by admin | Jan 7, 2015 | General Information
When shopping for an air conditioning unit, you need to realize that the unit will not last for your entire life. The average lifespan of any air conditioning unit will vary based on how much usage it gets as well as how much maintenance you give the unit. If you take good care of your air conditioning unit, you can expect to get 10 to 12 years out of it.
Good Products Need to Be Care For Properly
New air conditioning units are high quality. Manufacturers not only make a good product, but they also provide long-term warranties that last for up to 5 years. In most cases, when an air conditioning unit fails, it is usually not the unit itself, but the fuses or circuit breakers. Air conditioner compressors can also stop when the temperature gets excessively hot. It is helpful to know where all of these things are in your home before the installation technicians leave your home.
Do What You Can to Keep the Unit Running
You are the one person who can make your air conditioning system last a long time. The best way to extend the lifespan of your unit is to use it properly. This starts with keeping the doors and windows closed when you have the air conditioner running. When you have constant hot air coming in the house with open windows and doors, you force your air conditioning system to work harder than it needs to work.
Check for Proper Installation
There are other problems that can occur based on the way the air conditioner was installed and how it is maintained. If the ducts are leaky, then the airflow will be lower than what it should be, which makes the unit work harder. The refrigerant needs to be properly charged to the manufacturer’s settings and if this is not done correctly, the unit works less efficiently than it should and it will reduce the lifespan.
Take Care of the Filter
Regular cleaning of the air filter will also keep the unit running smoothly. You should know whether the filter needs to be replaced or if it is one of the models that can be washed and reused. A clogged filter can make the unit work overtime and reduce efficiency by 10 percent or more. It is helpful to have the installation technician show you where the filter is.
Get Regular Maintenance
Your air conditioning unit should be maintained quarterly or biannually, depending on usage. The best way to keep the unit running smoothly is to have a licensed technician check the refrigerant and look for leaks.
by admin | Jan 7, 2015 | General Information
7 important air conditioning terms that you should know before sourcing and talking to an aircon vendor
When you want to buy a new air conditioning system or add a new air conditioning unit to your home, it is better to make a purchase with some knowledge. While many air conditioning sales representatives are good people, there are always some people who will take advantage of homeowners who do not know what they are doing. Here are seven important terms to know before you meet with an air conditioner representative:
- Air filter – While this might not seem like an important term to know, you should be sure to find a unit has one that is easy to change. The filter will keep allergens and other particles from your home, so it is important to know where these go and where to get the replacements. A clean filter makes the air conditioning unit more efficient.
- Air handler – This is the term that includes the evaporator coil and the blower motor and how they work together to move air through your home.
- Coils – The refrigerant from the compressor move through the coils. These are in the evaporator and the condenser so they move the heat out of the home. That heat then moves through the refrigerant and is cooled before it enters the ducts in your home.
- Condenser and compressor. – These are important because they remove the heat from your home. The compressor moves the refrigerant through the unit and the fan of the condenser moves blows out the heat.
- Cooling load – The cooling load of your unit is measured by a technical manual called Manual J. It takes many factors into consideration, including the location of the windows, the way the windows and doors are sealed, the insulation levels, and the size of the home itself. You need to have an air conditioning unit that is the right size for your home.
- SEER – This is an acronym for seasonal energy efficiency ratio which shows the air conditioning unit’s efficiency related to electricity usage during the warmest days. Some air conditioning reps will use a shorter version of this term “EER” which is short for energy efficiency rating. With the Energy Star rating used in the United States and recognized in Singapore, the minimum SEER number is 13 and air conditioning units can receive certification if they are rated at 14 or higher. As manufacturers continue to develop technologies that increase the efficiency, the best units are earning numbers in the 20s.
- Tons – Your air conditioning unit is measured by BTUs (British Thermal Units). These are put into tons, where 12,000 BTUs equals one ton. If your home has a large cooling load, it will need more tons to cool it.
These are not the only terms related to air conditioning, but they are seven of the most important terms. When it comes to having any work done on your home, having some technical knowledge does give you some advantage so the representatives and contractors are less likely to take advantage of you.
by admin | Jan 7, 2015 | General Information
In the heat of Singapore, air conditioning can make a big difference in the quality of your day. Understanding how does aircon work is key to helping you choose someone to install and repair an air conditioning unit. The air conditioner works to change the air quality by affecting the humidity and the temperature of the air. In simplified terms, air conditioning will move the heat in your home outside so the air conditioning unit can put cool air inside of your home.
Components to a Successful System
When you have an air conditioning system installed in your home, you need to have a system of ductwork in the walls of your home. The ductwork will move the cool air through your home and bring the warm air out of your home. Some people have what it called a split system.
The compressor on the split system has a compressor that is outside of the home and it changes the gas to a liquid which is then pushed into an evaporator coil on the inside of the house.
The evaporator has a set of metal fins that change the air as the indoor heating unit fan blows the air across those fins. The refrigerant goes from gas to liquid is then changed into a vapor so it can clear the heat out of the air. The heat is sent out of the house and the cool air is blown around the house. This entire process is called phase conversion.
Type of Air Conditioning Units for Homes
Along with the split system, there are other types of air conditioning options. One is the window air conditioner unit. This unit fits into a window opening, so the components for are much smaller than those used in a split system. In this type of unit the warm air exits the backside of the unit. There is a condenser coil that cools the air as a fan blows it into the house to circulate the cool air.
The central air conditioners are the ones that share the home heating system controls and thermostat and the unit that changes the hot air into cool air sits outside of the home in a weather-resistant enclosure. It is best to put any air conditioning unit out of direct sunlight because it will make the system work harder than it has to and will increase energy costs.
Chilled Water System for Large Buildings
There is another option for air conditioning units: the chilled water system. This option is different from the others because it is installed in the back of a building or on the roof. It works by cooling water to about 7 degrees Celsius and then it is pumped through the building into air handlers. The chilled pipes are quite efficient if they are insulated well.
No matter what type of air con system you have in your home, it will continue to work until the air is the temperature that you set on the thermostat.
