Chiller units are refrigerant systems that help cool commercial spaces, machinery, industrial operations, and industrial chemicals. Two of their biggest advantages are that they are energy and cost-efficient.

Chillers provide a continuous flow of coolant to the cold side of a process water system at the desired temperature of 50°F. The refrigerant is then pumped through the process pulling the heat out of one area of a facility.

Chillers are categorized by types. The two main types are vapor compression and vapor absorption chillers.

Vapor compression chillers use an electrically driven mechanical compressor to force a refrigerant around the system while vapor absorption chillers use heat to move the refrigerant around the system.

Vapor compression chillers are the most common and fall into two subcategories: air-cooled chillers and water-cooled chillers.

Water-cooled chillers tend to be more efficient than air-cooled chillers. When water evaporation is used to dissipate heat, less energy is used versus blowing air across a hot surface. Water has a higher heat capacity than air so it is much easier to remove the heat. Water chillers when properly maintained will tend to last a lot longer than air-cooled chillers.

Air-cooled chillers cost less to install as they have less equipment and require less space. Rooftop installation negates the need for a mechanical room and frees up more space within the building. Typically, they do not have as long a service life as water-cooled chillers due to exposure to the outside elements.

Chillers are further categorized by the type of compressor used: centrifugal, screw, reciprocating, and scroll chillers.

A centrifugal chiller uses rotating impellers to compress the refrigerant and move it around the chiller. The majority of centrifugal chillers are water chillers. These are used for medium to large cooling loads and offer high cooling capacity in a compact design.

Centrifugal compressors have better full-load efficiency, and screw compressors can achieve comparable part-load efficiencies.

Screw chillers are also used in both water and air chillers and are ideal for small to medium cooling loads. They use two interlocking rotating helical rotors to compress the refrigerant and capacity is controlled via speed control or slider.

Screw compressors work by using two interlocking rotating helical rotors to compress the refrigerant and they are preferred for part-load applications. These are stable down to about 10% capacity, where centrifugal compressors begin to surge at around 20% to 40% capacity.

Reciprocating compressors have two types: air-cooled or water-cooled. They use cylinders with pistons acting as pumps to increase coolant pressure, much like a car engine. Reciprocating chillers are smaller than centrifugal chillers and can cope with the specific demands from load on the system.

Scroll compressors are most often used for small buildings with cooling loads under 200 tons or 700 kW. A scroll compressor works by using two interleaving scrolls (one scroll within the other) to compress the refrigerant. Usually self-contained, scroll compressors are used in both air and water coolers. They are known for quiet operation and their dependability.

Whether it's for rooftop chillers, light commercial or industrial applications, Ohio Heating & Refrigeration has solutions for air conditioning and heating that are designed to meet a wide range of building and application regulations. Call us at 614-863-6666 to learn more. 

Radiant heating systems supply heat directly to the floor or panels in the wall or ceiling of a  building. The systems are dependent on radiant heat transfer. This is the delivery of heat directly from the hot surface to the people and objects in the room by infrared radiation. 

Heating coils or water tubes are installed in the floor, walls, or ceilings to radiate heat into a room.

Radiant heating is the heat you feel from a hot stove's elements from across the room. Radiant heating located in the floor is called radiant floor heating, floor heating or underfloor heating. 

This has several advantages. It is more efficient than forced-air heating and baseboard heating due to the elimination of heat loss through ducts. 

It is also beneficial for controlling indoor air quality as it does not distribute allergens and toxins the way forced air systems can. 

Floor heating depends heavily on convection, the natural circulation of heat within a room as the warm air from the floor rises.  Radiant floor heating systems are significantly different from the radiant panels used in walls and ceilings. 

There are three types of radiant floor heating systems:

1. AIR-HEATED RADIANT FLOORS
2. ELECTRIC RADIANT FLOORS
3. HYDRONIC RADIANT FLOORS

Hydronic (liquid-based) systems use little electricity, a benefit for buildings in areas with high electricity prices. These systems use a wide variety of energy sources to heat the liquid, including standard gas or oil-fired boilers, wood-fired boilers, solar water heaters, or a combination of these.

Floor heating allows you to design your commercial property making the most of all the wall and floor space. Also, it works well with floor coverings such as laminate, tile, wood, carpet, stone, and more.

Radiant floor heating is an easy and energy-efficient way to heat your property. While the cost of installing radiant heating is higher than the installation cost of traditional radiators, there are various options available to suit your budget. Most importantly, floor heating provides substantial cost savings on your energy bills in the long run.

Want to learn more about radiant heating for your building? Call Ohio Heating at 614-863-6666

Are you considering a water source heat pump for your commercial property?  

Traditional air source heat pumps get their heat from the air outside. Even cold air contains a substantial amount of heat. Water source heat pumps work on the same principle as air source heat pumps, but they extract heat from a body of water rather than the air.

Water source heat pumps (WSHP) systems are a popular option for commercial buildings when multiple zone controls are needed. They can provide heat and cool simultaneously to different zones depending on the comfort requirements.

There are two groups of WSHP systems. One is a standard closed-loop system that uses pipes that run directly into the building. This system usually consists of a boiler, cooling tower, pumps and controls.

