Tag: cooling

Women's History In The Heating and Cooling Profession

Who Are The Women Who Impacted Heating and Cooling?

Women’s history month would not be complete without discussing the women pioneers of the heating and air conditioning industry. These women have patented inventions that are still used today to help regulate a home's temperature. By learning through hands-on experience and mentorship, these women changed how challenges are perceived. 

Today’s Women

Over the past few decades, more women have entered the heating and air conditioning industry. This is partly due to the women who have come before them. Previous women in the industry worked hard to become recognized as professionals and masters in their fields. They were able to provide an attainable vision for women in the field today. 

Women now work in various roles, including technical assistance, engineering, and business ownership. Depending on the type of job, education requirements greatly vary. A woman engineer is not the only type of professional that can make a difference. The required education necessary for the HVAC industry can open doors for women from different economic levels. To have a secure job in a profession that uses hard-earned skills is attractive to both men and women. 

Alice H. Parker

aliceAlice Parker was born in Morrison, NJ, in 1885. As a child, the winters were cold and often left her feet and hands feeling numb in the morning. Today she is known as a revolutionary female inventor in the heating and cooling business. Her invention of a specific type of gas furnace has impacted both men and women for decades.  

Alice Parker’s gas furnace was powered by natural gas. It contained individually controlled ducts that could distribute heat throughout a home. Using her education from mechanical engineering school, she provided a system that regulated temperature in different areas of a building. 

In 2019 the National Society of Black Physicists honored her invention as a “revolutionary idea” for the 1920s. She was able to channel her creativity and hard work in a way that could influence many people to come.

Margaret Ingels

margaret

Margaret Ingels was the first female engineer to have graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. She was the first woman to receive a mechanical engineering degree in the country. She chose to focus her work on air conditioning to develop a temperature regulation method that worked.

After researching at the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers’ lab, she became interested in germ-laden dust. This was a particular concern of hers regarding classrooms and other public spaces where the air was available to everyone. She eventually helped create the sling psychrometer to show how much humidity is in the air.

Margaret Ingels continues to help promote women's agency even after her death in 1971. The Student Chapter of the Society of Women Engineers at the University of Kentucky now provides a fund in her honor. This Fellowship Fund is designed to help students enrolled in a Master of Science degree. 

About PAC Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning

Paul’s Home Care Club is a membership offered by PAC Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning that allows members to receive a 15% discount on all repairs, priority service, and scheduled maintenance inspections. Call PAC Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning today for service in Staten Island, NY.

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Fixing the Central Heating and Cooling Unit at the Source

The Best Ways to Fix the Central HVAC Unit

Being a homeowner is glorious, isn’t it? Well, that’s not always true. Of course, there is a lot of value to owning a home because it goes up in value over time and often ends up being among the top high-value assets that people own. But on the other hand, it can be really stressful to own a home! Things break down, need to be replaced, need to be updated, and so on. It can be hard to keep up with everything as a homeowner.

Different systems in the home can develop problems as the home ages, often within the HVAC system. So who wants an easy way to fix their central HVAC unit? Most people would agree that they want to find solutions to the common HVAC mechanical issues that they face. To help solve this need, here are a few easy ways to fix the small issues that homeowners will face on an HVAC system.

Tip #1: Melt Ice on the Condensate Drain Line

ice meltingThe refrigerant is a critical piece to a well-functioning HVAC unit. The role of the refrigerant is to absorb the heat from the air indoors and transform that heat from a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure liquid.

The refrigerant then moves outside where fans blow on the coils, cool the refrigerant, and turn it back into a gas. This process should run flawlessly, but if there is a leak, the refrigerant can cause parts of the HVAC system to freeze.

The best thing a homeowner can do is to first fix the leak so the same issue doesn’t continue happening. Second, homeowners should clean up the mess by melting any ice that may be on the condensate drain line to prevent other parts of the HVAC system from malfunctioning.

Tip #2: Clean the Outdoor Unit

Though the outdoor unit may be outside and seem separate from the rest of the house and HVAC unit, it is truly a critical part of HVAC functionality. This part of the system is often forgotten, so it isn’t cleaned regularly. However, when gunk starts to build up on the outdoor unit, the efficiency of the system quickly goes downhill.

cleaning hvac

Make sure that dust, dirt, leaves, or any other debris are cleared off of the outdoor unit. Just add this task to the spring clean list so it doesn’t get forgotten! A clean condenser unit ensures that the HVAC system is functioning efficiently and that the outdoor unit won’t overheat or malfunction from having too much debris covering it.

Tip #3: Schedule Regular Maintenance

schedulingWhen people think about their cars, they think about the regular maintenance that a car needs. They know they need to change the oil about every six months. They know they need to rotate their tires. They know they need to wash the car when it gets too dirty.

Car owners know that the car needs regular technical maintenance to operate efficiently. Yet homeowners often forget that the same is true for their HVAC system.

The best way to keep a working central HVAC system is to schedule maintenance checks. These checks can help identify small problems before they turn into a costly disaster.

About PAC Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning

PAC Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning is committed to providing customers with a hassle-free service experience from start to finish. They handle it all: clogged drains, leaking water heaters, AC repairs, rattling furnaces, and more. And they don’t just fix the problem - they make sure it doesn’t happen again!

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