AIR CONDITIONER BUYING, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE TIPS

Buying:
 They are different types of air conditioning systems. The choice of which air conditioner system to use depends on a number of factors such as the area to be cooled, the total heat generated in the enclosed area and place where the AC unit will be installed. A HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) technician would consider all the related parameters and suggest the system most suitable for your space. Below are the common types:

Window Unit: Window Air Conditioner is the most commonly used type for single rooms. All the components namely the compressor, condenser, evaporator, cooling coil and the expansion valve are enclosed in a single box. The unit is fitted in a windowsill or slot made in the wall.

Split Unit: The split air conditioner comprises of two parts: the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. The outdoor unit, fitted outside the room, houses components like the compressor, condenser and expansion valve. The indoor unit comprises the evaporator or cooling coil and the cooling fan. For this unit, you don’t have to make any slot on the wall of the room. Split units have aesthetic appeal and can be used to cool one or two rooms.

Packaged Air Conditioner:  This type of Air Conditioner is commonly used where you want to cool more than two rooms or a larger space at home or your office. There are two possible arrangements with the package unit. In the first one, all the components, namely the compressor, condenser (which can be air or water cooled), expansion valve and evaporator are housed in a single box. The high capacity blower throws the cooled air, and it flows through the ducts laid through various rooms.

Central Air conditioning System: This type of AC is used for cooling buildings, houses, offices, entire hotels, gyms, movie theatres, factories etc., and is very economical compared to installing individual units in each room. A central AC system is comprised of a huge compressor that has the capacity to produce hundreds of tons of conditioned air. Cooling big halls, malls, huge spaces, etc. is usually feasible with central air conditioning units.

Installation:

Before installing an air conditioner, be sure that the electrical circuit to the room can handle the electrical load of the unit. Always read the manufacturer’s manual.

Maintenance:

Air conditioners require regular maintenance to work at their peak. Below are useful maintenance tips to help you stay cool throughout the year:

Clean or replace dirty filters.  Clean the air filters every month. If the filter looks dirty, change it. A dirty filter will slow airflow and make the system work harder.

Optimize airflow. Every evaporator or condenser coil is designed to have a specific amount of airflow to meet its efficiency and capacity claims. Ensure that there is no obstruction of air to the coils.

Check refrigerant level. Have your licenced technician check out for leak and ascertain the system has the correct refrigerant charge.

Plug leaky vents. Make sure that connections at vents and registers are well sealed where they meet floors, walls and ceilings. Seal ducts using black metal tape.