Lets Talk Ventilation – Easy Explanations to Ventilation Terms Part 1 (A – D)

Have you ever had a conversation with an expert in their field of study and it seems like they are talking in a different language yet expect you to understand everything they are saying? Unfortunately we in the ventilation field can be charged as guilty of this offense, using terms that most people have no idea what we are talking about. Fear not, we are here to help. We are going to take the next few blog entries to work through some of the common terms used. We mind as well jump right to it:

AMPS: Is a unit of measurement that expresses the strength of current of electricity – how much electricity is flowing.

ASHRAE 62.2: is a minimum national standard that provides methods for achieving acceptable indoor air quality in typical residences. The standard has three main components: Whole House Ventilation, Local Exhaust, and Source Control. The recommendations that follow are for most common conditions, extreme conditions require additional consideration. Air King has done many posts on the elements of ASHRAE 62.2 you can also get more info at http://www.airkinglimited.com/page/ashrae622.html

Blower Wheel: Also referred to as the fan blade or a squirrel cage. Spins to generate ventilation power within the unit.

California Title 24: An energy efficiency standard for residential and nonresidential buildings in California to reduce energy consumption. As it pertains to ventilation, it provides minimum standards for the performance of the products that may be used, especially when a light combination unit is to be a part of the installation

CFM: Cubic Feet per Minute. Unit of measure for how much air is exchanged in one minute of time. For instance a fan running at 100 CFM can exhaust (or exchange) 10 ft. wide by 10 ft. long by 10 ft. high room in 10 minutes (10ft x 10ft x 10ft = 1000 cubic feet divided by 100 = 10 minutes)

Charcoal Filter: Filter used to eliminate odor from the air passing through it. Needed in cases where air will be re-circulated back into the living area. These can also be referred to as Odor filters.

Combination Filter: A filter used to capture grease and debris as well as to filter out odors. The filter includes a combination of a wire mesh grease filter and a charcoal odor filter. These filters are utilized when a range hood is being used in a ductless configuration.

Contractor Pack: Mainly utilized in larger building projects, a contractor pack consists of two parts – the housing and then the Motor/Blade/Grill (MBG or Trim kit). The housing is sent to the jobsite for installation before the ceilings are installed. Once the home is almost complete, the MBG or trim kit is then installed.

Convertible: Refers to range hoods that can be installed with various ducting options including vertical, horizontal, or ductless.

Duct Free / Ductless: A unit that recirculates the air back into the living area. Generally some type of odor filter is needed to operate. No duct work is needed with a unit that is ductless.

Our hope is this helps explain some of the common terms thrown around in the ventilation field. In our next blog post we will take a look at E – N terms. To learn more visit www.airkinglimited.com

You know that the filters in your range hood can be removed and cleaned – right? Tips for keeping your range hood running properly

If you are like a lot of people, when it comes to cleaning the filters of your kitchen range hood it always seems to be on the to-do list and never seems to make it to the done list.

All range hoods that exhaust air are going to have some type of filtration system. If the air is being exhausted outside, they will have a grease filter. These types of filters can be easily cleaned. While it will depend on how often the range hood is used, we suggest they are checked and cleaned at least once a month.

As grease and debris builds up on the filters it can limit the amount of air coming through the range hood and cause the hood to run louder and less efficiently. By maintaining your filters, you can ensure that your hood is running at its peak performance level.You should always refer to your owner’s manual for specific cleaning procedures and always turn the power off to the range hood before starting any maintenance. To clean the filters remove them from the range hood and use a mild detergent with hot water. In years past, grease filters could be washed in a dishwasher. A change in the chemicals used in most dishwasher detergents no longer allows filters to be put into the dishwasher. The reason is that most filters are made of aluminum and the new chemical configuration of the detergents can have a reaction with the aluminum causing spots. While it doesn’t affect the performance of the filters, it does not look the best. If your filters are made from materials such as stainless steel then they can typically go into the dishwasher.If you have a range hood that recirculates the air back into the room, they will typically have a combination odor and grease filter. The odor filter consists of some type of charcoal filtration. Unfortunately, these are not able to be washed and need to be replaced.

Your kitchen range hood is an important component of your home’s indoor air quality. Keeping it running efficiently and effectively is critical. To learn more about other helpful tips visit the FAQ section at www.airkinglimited.com.