CommonSense asked:


I don’t like the idea of leaving my dog in my truck with it running. I want to try and find an air conditioner(s) small enough to be put in and taken out of my truck. If I must leave my dog in my truck I want him to stay cool.

I will report any rude comments.

Ann

Ramesh K asked:


Is there an innovative air conditioner which does not emit those harmful gases? I get a few hits in Google about natural air conditioners, which works based on pumping the water. I do not have the complete details though. Any ideas please?

PS: I know there are natural air conditioners like Swiss etc, so please give alternates based on technology.

Phyllis

Jimmy L asked:


How does an air conditioner, and a heater work?
I’ve always been curious about it, plus one of the vents is leaking water, :\ and I always wanted to know how an air conditioner uses water.

Julio

Stephen Haworth asked:


Air conditioners are present in most of our homes and offices. We enjoy their cooling effects but do you know how your Air conditioning works. Air conditioning is basically the same process as a refrigerator. They perform the same action taking warm air and making it cool.

An air conditioner and refrigerator both use FREON to cool the air. In an air conditioner the FREON is mixed with a small amount of oil that is used to lubricate the compressor.

1. The compressor compresses the cool freon air to turn it to hot gas.

2. The hot gas then passes through a coil system allowing the heat to cool. The cooled air turns back into a liquid as it expels its heat through the coils.

3. After passing through an expansion valve the cooled freon liquid begins to evaporate to become a cold, low pressure FREON gas.

4. As the cold FREON gas passes through the coil the cold is released into the air to cool the air while the heat is absorbed to be carried off and eliminated through the coils as a hot gas.

This process is repeated over and over again supplying us with cool air or in the case of a refrigerator keeping your food cool and preventing it from spoiling. The cooling is systems known as air conditioners come in a variety of sized and styles. You have the units that fir into the window and then you have a central air unit that is located both inside the home and the condenser is place in the back or side of the home. This is basically the same types of units you will see on commercial buildings but in a much ;larger version. The condensers in this type of setting is generally found located on the roof of the building it is cooling.

The components of the air conditioners that are found on the inside of the home or business are the cooling coils and compressors. The condenser and the hot gas coils are found on the outside of the home or business. This is the same no matter what type of air conditioning unit you have.

It is also important to remember that no matter what type of air conditioning unit that you have regular maintenance is required to keep it running in an efficient manner. Older units should be replaced with newer models that have an energy star approval from the Environmental Protection Agency. This will ensure that your air conditioning unit is the most efficient model you can have. This will not only save you money in the long run but also help save the environment as each kilowatt hour of energy used will produce 1.34 lbs of CO2 that is released in the atmosphere cause global warming and other environmental problems.

Paul is a regular contributor to Air Conditioner Reviews an informational website for Air Conditioning ratings and reviews on several brand-names and different types including portable , central and Frigidaire Air Conditioners



Chester

Barney Garcia asked:


Although the air conditioner is here almost for a century, the market for the device, especially the domestic market, is seeing a surge that it had never seen before. This can be attributed to various reasons. While some claim that more people these days have more disposable income which allows them to invest on these devices, there are others who believe that global warming and increased temperatures all over have pushed the sales for air conditioners upwards.

Whatever may be the reason, the fact is that sales have increased and those who are in the business of selling air conditioners are trying to make the most of this opportunity. This would make them claim things which are not completely true. They can even claim that air conditioners come with features, which upon investigation might prove to be completely false. So guard against what you are being told. It is your duty to be mindful. If you are duped, much of the blame rests with you.

Many air conditioner sales person would claim that their air conditioner dehumidify the air. Let us examine how much truth is there in their claim. It is a fact that air conditioners do actually dehumidify the air to a certain extent. The evaporator coil inside the air conditioner which is a below the dewpoint can actually condense the water vapor from the air that is being processed. So when the processed air is released into the room it is devoid of the water vapor that was there in earlier.

But this is by no way the primary function of the air conditioner. Its job is to maintain a temperature. That it dehumidifies is a bonus. But since dehumidifying is not its job, the amount of dehumidification it actually achieves is also limited. This can vary from anything between 40% to 60%.

If you are really keen on dehumidifying the air of your room then you must invest on a dehumidifier itself, a device dedicated to this job. The results you will achieve are much better.

So while buying an air conditioner, keep in mind why you are buying it. It is not for dehumidifying. If however, you feel that your conditioner does enough of dehumidifying and you are happy with what the air conditioner achieves then it is good for you. but never ever buy an air conditioner with the misconception that it will double-up as the dehumidifier.



Jeff

Barney Garcia asked:


Although most of us do own an air conditioner we hardly have an understanding on how it works. May be we have given it a thought but didn’t quite know where to look for an answer, or even if we tried we found the explanation too technical to make proper sense. Or we just didn’t care. What we will attempt here is to describe the process of air conditioning, specifically car air conditioning, and that in a simple and lucid manner so that even a novice can make sense of what we are talking about.

