Barney Garcia asked:


Someone selling an air conditioner would try to convince you at any cost that you must buy an air conditioner and for that if he has to tell a few half-truths or even lies, he would do that. Thing is you should know beforehand so that you can’t be sold a bluff. One such point is the dehumidifying capacity of air conditioners. While air conditioners do dehumidify, their primary purpose is to make the environment comfortable.

For the job of dehumidification we have refrigerant dehumidifiers. The compressor of a refrigerant dehumidifier is rated at anything between 13000 and 15000 BTU. In place of that, a residential central air system has a compressor rated at 30000 BTU or higher. The air conditioners used for commercial purposes have even higher ratings. Now with such high ratings and over 50% of the energy being expended by air conditioners in dehumidification, they are apparently good agents of dehumidification.

But there is more to it. In case of a refrigerant dehumidifier, subject to the surrounding conditions, the temperature of the evaporator coil is about 20 to 30 degree Fahrenheit below the dew point temperature of the surrounding air which is at about 28 degree Fahrenheit. However, when we are talking about an air conditioner the equation changes. An air conditioner’s evaporator coil would only be 10 to 14 degree Fahrenheit colder than the surrounding air. The theory is that, the more a coil is cold, thee greater the moisture vapor that will be removed from the air. What this means is when a dehumidifier is able to dehumidify a space in 24 to 36 hours, an air conditioner will take much longer.

There are also the evaporative coolers which are extensively used in the dry climates of the desert and mountain regions of the western United States. The evaporative coolers, as the name suggests uses evaporation to cool the air. The result is that the humidity increases in the air. So, if anyone plans to buy an evaporative cooler, thinking it will also solve is dehumidifying problem, he should think again. In fact a dehumidifier and an evaporative cooler shouldn’t be used together as the cooler will nullify the effects of the dehumidifier.

So, it must be understood that air conditioners are made to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors when the outdoors are unpleasant. In the process it might dehumidify the rooms. But that certainly is not what it is meant to do.



Jessie

Liz Wood asked:


A cool house is a popular thing for people to look forward to on hot, humid summer days. As beautiful as summer is, the heat quickly wears you down and one of the best ways to cool down and relax from the impact of the sun is to walk into a home that is being cooled down with a functioning air conditioning system. Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of central air conditioning for their home, apartment, or office. The good news is that there is more than one option when it comes to cooling down the inside of your home.

There are many air conditioning options to choose from that are cost effective and energy efficient. You can choose between all kinds of window air conditioners, portable air conditioners, and portable evaporative coolers to make the summer heat endurable. The hard part isn’t finding a cooling system that you can afford, but rather deciding which cooling system will work best for you. Below we have mentioned some of the important air cooler descriptions for you to consider when determining which type will best suit your needs.

Aside from central cooling, window air conditioners are very common. Homeowners enjoy them because they are affordable and they are powerful enough to cool down a single room or studio. This works out great of you live alone and spend most of your time in a single room such as your bedroom, office, basement, etc. They work best if you have a vertically opening window. Also, they are convenient in that that they do not require any additional ventilation and they save valuable floor space. Furthermore, window air conditioners require very little maintenance and can be programmed to turn on and off whenever you specify.

Portable air conditioners are loved because they can be moved around from one room to the next. People often end up using portable air conditioners as oscillating fans, odor removers or dehumidifiers. Most of them have built in condensation tanks which need to be emptied periodically. These tanks automatically turn off when they become full which keeps water from spilling onto the floor. Other portable systems include a self-evaporation features which automatically ventilates excess moisture out of the room. However, keep in mind that portable air conditioners do require a window ventilation hose to function correctly.

Evaporative coolers, also knows as swamp coolers, work differently then air conditioners. They do not use any type of refrigeration to cool the air. They do, however, use the natural cooling process of evaporating water to cool the air which then gets blown into the room. The pros to evaporative coolers are that they are less expensive than air conditioners and they use much less electricity to cool a room. Furthermore, evaporative coolers are low maintenance and inexpensive to repair in most cases. Keep in mind; these coolers are only effective in hot, humid temperatures.



Melinda

Sam Smith asked:


For some offices and establishments the air conditioner is an absolute must. Depending on the time of year. weather and climate where a business is locate the air conditioner might be a have to for an establishment. However, there are some easy steps and thing you can do to great decrease the cost of using an air conditioner. By following the steps below you will save a great deal of money.

Always On?

Air conditioning doesn’t always have to be on. The first thing you have consider when maintaining an air-conditioning unit is that it doesn’t have to always be on. You can schedule the air-conditioning to be turned on during peak hours when the weather is too hot. If you have more than one unit you could rotate them to function depending on their need.

During some parts of the day you only need one or two units to keep the building comfortably cool. And during noontime, you may need all of your units open. Just make sure you study a workable schedule that optimizes the use of your air-conditioning units.

