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Installing the Water-Cooled HVAC System

Jeff Akers of The Air Authority explains how heat is recovered from the water that flows to each of the units in the high-rise apartment to fuel the heat pump in this Miami condo. The water is received, the heat is rejected from the water and into the pump, then the water is sent back to the water tower for cooling and redistribution. The unit is housed in a utility closet that will be concealed by a louver door to provide the only air return for the HVAC system. The ductwork in the building must be fiberglass or metal, rather than flex, and is covered with mastic at all seams to prevent leakage as mandated by Florida energy policy. Akers then shows Bob the Energy Star thermostat that operates without wires or mercury, plugging right into the system at the wall. The thermostat features a five-minute delay to prevent short-cycling and resulting damage to the system. It also has a fan-only setting for cooler days. All settings can also be locked to avoid tampering, a feature that is critical for a vacation getaway that is frequently unoccupied.

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Chapters from this episode

Visit to a Pierce Allen Designed Apartment Now Playing

Visit to a Pierce Allen Designed Apartment

Installing the Toto One-Piece Toilet Now Playing

Installing the Toto One-Piece Toilet

Installing Moen Faucets in the Bathroom Vanity Now Playing

Installing Moen Faucets in the Bathroom Vanity

Installing the Water-Cooled HVAC System Now Playing

Installing the Water-Cooled HVAC System

Clip Transcript For:

Installing the Water-Cooled HVAC System

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" Joining us now is Jeff Akers from the air authority here in south Florida and what kind of what kind of equipment have you installed force. The water cooled heat pump okay. How does that work. That takes water and rejects it. Rejects the heat from the water. Into the system the year okay. Stories are separate component up on the roof or something yeah there's a water cooled power and that takes the water and cools it ten degrees and sends it back and sent back is that shared by everybody in the building yes this. OK so that is a sensible sensible thing to do. And this is such a small apartment that there's not a big trunk line and a lot of distribution issues right right what have you got here. And this is this the plenum and his sister its air conditioning in this apartment. -- and its fiberglass duct. Yes it is is that the preferred type of ductwork to use here in South -- and there's a couple different types there's not flex duct which is this tubular duct yeah I'm familiar and apply them are here going up the needs to be fiberglass or metal I just -- And what is what is he getting ready to apply. This is mastic get it's that plastic coating after it dries. Is god keeps the seams from leaking it's pretty indestructible it's. And so is that a code requirement here Florida yes this does that go just around where these joints are where everything's taped. Up top bottom OK sides so you don't have to worry worry about it sweating and not true. And what about the efficiency of this kind of system -- in an area where you're apt to have temperatures in the nineties and high humidity right. Physicist flies on water cooled system like this is limited because it's is a one system contained. It's not a split system where you get a higher efficiency but. You probably can go to about a twelve or fourteen seer in a water cooled system like this -- sent me. Sears Sears -- efficiency rating -- PRI standards and the manufacturer get together and match systems to give it a certain efficiency rating the higher the efficiency -- the better electric bill moonlight music. Now what about. Thermostat controls. -- thermostat controls 24 volt system was obviously transformer where we put the thermostat when it part of -- on the other unit -- OK it's very simple it is. Everything about it no wires no no wires and just closer to these kinds no Mercury no it's solid state no Mercury. What features are there any delay features involved it is five minute time delay which you see a little blinking light right here -- five minute timer starting right now and that's important from the point of view of the thing cycling on pressure in short cycles definitely causes compressor damage okay. Modes why is it has a fan switch right here for if you just want fan on only on that day where it's not too cold outside right it's got heat load center heat mode now OK whatever you want to come on and on a cold day. And then the cooling said that the come on at a higher temperature probably. And then you come down and that'll be the automatic section right here where everything comes on -- can you lock it's that nobody can -- it absolutely. If you hold the two top buttons and the mode button at the same time. It locks up to wear whatever you push like that he -- his energy star yes it is. All right so we're buttoning this what kind of base is that that he's got on here. It's aluminum base made of metal of course it's now -- code requirement. To have metal in -- multifamily area instead -- just a couple of two by four's propping it up exactly. OK and when we. Replace the door onto this huge relief to -- closet. Are there any ventilation requirements -- should be -- because this is our only return. I'd say it's okay thank you thoughts and."

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