It should be understood that the basic working principle of all air conditioners, be it a window air conditioner or an auto air conditioner, is the same. There are four fundamental processes in physics that we have all read of in our schools which are involved in the working of an air conditioner. The four processes are – evaporation, condensation, compression and expansion.

Let us now go to the details of the workings of an auto air conditioner. We will take it component by component.

Compressor: This is like the heart of the air conditioning unit. When you turn on the air conditioner in your car the compressor kicks in and pumps the refrigerant vapor to the condenser. The vapor at this stage is under extremely high pressure.

Condenser: This is the device which converts the high pressure refrigerant vapor into a liquid. Since the vapor is condensed into a liquid a lot of heat is generated. This extra heat is removed from the condenser by the air that flows out.

Receiver: The liquefied refrigerant next moves to the receiver also referred to as the drier at times. It is like a small reservoir and here any excess moisture that has escaped into the refrigerant is removed. This is because if moisture is allowed to escape it can severely damage the unit with ice crystals being formed causing blockages.

Expansion Valve: The refrigerant, now free of any moisture, next flows into the expansion valve where the high pressure on the refrigerant is removed and it again changes from the liquid state to vapor.

Evaporator: Here the refrigerant vapor absorbs the heat from the air inside the car. On the other hand the blower fan inside the passenger compartment pushes the air across the outside of the evaporator and hence cold air is circulated inside the car.



Marc

Barney Garcia asked:


If you are looking for some comfort during those hot, scorching summer days, you must invest on an air conditioner. The air conditioner is relatively an old device, and the market for it is quite developed. There are the big brands dealing in air conditioners, and research and development over the years has helped to introduce various kinds of models to suit everyone’s needs.

It is a fact that choosing from such a wide range of air conditioners is not always easy. But even after you have chosen the air conditioner the work is only half done. Next you got to install it, which is not always the easiest thing to do in this world.

You need to be precise in the installation of your air conditioner; otherwise it can seriously affect the performance of the unit and can also damage the device in the long run. If you haven’t installed the air conditioner correctly you can land up paying much more for your electricity bills, the cooling air wouldn’t be circulated properly leaving pockets of hot spots, and there can be serious maintenance issues. In fact, if you have not installed your air conditioner properly you might not even get the facilities you were entitled to in the warranty. Research has indicated that with improper installation of your air conditioner, the efficiency levels of the unit can drop by as much as 20%. Add to that the problem of incorrect airflow, and it would seem that your investment on the air conditioner is going down the drain.

While installing an air conditioner there are four things that one should keep in mind.

1.It must be taken care of to see that the airflow over the fan coil unit passes through the forced air duct system located in the air handler.

2.Care must be taken to see that the refrigerant charge is at the right level.

3.The air supply unit, which would remain outside the building, should be at an appropriate place.

4.The control system, particularly the thermostat which actually turns the unit on and off, should be readily accessible.

These are however very general guidelines and will be applicable to almost all models of air conditioners. But every model is different in its own way, and so you need to read the instruction manual that comes with the unit before installing. Remember that the installation guide should be read before installation and not after you get stuck at some point during the installation.



Ralph

Masni Rizal Mansor asked:


Perhaps the most widely used air conditioners are the window air conditioners. They are quite popular for heating and cooling in both domestic and commercial premises. The basic advantage of a window air conditioner is that unlike the central air conditioners and the split air conditioners, it fits well in the window giving a good look and it does not occupy any space of the room at all.

Moreover, window air conditioners do not need to be shifted every now and then from one place to the other. However, like any other air conditioning equipment, it produces noise, the intensity of which differs with the type and size of the window air conditioners. Constant noise can indeed be very disturbing and distressing to the home and surrounding residents.

It is, therefore, advisable for the consumer to compare window air conditioners by checking the sound power level labels on the unit or in the literature specifications. The noise levels are often given in decibel ratings and the higher the decibel level, the louder the unit will be. The sound pressure increases by a factor of ten for every 10-decibel increase. For example, 60 Decibels is 10 times louder than 50 Decibels and 100 times louder than 40 Decibels.

The compressor and the fan are combined in a single unit and mounted in the window air conditioners and this is the source of all the noise in the air conditioner. The other causes of noise could be worn bearings, cabinet rattles, dirty or rusty fan blades, worn rubber mountings and compressor wear. Regular maintenance can reduce the noise to some extent but with the passing of time, there is bound to be an increase in the level of the noise.

You should check whether your window air conditioner is vibrating or producing a rattling noise and if so, then it is not a normal situation. The reason for this can be improper installation or loose side panels. If, however, you hear a scraping noise, you should either take the help of an authorized service provider or you can also try to find out the cause and repair it yourself.

