Designing Heating and Cooling Systems in Large Buildings
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Designing Heating and Cooling Systems in Large Buildings

Have you ever wondered what goes into a heating or air conditioning system for a large office building or another large building like a mall or a school? My name is Evelyn, and I am an HVAC architect. I design heating and air conditioning systems for large, corporate buildings. Making sure that a large building with many rooms or offices is efficiently heated and cooled is a very large job and is much more complicated than simply heating or cooling a home. This blog will educate the reader on how heating and cooling jobs this large are designed and completed.

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Designing Heating and Cooling Systems in Large Buildings

Is Your AC System Suddenly Making Noise? Advice For Homeowners

Nicole Jacobs

While not silent, the sounds emitted by a properly working residential air conditioning system should be barely noticeable to the occupants of the home. However, when the level or type of sound suddenly changes, homeowners should suspect that a repair issue is occurring and take steps to diagnose and address the problem before serious damage can occur to the HVAC system's components. 

Compressor problems

One of the first problems to suspect when an AC system begins to make noise is the compressor. Compressors have multiple moving parts that work to compress the refrigerant so that the heat exchange process necessary for the production of cool air can be completed. Sudden noises emanating from the compressor unit can mean that the pistons are worn or damaged or some other components inside the compressor have loosened or stopped working.

Compressor problems are a serious repair issue, in part because it will be necessary to capture the refrigerant and then recharge the system once the compressor has been replaced or repaired. Homeowners who suspect that a problem is developing with their air conditioning system compressor should stop using it until they can discuss the problem with a qualified air conditioning repair contractor. 

Blower problems 

Like those found with an AC compressor, sounds emanating from the blower unit can signal a variety of repair issues ranging from a need to adjust or replace the blower fan belt to more serious problems like failed bearings, pulleys, or fan motors. If caught early, such as when sounds are first noticed, repair issues are typically less serious than those that go unaddressed for long periods of time. 

For example, continuing to operate an air conditioning system with a blower fan belt that needs adjustments or bearings that need to be lubricated puts additional strain on other moving parts, causing them to wear out much faster than they should. Homeowners should also understand that continuing to operate their air conditioning system when it is in need of repairs forces it to operate less efficiently and may result in much higher energy bills until the repair issue is correctly diagnosed and addressed. 

Homeowners who are noticing a sudden change in the type or intensity of sound coming from their air conditioning system can first try installing a fresh filter and checking for dirty or clogged HVAC vents or cold air returns to rule out obstruction issues. Any unusual sounds that remain after checking and addressing the filter and vents should be immediately referred to a qualified air conditioning system repair contractor for correct diagnosis and repair. Contact an AC repair service to learn more. 


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