage that exists. Even with good-looking ductwork. Imagine that every joint is a hairline crack. Add up all the joints and connections; before you know it, you will have the equivalent square foot hole in your duct. Leaky ducts waste…