The following steps can help you in tracking the fault and repairing it:

You should tighten the screws holding the front panel onto the unit. You should check carefully the window all round the unit. You should then turn the window air conditioner on and press your hand against the sash. If you find that as you press your hand against the sash, the sound changes in pitch, then you should put some wooden shims in the gap between the window air conditioners frame and the sash. If, however, the pitch of the noise changes when you press your hand on the glass, you should use some insulating cellophane tape between the glass and the frame. You might have to use putty if that does not reduce the noise.

If you feel that the sound is originating from within the unit, you should take the unit out of the window and check to see if the fan blades are bent. If so, just bend them back so that they match the others.



Kim

Setiadi asked:


One thing to remember, though, do not just be user if you could, but you’re suppose to be able to maintain and properly treat the Air Conditioner. Air Conditioner that is not schedully and carefully maintained could end up as a pollution to its owner, causing several diseases, especially in respiratory tract. This is because a dirty Air Conditioner will store various bacteria and viruses that would then be diffused back to the entire room and enter our body by means of smelling.

This fact is strengthened by researches from United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) that levels of indoors pollution could be five times stronger than outdoors, and included as one of the five major pollution considered as high risk and dangerous to human’s health.

To avoid them, Air Conditioner maintenance is highly reccomended. Even though we’ve already given up the components checks to the Air Conditioner technicians, there’s nothing wrong with knowing exactly which components of the Air Conditioner need special attention.

Air filter examinations of the Air Conditioner must be done at least once a month. Dirty filter could hamper sirculation process and become shelter for microbes, bacteria and/or fungus. This bacteria would then flow to the evaporator coil to be spread inside the room. Besides, dirty components could drag the performance of the cooling system—it gets heavier, deficient and spendthrift.

Make sure the condensor unit outside the casing of the Air Conditioner be clean of dust and/or leaves. Naturally, before you do the cleaning, turn the Air Conditioner off. Then clean the condensor with vacuum cleaner.

For safety precaution, Air Conditioner must be routinely maintained at least once every six months. Total examinations must be conducted by a trusted Air Conditioner technician. This maintenance would guarantee not only to you and your family’s health, your Air Conditioner would also live a lot longer.



Debbie

MIKE SELVON asked:


When the summer heat hits there is nothing better than stepping into an air conditioned room. The cool air whisks away the heat of the sun and just makes you feel better. Some people want just a cool breeze while others want the temperatures of winter in their home when the heat is beating everyone down.

Not everyone can live in a temperate climate where the temperature stays constant year round. Some live in areas where the temperature can climb well over a hundred degrees mid-day.

That is just too hot! Have you given your air conditioner much thought? What would it be like to be without an air conditioner and suffering in the summer heat and humidity?

Those little wonders can save frazzled nerves and make you feel refreshed again. This article will cover the basics of air conditioners and hopefully have you feeling cool again in no time.

What is better: a window unit or central air?

That is a difficult question and largely depends on how big of an area you will be cooling down. If you live in a loft or a one bedroom home or office you may be better serviced by a window unit. Large spaces are inefficiently cooled by window units.

It would take several to cool down each of the rooms in the home. Central air, on the other hand, can be pumped in from a unit located outside or inside and used to cool the entire house at once. It may be more cost efficient to use a central air unit to cool down a home or large office.

What is a ‘Persian Cooler?’

The Persian Cooler is actually called an evaporative cooler. It is used heavily in hotter climates such as in Iran where the largest concentration of these units are made and used. The Persian Cooler works by drawing in the hot air from the outside and running it through water soaked pad.

The actual temperature of the air is not changed but the quality and humidity of the air is changed to more of a “dry” heat. This type of cooler gave Dr. John Gorrie the inspiration of using ice instead of the wet pad for his Apalachicola patients in 1842.

Who do I call when something goes wrong with my air conditioner?

The best advice is to call a heating and cooling technician that is familiar with your type of unit. If you have a Ruud then you will want to call someone who is familiar with that brand of air conditioning unit.

Some people will want to try to fix the problem themselves and there is nothing wrong with that if that person is knowledgeable about basic air conditioning systems. There are plenty of do it yourself websites that can help you fix your air conditioner yourself. It is always advisable to seek out knowledgeable help before you begin though just in case you run into a problem that is out of your realm of knowledge.

How are air conditioners controlled?

Air conditioners are controlled by thermostats. You set the thermostat at the desired level of coolness and it sends an electrical signal to the unit. This signal tells the unit how long to run and pump cool air into the home or office.

It will also let the unit know when to stop pumping air. It is important for a thermostat to be running correctly. If something is wrong with the thermostat the unit may not work properly.



Dennis