Regular Maintenance

Regular maintenance can greatly increase the performance of your air-conditioning units. While regular maintenance may seem like a cost increasing method, it actually reduces the cost of operations for your air-conditioning units. This is because air-conditioning units that aren’t well maintained don’t perform as well as those that are.

A decrease in the air conditioners performance means it eats more electricity just to arrive at the same temperature than it would normally need. That is why cleaning and maintaining an air-conditioning unit is vital to saving money on their use.

Turn Off Early

Always turn off the air-conditioning unit 30 minutes before leaving the building. Some people turn off their air-conditioning units just as they are about to leave the building. The fact is, you can turn off your air-conditioning units a good while before you leave. That is because it takes about 30 minutes for the temperature of the room to go back to being uncomfortable.

The Right Air Conditioner

Choose the right kind of air-conditioning. Choosing the right kind of air-conditioning for your room and saving money on electricity costs are synonymous with each other. If you are trying to air-condition a small room, then a smaller horsepower air-conditioner would be sufficient. If you install the larger more energy hungry air-conditioner, you would spend more than you need.

It is important to keep the cost of your air conditioning habits in mind and always try to think about ways you can save money on it’s usage. Simple turning it off 30 minutes before leaving work for the day and not using it in the morning can help save a good deal of money. Also making sure that the unit you own fits well with your needs and specific requirements can be a huge help.



Kurt

Barney Garcia asked:


Before we buy an air conditioner, there should be a better understanding in us about the different kinds of air conditioners available. In the following section of the article, we try to provide brief descriptions of each of the variants.

There are basically three primary kinds of air conditioner. These are: – Window mounted – Wall mounted – Portable air conditionerses

Window mounted air conditionerss

These are the most popular of air conditionerss and need to be fitted into the windows. They actually slide inside the opening in a double-hung window. These versions came in two variants – cooling only or cooling and heating together. The positives going for it are its low costs, compatibility with the wiring already present in the house, and ease of installation. However, they are specially designed for double-hung windows so if you have sliding windows you will need to pay for a separate installation kit. The prices generally range from anything between $200 and $800 depending upon the capacity of the air conditioner.

Wall mounted air conditioner

These air-conditioners can be permanently mounted in a wall. A metal sleeve needs to be attached through the wall and the air conditioner chassis is slid on it from inside the room. These air-conditionerses are also available in cooling or cooling and heating varieties. These units are generally better looking than window mounted air conditioners and also do not block the windows in the rooms. The problem is with installation which would require you to make a hole in the wall. If it is a wall of concrete then making a hole in itself would be an effort. One also has to be very careful about any wiring or pipes passing through the wall. Damaging one of them can severely delay your installation. And you would land up with more hassles. However, once installed, these units are easier to remove for replacement and repairs. The prices of these air conditioners range from $400 to $700.

Portable Air Conditioners

These air conditioners are the most user friendly. They don’t need to be installed. Just plug it in and it is ready to start work. They also come with wheels. So you can pull them from one room to another. This way you can actually avail the comforts of air conditioner in all your rooms by investing on a single unit. These units however, are priced a little higher than the window or wall mounted air conditioner. Their price varies anything from $700 to $1000.



Roberto

Barney Garcia asked:


Many of us would have preferred to install a central air conditioner but somehow the houses we stay in do not have the provision for one. And installing window air conditioners for all the rooms would mean blocking a window in each of the rooms. This can be a problem for some. There was hardly any solution in sight, till the introduction of the mini-split or ductless air conditioners. Sometimes they are also referred to as the duct-free air conditioners.

The ductless air conditioners basically are a derivative from the central air conditioning system and the window air conditioning system taking the plusses from both, and removing the restrictions of each. The necessity for inventing this ductless air conditioners can be traced back to a few reasons. First of all, not all houses had the provision for ducts being installed. Even if the house had provisions, installing ducts would be a pretty expensive exercise.

For the ductless air conditioners an outside unit is installed on the exterior walls of the building. It can also be on the roof of the building. The unit would include the compressor. Since this is a very important part of the device it needs to be sheltered. The units installed inside the rooms include an evaporator. These are installed high on the walls or even in the ceiling of the rooms which you want to regulate the temperature of. The outdoor and indoor units are connected through a refrigerant pipe. This pipe is about 3 inches in diameter. The pipe is passed through a hole that is drilled into the wall. A single outdoor unit can be connected to a maximum of three units indoors.

Once you have understood what needs to be done, you can then proceed with the job of cutting the hole. Always remember to set the unit slightly out of level. This will allow the condensate to drain easily. Plugging the unit is also crucial and it should be done with proper attention. Check the voltage it needs to be plugged in – whether 120 volts or 240 volts. It shouldn’t happen that the unit overloads the outlet circuit. Another small thing but we often forget to take care when we make the hole in the wall is that if the cord from the unit reaches the plug point.

