Home Air Conditioning

July 21, 2010 by  
Filed under Fitness

If you live in a hot country, or even one that merely has hot summers, it is just lovely to be able to sit in your home without sweltering. In particular at night as being too hot can prevent you from getting a decent night’s rest. Likewise, when you are at work. We all know the pleasure of walking into a cool, air conditioned building, like a bank on a hot summer’s day.

Total air conditioning like this used to be the prerogative of office blocks and the very wealthy, but it is becoming more general now. In fact, if you already have ducting all the way through your house to be used in association with a central heating system, a total air conditioning system could cost as little as $4,000.

I know that $4,000 is not an insignificant amount, but if you do not have the ducting already, you can add another $3,000 to $4,000. These figures refer to a typical three or four bedroomed house or apartment.

A total air conditioning system like this will usually be adequate for seven rooms in one or two zones, which could be two small bungalows next door to each other or a house and a garage or shed. One good point about total air conditioning is that the whole house or just the ground floor can be cooled at the same time so that you can walk around the house as you normally would.

This is in direct disparity with split systems which only cool one room – every time you go out of the room, you let cool air out and warm air in, which makes the air conditioning system work more and costs you more money.

Total air conditioning has other less well-known advantages too. It reduces the humidity in a room or house by drying the air as it is returned to the unit for cooling and sophisticated units have filters with additional functions. The more advanced the system, the more germs, bacteria and other substances (like pollen) the built-in filter will do away with.

Because these filters can remove airborne substances they can significantly reduce a person’s affliction from allergies. Good air filtration can help asthma and hay fever sufferers considerably, if the filters are kept spotless.

In general, a total air conditioning system is divided into two major components ? an outdoor condenser and compressor and an indoor evaporator in an air circulating system. The air distribution, or air handling system filters and dries the cooled air, and distributes it, via ductwork, to several rooms. Total air conditioning is usually much quieter than split air conditioners, because the noise of the latter’s compressor is so much closer to where the cool air is needed.

It is far better to take the ducting into consideration at the design stage of a new house as part of its heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, but it can be put in later. A first-class HVAC system should be designed to supply adequate cooling, heating, and ventilation, taking into consideration such factors as the dimensions of the building, the efficiency of its insulation and the regional climate.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with central air conditioning systems. If you are interested in Home Air Conditioning Systems, please click through to our site.

Air Filters: My Tips For Buying The Best

May 9, 2010 by  
Filed under Fitness

If you have any kind of air purification system installed in your house or office, you will have to change the air filters at some time or another. I am not only talking about dedicated equipment that only purifies the air here, but also air conditioning units like you would find at home, in the office or even in the car. The theory is the same for all.

So, you may be operating an air purifier without even realizing it, but in that case, especially if it is an older one, it could be doing you more harm than good. This is because a dirty filter will be blowing unpurified air into the room at best, but in the worst case scenario, it might even be blowing contaminated air at you. Modern air filters do not only stop flies or even pollen from getting into the set-up through the air intake, they go as far as trying to block common germs too.

So, you have two options. If you have never replaced or cleaned your air filter or if you did not even realize you had one and the air conditioner or air purifying apparatus is over a year old, you should do something about it right away. Begin by reading the handbook. If you do not have one go on line and look to see if there is any information on your model at the maker’s website or even just anywhere on the Internet. If on the other hand, you have been cleaning and changing your filter methodically, consider getting a better quality filter next time.

You can go about locating the best brands of air filters for your particular type of unit by writing down any serial numbers and identification numbers and names. The brand and model are very helpful too. You have two choices here too. If you like going around the shops, take this information with you and ask about the best filters in several outlets A large DIY or department store could probably assist here. Write every name and fact they give you down on paper and take it home. I prefer to go on the Internet first and take that information around the shops.

Confirm what they have told you on the Internet. Check it with the maker’s web site and compare prices. Decide what you want to buy and where from. Get a year’s stock in one go, it saves a lot of bother. Three or four units should last a year, if they are cleanable.

A high quality air filter will work better than a cheaper one. It will trap more pollutants, including smoke and fumes – even some microorganisms, if it has been impregnated with a germicide. Many come with a long-lasting mild air freshener too, which will save you buying sprays.

Better quality air filters will save you money and bother by lasting longer in good serviceable condition. Cheaper ones may say they last as long, but the germicide and the air freshener may have evaporated within a week or two. Try to get a filter that is cleanable. The best ones can be cleaned two of three times before they have to be changed. If it is three times then it will last four months, meaning that you only need three a year at most.

If you have purchased an unknown make of air conditioner or purifier, there is a good chance that it was still made by one of the big names or it a copy of a famous name, in which case a better filter may still fit into it. In this situation, take your old filter to the shop with you to get it compared.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with central air conditioning systems. If you are interested in Home Air Conditioning Systems, please click through to our site.

