How Do Galileo Thermometers Work?

At the touch of a button, your phone gives you the temperature, 5-day forecast, and more. Your smart thermostat tells you the temperature inside and outside, and lets you adjust accordingly. But it wasn't always this way. Centuries ago, people told the temperature using Galileo thermometers. And recently, they've made a comeback.

History of Galileo Thermometers

The Galileo thermometer was actually not designed by Galileo, but rather by a student of his, with a group of engineers. They first described the device in an academic paper in 1666. Called the Fifth Thermometer, or slow thermometer, the principle was that a liquid's density would change as the temperature grew colder or warmer, which could be used to determine exact temperature.As other, more efficient thermometers were developed, over time the slow thermometer fell by the wayside. Until the 1990s, when London's Natural History Museum started selling them in the gift shop. They've been increasing in popularity ever since.

How They Work

A cylindrical tube is filled with clear liquid, such as water or alcohol. In it is placed a series of glass balls of different weights, also filled with liquid, dyed different colors. Each colored ball represents a different temperature and has a tag attached to indicate it. The heavier the ball, the lower the temperature.Say the temperature is 80 degrees. All the balls tagged higher than 80 degrees are less dense than the surrounding liquid at this temperature, and will float to the top of the tube, with the 80 degree ball floating just beneath them. All others are at the bottom.Then the temperature drops to 75 degrees. The liquid being denser now, the 80 degree ball can float all the way to the top, and the heavier 75 degree ball takes its place, floating just below the others.It's not quite as precise as your thermostat's readings, but it's still perfectly accurate, and a colorful, and useful knickknack to have around the house.

To learn more about Galileo thermometers and other HVAC issues, contact us at Air Assurance. We proudly serve Broken Arrow's heating and cooling needs.

How HVAC Industry Changes Affect Homeowners in 2018

The HVAC industry changes for 2018 will have the most impact on homeowners who have older heat pumps and air conditioners, and the amount of fresh air ventilation new homes require. The phasing out of R-22 is nearly complete as the 2020 deadline approaches and the building codes for ventilation have been relaxed.

Refrigerant Phase-Out

If your central HVAC system uses R-22 and needs refrigerant, you’ll have to pay higher prices to fill it. Since 2010, no new systems can use R-22 because it’s an environmental hazard and the amount produced each year has been diminishing. By 2020, production will cease altogether.The new rules governing R-22 apply to HVAC technicians who need to handle it. They must pass a certification exam, and keep the certificate for three years after it expires. The technicians must also record how much they remove from a system that uses R-22, and how they disposed of it. They must also record where they disposed of the HVAC equipment.

Ventilation Codes

The International Residential Code (IRC) makes periodic changes to their building codes. They’ve rolled back their fresh air ventilation requirements to the levels established in 2010. Ventilation helps keep air healthier indoors either by exhausting stale air and replenishing it with fresh.Newer homes have been built to higher energy efficiency standards and require more mechanical ventilation since they have few air leaks caused by cracks or gaps in the exterior envelope.Some builders include balanced ventilation systems, like heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) that pull out as much interior air as they pull in from the outdoors. If not included as a standard feature, your HVAC contractor can add an HRV, which is the most energy efficient way to supply fresh air year-round.

If the HVAC industry changes for refrigerant will affect you in 2018, feel free to contact Air Assurance for more information. We provide trusted HVAC services for Broken Arrow homeowners.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about the HVAC industry and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273. Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Gellinger/Pixabay”

HVAC Basics: What is HVAC?

For some folks, their knowledge of the HVAC system that cools and heats their home is limited to that little white box on the wall that shows temperatures. Yet, knowing some HVAC basics is a great advantage for a homeowner when it comes to handling routine maintenance, conserving energy, and troubleshooting mechanical issues when they arise.

Following is a simple explanation of the most common residential HVAC set-up, the central forced-air heating and cooling system. Typically, this involves a combination of combustion furnace for heating and split-system air conditioner for cooling, though some homes use a heat pump for both heating and cooling. "Split-system" refers to the fact that there's an indoor unit containing an evaporator coil and fan, and an outdoor unit containing a condensing coil, compressor and fan.

The process starts when a furnace blower — or A/C or heat pump air handler — draws household air into the appliance where it's heated or cooled. The fan then blows the now-conditioned air throughout the house via a network of supply ducts and registers. The air returns to the main equipment through return ductwork, where the process repeats itself. In homes with furnaces, the furnace blower typically serves as the blower for the A/C.

You can help this process by taking care of routine maintenance, such as inspecting and changing the air filter when it gets dirty. A clogged filter will impede airflow through the system, forcing the equipment to work harder and consume more energy.

You can also aid your HVAC system by weatherizing your home – sealing air leaks in its outer envelope and making sure insulation is sufficient.

Scheduling annual professional maintenance for each part of your HVAC system (heating and cooling) is also essential. A poorly maintained furnace, A/C or heat pump will struggle to heat or cool your home, waste energy, and eventually experience breakdowns. Consider signing a comprehensive maintenance agreement with your trusted local HVAC contractor.

For more help understanding HVAC basics that can help you maximize comfort and save energy in your Broken Arrow area home, please contact us at Air Assurance.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC basics and other HVAC topics, call us at 918-217-8273.