This variant of air conditioners allows you to have separate zones in your house with different temperature controls. The plus for this air conditioner is that it does not block any of the windows inside the rooms. Another positive is the low levels of noise inside the house. Since the compressor rests outside the house, the noise levels naturally get reduced.

These air conditioners are a bit more expensive when compared to the window air conditioners. However, they are more economical than the central air conditioners. So it is ideal for those who want to do away with the noise and blocked windows that come with window air conditioners and also have a limited budget.



Darrell

beehasitall asked:


My husband and I inherited a large window unit air conditioner from a relative who recently passed away. Unfortunately, it is too big to be able to place on the only window we have in our apartment, and unfortunately the apartment doesn’t have air conditioning, only heating.

Is there a way to still be able to use the unit, placing it somewhere indoors?

This is something totally new to both of us, and don’t know what to do.

Judy

Whack whack whack asked:


the air conditioner in my house turns on at EVERY room. i want it to just be on at certain room to keep bills low. anyone knows how?

Ramon

Ricky Lim asked:


The major air condition repairs carried out are due to the air conditioner not being able to turn on, or the cooling capacity has been reduced, the air flow is lost or it can also be due to the internal components of the air conditioner.

The usual air conditioner components that need to be replaced are the faulty air compressor or condenser, defective air handling unit, defects in the duct system and the air leaks.

If your air conditioner doesn’t start, you have to look at the controls and the switches as most of the problems due to air condition repair are electrical repairs. You have to check whether the circuit breaker and the thermostat are properly functioning.

After that you need to check the air handling unit which comprises the return air plenum, air filter, blower fan, cooling and heating coil and the supply plenum. Next you need to check the circuit breakers for the compressors and the air handling units.

If the air conditioning problem is not resolved, then you need to check the duct system i.e. the return air ducts and the supply air ducts and the filters whether they carry air from the air handler to the different intended rooms in the building.

The other most common problem with air conditioners would be that the air conditioner doesn’t give good cooling effect. It so, you will need to check the blower unit.

If you find that it is dirty, you should clean it as it causes loss of cool air supply. The reduced cooling could also be due to old or aged air compressors which have to be replaced.

The air compressors are costly and this would be an expensive repair. Cooling effect is reduced even if the condensate from the air conditioner is not being drained properly or there are leaks in the air handler, or due to damaged air ducts or due to the problems in the air conditioner refrigerant system.



Larry

JT Miller asked:


Central AC is one of those things that you miss the most only have you don’t have it. This is especially true on the first few hot and humid summer days when you first try to turn on your air conditioner and nothing happens! A typical central air conditioner will only last between 12 to 15 years, so if your central AC is about this old you may want to start budgeting for a new one. A single visit from a heating and cooling repairman may cost $100 or more, so it’s worth trying a few of these simple and free steps!

Before you try any of these steps, be safe and only attempt what you feel comfortable with. Most of these tips are electrical in nature because a central air conditioner system draws a lot of power and as the units get older they sometimes have to draw more power to work a little harder. Many times this extra power drain simply pops fuses or fires off reset switches which need to be found and switched back on.

1. Check your thermostat. Some electronic thermostats don’t immediately turn on the unit and some have a range of temperatures they use to gauge whether or not the air conditioner or heat should turn on. You may want to check your thermostat manual to make sure you are operating it the way you should. Sometimes simply turning the thermostat on and off will help.

2. Make sure your thermostat is working well. So you know you’re operating the thermostat correctly, but do you know your if your thermostat is working well? Again, electronic thermostats often run on battery power and those batteries have to be changed. Be sure to only use the type of batteries the thermostate manufacturer suggests (usually alkaline). An electronic thermostat is just an automatic switch that basically turns your AC unit on and off at certain temperatures. If the batteries are low the switch may not be turning on or reading the air temperature properly.

3. Check your fuses. A central air conditioner will probably have several different fuses and safety switches. First try turning the thermostat on and off (as in step 1). Then try resetting the fuse at your home’s electrical panel. In some air conditioner systems there is another blower fuse and switch. There may be yet another fuse outside on the wall next to the air conditioner unit or in the unit itself. Some furnaces have reset buttons in them as well.

4. Read the manual! I put this last because, let’s face it, you’ve probably lost or never had the operations manual! If you can find the operations manual to your central air conditioner unit you may want to investigate to see if there are any recommended troubleshooting suggestions.

I’ve kept my central air conditioner unit going an extra two months before I had it replaced simply by checking the fuses and reset switches whenever it stopped working. This little bit of running around was greatly appreciated on those 95 degree days with high humidity!

A replacement air conditioner unit will cost you anywhere between $2,500 and $5,000 depending on the size of the air conditioner unit you need and the brand and efficiency level you buy. The good news is that anything you buy these days will definitely be more efficient than your 10 year old AC unit.

Good luck and stay cool!



Alex