https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works/ Building science knowledge, HVAC design, & fun Wed, 20 Oct 2021 18:52:51 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works/#comment-2121 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 20:21:20 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works#comment-2121 Dan: Since
Dan: Since you’re thinking it should be high, my guess is that you’re in a cold climate and do more heating than cooling. In a hot climate with little heating, putting returns low and supplies high would take advantage of the stack effect in a similar way.  
 
The truth, though, is that with good HVAC design, it could be anywhere, high or low. A good design will ensure that each supply vent has enough throw for good air mixing and the ability to get back to the return. Also, be aware that if you have only a central return, you need some way for the air in closed rooms to find its way back to the return. Transfer grilles or jumper ducts are the way to go if you don’t have return vents in all the bedrooms. Door undercuts typically don’t allow enough air to move.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works/#comment-2120 Thu, 24 Jul 2014 01:38:08 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works#comment-2120 Great article, thanks.&amp
Great article, thanks. 
Question: if hot air rises and cool air falls,then would the best location for return air grille/duct be in the ceiling at highest point of the building?

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works/#comment-2119 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 22:43:14 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works#comment-2119 Michael:
Michael: Air conditioners, whether window, wall, or central, are designed to pull all of the air from the conditioned space. There are some wall units (PTACs) that do pull in some outdoor air for ventilation, and central units can also have outdoor air mixed in.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works/#comment-2118 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 22:39:36 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works#comment-2118 Could you clarify whether a
Could you clarify whether a wall a/c takes in air from the outside? I ask because we have construction going on outside and I want to know if the a/c will pull in that dust or not.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works/#comment-2117 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 21:36:48 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works#comment-2117 Great content. As normal with
Great content. As normal with more info comes more questions.  
 
Would any of the following help ac to run more efficient: A. Run the unit in summer at the coolest temperature of the night. B. Solar pre-heater to aid the compressor to bring up the refrigerant heat quicker (if run in day). C. Start cooling first with smaller upstairs unit or larger down stairs unit (central HVAC.) 
 
In central TX, being home most of the day and night, we turn on ac at 12 am, set to 78, then at 3am it is programmed to shut off. At 6am programmed to 75 until the 8am shut off. 
 
This is just a trial but in early June it seems to keep the house cool enough for us, except between 9pm and 12am when inside reaches 80-82. It also helps to keep peak demand lower.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works/#comment-2116 Fri, 30 May 2014 14:08:41 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works#comment-2116 In our country we decipher
In our country we decipher the HVAC principle…the outdoor unit now is blowing cold air at same time in the indoor.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works/#comment-2115 Fri, 02 May 2014 20:51:01 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works#comment-2115 Michael:
Michael: Thanks! I appreciate your letting me know because I’d thought, based on the early comments, maybe it wasn’t worth it, but now I’m glad I did provide it here.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works/#comment-2114 Fri, 02 May 2014 19:18:37 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works#comment-2114 I’m new to this three year
I’m new to this three year old article so my comment may be lost, but I just wanted to cast a vote for the gravitational analog. I might be an outlier but it actually made all the other stuff much clearer.

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works/#comment-2113 Thu, 27 Mar 2014 17:52:46 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works#comment-2113 The explanation is really
The explanation is really very nice. Thank you for helping me…!

]]> https://www.energyvanguard.com/blog/the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works/#comment-2112 Fri, 03 Aug 2012 08:02:36 +0000 http://energyvanguard.flywheelsites.com/?blog_post=the-magic-of-cold-part-1-how-your-air-conditioner-works#comment-2112 Thanks for the explanation,
Thanks for the explanation, it was very clear. The analogy is a good way to remember and trigger the whole idea. S

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