Air Filters: My Advice

April 7, 2010 by  
Filed under Fitness

If you have any form of air purification system installed in your house or office, you will need to replace the air filters at some time or another. I am not only talking about dedicated equipment that only purifies the air here, but also air conditioning units such as you would find at home, in the office or even in the car. The theory is the same for all.

So, you may be operating an air purifier without even realizing it, but in that case, especially if it is an older one, it could be doing you more harm than good. This is because a dirty filter will be blowing unpurified air into the room at best, but in the worst case scenario, it might even be blowing contaminated air at you. Modern air filters do not only stop flies or even pollen from getting into the set-up through the air intake, they go as far as trying to block common germs too.

So, you have two options. If you have never changed or cleaned your air filter or if you did not even realize you had one and the air conditioner or air purifying unit is over a year old, you should do something about it right away. Start by reading the handbook. If you do not have one go on line and look to see if there is any information on your model at the maker’s website or even just anywhere on the Internet. If on the other hand, you have been cleaning and replacing your filter methodically, think about getting a better quality filter next time.

You can go about locating the best brands of air filters for your particular type of unit by writing down any serial numbers and identification numbers and names. The brand and model are very helpful too. You have two choices here too. If you like going around the shops, take this information with you and ask about the best filters in several outlets A large DIY or department store could probably assist here. Write every name and fact they give you down on paper and take it home. I prefer to go on the Internet first and take that information around the shops.

Check what they have told you on the Internet. Check it with the maker’s web site and compare prices. Decide what you want to buy and where from. Get a year’s supply in one go, it saves a lot of bother. Three or four units should last a year, if they are cleanable.

A high quality air filter will perform better than a cheaper one. It will trap more pollutants, including smoke and fumes – even some germs, if it has been impregnated with a germicide. Many come with a long-lasting mild air freshener too, which will save you buying sprays.

Better quality air filters will save you money and bother by lasting longer in good serviceable condition. Cheaper ones may say they last as long, but the germicide and the air freshener may have evaporated within a week or two. Try to get a filter that is cleanable. The best ones can be cleaned two of three times before they have to be changed. If it is three times then it will last four months, meaning that you only need three a year at most.

If you have purchased an unknown make of air conditioner or purifier, there is a good chance that it was still made by one of the big names or it a copy of a famous name, in which case a better filter may still fit into it. In this situation, take your old filter to the shop with you to get it compared.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with central air conditioning systems. If you are interested in Home Air Conditioning Systems, please click through to our site.

Air Conditioning Maintenance Advice

March 10, 2010 by  
Filed under Fitness

Air conditioning units will work for many years with very little trouble, if you keep your apparatus properly maintained. However, this is not peculiar to home air conditioning systems. Nearly everything we do these days can be done with the assistance of a mechanical or electrical device. However, some things are non-user maintainable and will break down after a while.

Home air conditioning units are intended to last a long time, as long as they are correctly maintained. If you are loathe to do this maintenance yourself, you will need to call in a professional, but there is a lot of maintenance anyone can perform. Even the most ham-fisted klutz. If you carry out these straightforward cool air conditioning tips, you will only need a professional’s help once every two years, which will save you a lot of money.

There are three fundamental varieties of fixed home air conditioning units: central air conditioners; split air conditioners and room air conditioners. There is also a fourth category, the portable conditioner, but there are too many types of these to generalize.

Central Air Conditioners – this is made up of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. You can clean or change the air filter in the indoor apparatus according to its type. Wire filters can be cleaned, glass fibre filters must be replaced. You ought to do this monthly during the hot season in order to maintain peak performance and air quality.

You should also clean any dust or grease from the fan blades. Lightly oil the fan shaft and any bearings too. If your system is belt driven make sure that the belt is not worn and that it is neither too tight nor too slack, which means that there should be some give, but that it should not be so loose as to slip. Like a car’s fan belt. Degrease and clean the coil of tubing.

The outside system should be treated in the same manner as the inside box, but you ought to also clear any undergrowth or rubbish from around it to permit an unrestricted airflow. If it is in direct sunlight while in operation, erect a lean-to to give it shade and shelter from rain and snow in the winter.

Split Air Conditioning Systems – the outdoor component should be serviced as above, but the indoor air handler is different as there is no fan pushing air through a structure of ducts. At least once a year, remove the internal filter and wash it or clean it according to the maker’s instruction manual. If you do this often enough, you will not have to clean the coil.

If you miss a few maintenance sessions, clean the coil as above. Service the outside box as above as well.

Room Air Conditioners – take out the grille and wash or replace the filter at least once every summer. Filters can normally be washed three times and then ought to be replaced. If you fail to do this, you will have to wash the coil, as above. In the winter, cover the grille with cling film or a tarp, to prevent cold drafts.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with central air conditioning systems. If you are interested in Home Air Conditioning Systems, please click through to our site.