The use of air conditioner or AC has become inevitable in today’s world and especially in areas where the climate of the place is extremely hot. No matter whether your purpose is to cool an area during summer or to regulate the temperature indoors throughout the year, it is essential to know about air conditioners so as to choose the right model for you. Below, you will find information on a wide variety of topics: How air conditioners work, Types of air conditioners, Energy efficiency, Maintenance and many more.
How Air Conditioners Work:
Essentially, an air conditioner works by using a refrigeration cycle to eliminate heat from the air inside a house and release it to the environment while at the same time passing cooler air into the house. This process is centered on a refrigeration cycle and involves ordinarily utilized parts, inflicting refrigerant, compressor, evaporator, and condenser.
The refrigerant is the type of substance that has the capability of accepting heat and converting to vapor at the same time. During the cooling cycle, refrigerant causes the heat to be absorbed and in turn become a gas form of the refrigerant.
2. There Are Several Types Of Air Conditioners:
Air conditioners are of different classifications and they are mostly decided by the geographical location of the place to be conditioned and the cooling requirement. Knowing these differences will assist in the selection of the most suitable system for the home or the office.
Central Air Conditioners:
Central air conditioner systems are most popular for big houses and buildings that require a systematic way of conditioning. They are made of a large outdoor unit with ducts installed around the different areas in the building. The air is conditioned with central cool air which is then supplied throughout the house with the help of cool air vents in different rooms.
Window Air Conditioners:
Window air conditioners are small units which are fitted into a window or into a space provided aperture in the wall. They are suitable in cooling single rooms and are relatively cheaper than the central AC systems. However they are noisy and they hinder natural light hence cannot be used in any situation to overcome children’s obesity.
Split Air Conditioners:
Split air conditioners consist of two units: an indoor unit that can be wall-mounted and an outdoor unit which is linked by refrigerant tubing. This type of system is best suited for cooling of single rooms or spaces and is less noisy and less conspicuous than window units.
Portable Air Conditioners:
These are mobile air conditioners which are independent units, and not mounted on the wall or windows. They work through expulsion of hot air through either a window or a hose. These units are portable for short-term usage or for small rooms but they are not as efficient and quiet as other kinds of air conditioners.
How to Select the Right Sized Air Conditioner:
You should always choose the right size of an air conditioner so that you can have the right one that would serve the right purpose in the best way. If the unit is too small, then it will be unable to adequately cool the area and this will lead to inefficiency and faster wearing out of the unit as well as high energy bills.
To be able to fix the right size air conditioners are measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units) as a measure of the quantity of heat the machine has to expel from the space within one hour. If the space is large then it is going to need more BTUs than if the area is really small. Here’s a basic guide:
4. Energy Efficiency and Air Conditioner:
It is important for any person to ensure that they use an energy efficient air conditioning unit. Such efficient systems not only have the effect of cutting down the electricity bills but also an effect of decreasing the environment problems as well.
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio):
More precisely, the SEER rating determined the ratio between the cooling capacity of an air conditioner and the amount of energy it used during a seasonal cooling operation. It is a known fact that a higher SEER rating depicts a better performance in energy efficiency. Today, the minimum standard SEER for air conditioners is somewhere about 13, while there are models some of which come with SEER of up to 20 and above.
EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio):
The EER rating as in the case of SEER reflects efficiency in terms of energy, however the difference is that it compares efficiency at a given outdoor temperature as opposed to a whole season. This makes EER more suitable for analyzing performance in specific temperature ranges which should be the primary purpose of a given cooling system.
Maintenance And Care For Air Conditioners:
It may be important to seek the help of skilled mechanics for proper maintenance in order to keep an air conditioner running for a longer period of time. Poor maintenance of the equipment’s leads to high electricity bills, poor productivity, and abrupt failure. Here are some key maintenance tasks:
Filters:
The air filter that is found on an AC system helps to filter dust, dirt and anything that is airborne. Because of this, it can collect dust which in a long run hampers normal flow of air within the system and increases pressure on it to work harder. One is to remind the owners to clean or replace filters every one to three months depending on the kind of air conditioner and usage rate.
Clean the Coils:
Each of the two coils, evaporator and condenser, collects dust on its surface, thus, its efficiency in transferring heat reduces. This should be done at least once a year or as the situation may warrant because putting a lot of pressure on the system will not be favorable.
Check Refrigerant Levels:
When the level of refrigerant is low, the air conditioner will not deliver its best performance as it is expected, this results in weak cool air and high power consumption. If you find your AC is not cooling your home as it used to then you may just need a recharge of the refrigerant.
Check the Condensate Drain:
The condensate drain means by which water is taken out of the air from the system. If the drain is blocked then the unit will not be able to remove humidity as required and this will cause a lot of moisture damage within your home. These problems are some of the things that could be avoided through routine check up and cleaning of the drain.
6. Symptoms that tell you it is time to get your air conditioner replaced:
He understood that air conditioners are not devices, which work for years and years. It is found that most of the systems can last between 10 to 15 years on average depending on usage, servicing and quality of the unit. Here are some signs that it may be time to consider replacing your AC:Here are some signs that it may be time to consider replacing your AC:
Frequent Repairs:
But if you end up using your air conditioner more money will be spent on frequent repairs on it. If the present type of repair starts to become more frequent, or the cost associated with a repair abruptly becomes more than the cost of a new system, then one would be wiser to get a new, better system.
Higher Energy Bills:
Unfortunately, the modern air conditioning unit gradually deteriorates, making it consume a lot of energy, and therefore translate to expensive electricity bills. For instance, if you are experiencing high electricity costs, even with conventional use and your air conditioner seems not to be operating efficiently, then the unit should be replaced by a more efficient one.
Uneven Cooling:
Your air conditioner will fail to cool the entire home evenly if some of the rooms are much warmer, or cooler than others. Inadequate distribution of the cool air is indicative of a defective system or substandard ducts, the two that may call for a replacement.
Excessive Noise:
Any sound other than a fan sound or a sound of a normal running air conditioning system should be looked into. Recommendations and Benefits Whatever noises one hears, which includes grinding, banging, or rattling, it could attain to the conclusion that the elements are damaged, and time to change to the latest system is due.
7. Effects of Environmental Pollution and Their Solutions:
Earlier models of air conditioning units also pose a problem to the environment because of the energy they require to operate and some of the chemicals they employ in their operation such as the refrigerants. The earlier types of refrigerants most especially the R-22 are now banned for use due to their effects on the ozone layer.
Conclusion:
Knowledge on one air conditioner, the types that are available in the market and some of the things that you should consider before buying the air conditioner will help you in deciding whether to purchase the air conditioner or not. This knowledge will not only guarantee the best size but will also focus on energy saving which will help save money and also the environment. This is a relief because if you ever needed an air conditioner for one room or the entire house, there is one which suits the needs of everyone.
