Keeping East TN Cool Year-Round
AIR CONDITIONING
Tradewinds Mechanical Installs, Repairs, Replaces & Retrofits all makes and models of air conditioning systems and can also provide regular interval maintenance programs. Following are the most common types of air conditioning systems:
Forced Air Systems
Forced air cooling utilizes a system of ducts to distribute cool air throughout the home by pulling air from the rooms, passing it through a filter, cooling it and then returning it through the vents, typically using a central air conditioner that is connected to the ductwork and controlled by a thermostat, allowing homeowners to set their desired temperature. A key advantage of forced air cooling is its ability to filter and purify the air in your home, removing dust and allergens leading to improved air quality.
Split Systems
A split HVAC system is an air conditioning or heating system that has both indoor and outdoor units connected with copper tubing. The outdoor portion of the unit contains the compressor and condenser. The indoor portion of the unit contains an evaporator coil and indoor air handling unit that sends the air through the ductwork in your home. Split systems are different from package units, where all parts are packaged together in one unit. Split systems, which can include a heat pump or an air conditioning system installed outside your home, paired with either a gas furnace or a fan coil located inside your home. Large homes may require multiple split systems. A Split System is a Forced Air HVAC System.
Package Units
A package HVAC unit houses all parts of the system in one metal cabinet. The evaporator coil, condenser, and compressor are all housed together to save space inside the home. The cabinet is either placed on a home or building’s roof, or on a cement slab outside. Ductwork connects the outdoor cabinet to all the rooms in the home and the functions of the package unit are controlled indoors.
Most packaged central air systems also include a natural gas furnace or electric heating coils to provide both cooling and heating.
Water Source Units/Geothermal
Water-cooled air conditioners are refrigerant-based systems which use water, rather than air, to produce cooled air. These units typically use less energy than air-cooling systems and can work well in small spaces. Some water source units may also be portable and more flexible to place than air-cooled AC units. Water cooled AC units require attachment to a water source to operate. Water source units are also referred to as Geothermal systems.
Ductless Mini-Splits
Ductless AC systems operate differently from traditional AC units. Rather than distributing air through ducts, ductless systems consist of one or more indoor air-handling units, the outdoor compressor, and the conduit that houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing, and a condensate drain. These indoor units are often mounted on walls and connected to the outdoor unit via refrigerant lines. These systems work together efficiently to cool specific areas or zones within your home. With each indoor unit functioning independently, you can cool specific areas only when needed.
HUMIDIFIERS
A whole-house humidifier is connected to the home’s hot air ducts and cold air return. It can either work with or independent of the heating/cooling system. The system works by water accumulating inside of a collection tray, the air passes through the heating/cooling ducts, travels through the collection tray, picks up moisture, cycles through the furnace, and then returns to the duct system where the moisture-laden air is distributed into your home. Humidifiers are typically used in winter months. Humidification systems come in three styles:
Evaporative Humidifiers
This style of humidifier works by adding moisture to warm air via a furnace. These types of humidifiers take warm air from the home’s heating ducts and pass it through a water tray. This allows the air to collect moisture which is then delivered back into the house. They can be installed on the supply or return plenum of your central air system and typically need to drain their water supply.
Fan-powered humidifiers
The difference between a fan-powered humidifier and an evaporative humidifier is that the fan powered unit uses a fan to push air through the water tray for increased water evaporation. Fan-powered humidifiers are able to produce up to a gallon more of humidity per day compared to an evaporative humidifies. Because this is a powered flow-through system, it doesn’t require a duct which allows it to be installed in smaller spaces. A fan powered whole-house humidifier is great for homes built on slabs or with HVAC systems in a closet.
Steam humidifiers
Steam humidifiers work by electrically boiling water to create humidity in the form of steam. The steam is then picked up and pushed throughout the ventilation system. Steam humidifiers are the fastest and most efficient way to increase and maintain a good level of humidity in your home. Steam whole-house humidifiers also provide the purest and most natural form of humidity that you can have within your home.
UV Lights
UV lights for HVAC systems use UVC rays and are installed in either your air handler or in your ductwork. When germs move through the central air system, they eventually make it to the sanitizing light. Once the germs are exposed to the light, they absorb the light’s UV rays, disrupting the DNA of the germ. When bacteria or mold’s DNA is damaged, it will either die or become unable to reproduce. There are two varieties of UV sanitizer lights. Coil sanitizing lights sit near your evaporator coil. Air sanitizing lights are placed in your return vents, which are part of your ductwork.
An HVAC UV light helps you stay healthy by sanitizing the air moving through your HVAC system, reducing the mold and viruses distributed into your home’s air.