The second group is a geothermal system that uses the resources such as a river, lake, well or even the ground.

These systems can be installed more economically than floor-by-floor systems or a conventional central plant system. Their small size means they also need smaller ducts.

Operating costs are reasonably efficient as units are used for individual space control. The boiler or cooling tower is only activated when it is needed.

• Reliable Performance
• Easy, Simple Servicing
• Energy Efficiency and Energy Savings
• Superior Indoor Air Quality
• Quiet HVAC Operation
• Individual Zoning
• Low Installation or Retrofitting Cost

If you would like to learn more about WSHP systems and if one would be right for your commercial property,  call Ohio Heating & Air at 614-863-6666. We’ve been providing commercial property owners expert HVAC services for over 20 years. 

Lightning is a spectacular example of static electricity but a less dramatic, but annoying example is the static electricity that zaps you in your home when you touch a metal door knob.

Static electricity in your home can be a problem during the winter months. Unpleasant static shocks are more common when it's cold and dry as the cold air holds less water vapour than warm summer air and allows for the build-up of static electrons. When you touch something like a metal those extra electrons will rapidly leave your body and give you the shock.

You've probably noticed other static electricity forms such as frizzy hair and clingy clothing besides  those telltale sparks when you touch a doorknob. Occasionally, static can also build up to levels that can be damaging to sensitive electronics, so it's important not to let it get too out of hand. The way to reduce the amount of static shock in your home is with a humidifier that will raise the moisture level in your home.

How Humidification Helps

Static electricity tends to be more prevalent in winter as the air is driest then. This is the perfect environment for static charges to build. Moisture in the air prevents static electricity from building up and that's where humidifiers come in. Maintaining an optimum humidity level around 30% to 40% can significantly reduce static electricity. 

Other Benefits

Humidifiers offer additional benefits as well, such as reducing your susceptibility to colds. Bacteria and viruses thrive in both highly humid and quite dry conditions. This means by keeping your home at the suggested humidity levels, you give yourself the power to get over your cold faster.

Itchy skin, dry nasal passages, and excessive dust in your home can be relieved by more humidity. Humidification also protects wooden floors, furniture and fixtures in you home from drying, separating, and cracking. Another bonus is that when your indoor air is moist, it feels warmer, allowing you to turn down the heat a few degrees. That's instant savings on your energy bill!

Humidification Options

When considering adding moisture to your, you basically have two options. The first is one or more portable humidifiers, which can each effectively eliminate dry air in a single room. The second is a whole-house humidifier, which works with your HVAC system to humidify the air throughout your home.

Although portable models are less expensive, whole-house humidifiers are more efficient, do not require constantly having to be refilled with water, require little maintenance and are usually installed out of sight and away from your living space.

If you need advice on which type of home humidifier would work best for your home or office, Ohio Heating & Air Conditioning techs have the knowledge and expertise to help answer any of your questions and suggest a humidification system that will work best with your heating system and your budget. 

Regardless of the age of your equipment or if you are currently using portable appliances, updating to whole-home solutions could save you a substantial amount on energy costs and address other issues affecting the air quality in your home. 

Give us a call at

614.863.6666

Are you having problems finding a temperature that everyone in your home agrees on? What is comfortable for some people isn't ideal for others. There are those who like to sleep in a cold room, while others like it warmer. There are ways to combat the temperature wars at your home. 

System zoning lets you control the temperature of your heating and air conditioning system in the different rooms of your home. 

Zoning allows you to divide your house into areas with varying temperatures. This can be cost-efficient as you can control the conditioning areas you don’t use often or where others want a different temperature.

Zoning can successfully control the airflow and temperature needs in a specific area without affecting other areas. Zoning, if done properly, can save you hundreds of dollars on your energy bills.

As you have probably noticed, heat rises, which leaves your first floor feeling nice, your second floor hot, your attic hotter, and your basement pretty chilly. Not only do you have natural laws adding to the varying temperatures in your house, but windows and winds can find their way into changing the temperature in your home. 

Expecting to have one thermostat in one room of your house to control all of the rooms in your home is unrealistic. Zoning solves the inconsistent and discomforting temperatures in your home by setting up four thermostats in four separate areas or zones of your home. 

There are two main benefits of zoning your home:

Energy efficiency: By controlling different areas of your home, you can save up to 30% on your energy bills, which can be hundreds of dollars each year. 

Home comfort: Whether you want different areas of your home the same temperature or different, everyone in the home is comfortable.

The team at Ohio Heating & Air has helped thousands of families stop the thermostat wars and enjoy the comfort of their homes. We are the experts in zoning your HVAC system. We offer a full line of zoning temperature controls

Ohio Heating & Air has the knowledge and resources to deliver comfort and safety in a home heating or air conditioning system. From small homes to large ones, we have become a trusted name in Columbus and Central Ohio.

As a Bryant factory authorized dealer, we offer competitive prices on custom systems. Whether a basic system or a high-end, energy-efficient system with zone control, we have an intelligent indoor climate solution for you.

Call us at 614-863-6666 to learn more about zoning your home's heating & air system.