The energy efficiency ratios of air conditioners have improved dramatically during the last decade or so. The reason behind this is stricter government standards. A room air conditioner that is manufactured after October 2000 and has a capacity of less than 8,000 BTU must have 9.7 EER.
According to government regulations, manufacturers have to clearly display the SEER ratings on air conditioning units. When purchasing an air conditioning unit, you have to consider the following things:
Get the right size air conditioner
An air conditioning unit performs both the functions of cooling and moisture removal. If the air conditioning unit is smaller for your room size, it will not cool the room properly and if the air conditioner is too large it will not control humidity properly.
Check the ease of installation
Air conditioners that appear light in weight may not be easy to install. As far as possible, install the air conditioner unit with the help of an air conditioning professional. There are many air conditioners that require special installation. The slide-in chassis makes it easier to install the air conditioner, since you have to install the lighter portion first, but the process takes a while longer.
Check the convenience features
Always purchase air conditioners that have thermostats, a digital control, built in timers and remote control features. These features are now usually available in the low priced models too.
Purchasing an air conditioner is an investment. When you buy an air conditioner and investing a considerable amount of money, you would like to use it for a long time. When buying, make sure that you purchase a system that provides you with the best comfort and an energy efficient performance. When purchasing a unit always consider the following points:
Check for special requirements
There are some air conditioning units that require a special 220 volt supply. Some air conditioners have louvers which blow more air in one direction than the other. The filter is a unit that requires additional space on one side and you must check how easy it would be to fix and remove the filter when the air conditioners unit is installed. It is recommended that you run an air conditioner on a single circuit to avoid circuit overload.
Consider the level of noise that you can live with
Always purchase an air conditioner unit that that produces as little noise as possible. If you are a light sleeper then you should purchase an air conditioner model which gives a quiet performance.
Purchase the highest efficiency unit that you can afford
If you pay a little extra when purchasing an air conditioner unit for higher efficiency then you will make up for that extra cost in your electricity bill. Experts point out that the price gap between high and low efficiency air conditioners has reduced significantly. So do not compromise on the quality and always purchase a branded air conditioning unit.
Fujitsu’s compact VRF system, Airstage J, was developed to provide high efficiency performance, economy, convenience and comfort, ease of service and ease of operation. These systems can be used everywhere; homes, shops, offices and apartments, wherever you need air conditioning.
Fujitsu’s VRF system, Airstage S, offers a flexible control system, variable refrigerant flow and free selection of indoor units from all types like duct, cassette, ceiling/floor, and a universal ceiling/wall. You can use up to 16 indoor units with one outdoor unit.
There are different types of VRF systems with different functions. There is one which has a cooling mode for all connected indoor units. The other type has independent cooling and heating for all connected indoor units.
You can connect up to 400 indoor units through the control system of VRF into one control system. The units can be operated with a wide range of remote controllers. Fujitsu VRF systems have long piping for high rise buildings. 28 kW is the maximum capacity per outdoor unit and 36.4 kW is the total connectable indoor capacity. Units ranging from 2.15kW to 17.0kW should be selected for indoor use.
A VRF system allows users to switch between heating and cooling modes. These sophisticated systems offers great flexibility and require no internal plant room space.
You can check out the entire Fujitsu VRF range and select the one that you need. Smaller units are ideal for small offices and homes whereas the larger units are suitable for large offices and buildings.
Room air conditioners, also known as window units, function in the same way as the central air conditioners. The only difference is that room air conditioners are smaller in size compared to central air conditioning systems and they are installed in windows.
Window air conditioners are available in different capacities. The size of the room determines the capacity of the room air conditioner to be installed.
Room air conditioners consist of an evaporator coil, one compressor, two fans, a motor, and thermostat controls.
You must clean the air conditioner regularly as the accumulated dust can lower efficiency of the evaporator coil and even block operation of the fan which blows cool air. Dust also blocks drain ports and clogs filter.
The coil, compressor and the motor of a room air conditioner are sealed components. Repairing of these parts should be done by a professional service person. You can make minor repairs and regularly maintain your unit so that it runs smoothly.
During the winter season, when it remains unused, the room air conditioner should be adequately protected from elements that can damage parts of the air conditioning unit.
Room air conditioners have one or two capacitors that are fixed behind the control panel and are located near the fan. Do not try to repair the air conditioner by yourself. Always hire an air conditioning technician for the job.
You can cool several rooms effectively through centralised distribution of air by using Fujitsu duct air conditioners. Fujitsu duct air conditioners are split type units that distribute the air to several places. The outgoing air temperature is automatically adjusted to the average temperature in all the rooms. Fujitsu duct air conditioners distribute the air equally throughout the room.
A few features of Fujitsu duct air conditioner are:
Fresh air input
You do not have to install a separate mechanical ventilation system as the duct type units allow fresh air input in random quantities.
Efficiency
The temperature of the room is quickly adjusted according to the needs of the user due to an improved compressor and the modern shape of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger performs with a high efficiency due to the unique combination of ultra modern fans with diverse materials in its construction.
Additional ducts
In order to distribute air to several rooms, several distribution ducts can be connected to a single air conditioner.
You can operate 16 duct-type air conditioners with a single control unit and can control several air conditioners from one central location. You can install controllers to heat and cool in two locations. There are several different models available. You should choose the one that best suits your requirements.
Fujitsu’s range of air conditioning systems are energy efficient and make little noise. You should check out the Fujitsu range before choosing an air conditioner.
A portable air conditioner is an air conditioner that is on wheels and can be easily transported from one place to other within a room or even different rooms. Portable air conditioners are available with a capacity of 6000 to 60000 British thermal units along with electric resistance heaters. Portable air conditioners are available in two forms, i.e. hose air conditioners and split air conditioners.
Portable air conditioners have a compressor based refrigerant that uses air to exchange heat in the same way as car and normal house air conditioners. The air is dehumidified while being cooled with this type of system. Portable air conditioners collect water from the cooled air and produce hot air that is vented outside the cooled area.
The split system has wheels on the indoor unit that is connected to the outdoor unit with the help of air ducts. The hose system that can be air-to-air or monoblock, vented with the help of air ducts. The mono block version of the portable air conditioner collects the water in a bucket and tray, and stops when it is full. An air-to-air version of a hose type portable air conditioner re-evaporates the water and discharges it with the help of a ducted hose.
Around 400 square feet of space can be cooled easily with a 12000 BTU/h air conditioner. The main advantages of portable air conditioners are that they are cheaper to install and consume little energy compared to other types of air conditioners.
All mechanical devices need some care and regular maintenance so that they can work for longer and give the optimum performance for a long time. Air conditioning units have to be taken care of properly so that they do not break down at any point of time. If by any chance, the unit breaks down, you would have to get it repaired.
There are certain ways in which you can maintain an air conditioning unit. Ensure that there is nothing that is covering the condensing unit. If by any chances some items get stored on the condensing unit it may effect the cooling, so you should remove them straight away.
Air filters need to be changed at regular intervals. If the filters are not cleaned it may reduce the efficiency of the air conditioning unit. That once again affects the cooling and the unit will consume more energy.
Access panels should be properly placed and secured. You should remove all the impediments from the exterior part of the unit. Always set the thermostat in cooling mode so that you experience an effective cooling experience.
At times if the problem gets complicated you must hire a professional. They will offer you the best service and can take care of your unit properly. With all this in place, you experience an effective cooling and the life of your air conditioning unit will be extended.
Air conditioning systems should be installed properly. If air conditioners are not installed properly, they will not work efficiently. You should get a licensed contractor to install your unit.
If you are considering having a major replacement for your air conditioning system, it is strongly recommended that you change over to a R134A system. An R134A air conditioning system is energy efficient and helps to save on high electricity bills. R134A is an environmentally friendly refrigerant. It does not contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.
The price of the R12 refrigerant is already high and will increase more as time goes by. Therefore, switching to a R134A system will save you money in the long run. You should also change the condenser and evaporator to obtain the best performance. Old air conditioners with R12 are disappearing now. R134A based air conditioning systems are the new kind with better efficiency and overall performance. R12 causes depletion of the ozone layer. Hence, R134A is a better substitute for R12.
Air conditioning owners can either change their systems to R134A or get their current system, which operates on R12, serviced. An R12 application is not illegal, however, it will not be used in new air conditioning systems. It will only be produced for service and repairs.
Air conditioners are instrumental in reducing the humidity inside a room. The cold evaporator coil transfers water vapours from processed air, sends the water to the drain and removes water vapour from the cooled space thus lowering the humidity inside the room.
Air conditioners that are used for dehumidifying are also known as dehumidifiers. Dehumidifiers are quite different from the regular air conditioners. The condenser and evaporator are placed in the same air path. By having the condenser coil in the same air path, the evaporator coil produces warm and dehumidified air. Air conditioners transfer the energy out of the room by the means of a condenser coil that is located outside the room. A well maintained air conditioning unit removes the humidity from the air and makes the indoor environs of the room clean and cool.
Health issues
A poorly maintained air conditioner can promote the growth of micro-organisms like pneumophila and legionella. These micro-organisms are responsible for diseases like legionnaires.
Air conditioners provide a clean and safe atmosphere in hospital rooms and other environments. Places like hospitals need an atmosphere that is clean to ensure the safety and well being of patients. Excess humidity aids the growth of such organisms. With the help of a dehumidifying unit, you can control the humidity and prevent the growth of such organisms. These units are ideal for places that have high humidity in the air.
Installing an air conditioner is not an easy task. You should never attempt to install an air conditioning unit if you are not qualified for the job. An air conditioning system should be installed only by a reputed air conditioning company. The type of air conditioner you want to install depends totally upon your needs.
Electric bills are one of the major expenses of every business, hence while installing an air conditioner you should make sure that you are getting your money’s worth. Proper air conditioning installation can increase the life span of the air conditioning parts and equipment.
If you have an office and need to get it air conditioned, you should contact an air conditioner installation company or an air conditioning contractor. Before getting into any contract, first confirm whether the contractor has the required experience and expertise to install an air conditioner.
The contractor will inspect the building and then give you a quotation for the contract.
For the central air conditioning, the installation company would need a blueprint or design layout of the building if it is still under construction. This is required to plan the ductwork layout.
Once your air conditioner system is installed, you should regularly carry out air maintenance and servicing of the unit and repair it when required, ideally from the same contractor who installed it.
