Air Conditioning – Repair Tips That Can Save You Money

Your air conditioner is important because it keeps your home cool and comfortable even as temperatures outdoors continue to rise. However, over time your air conditioning system can wear or become damaged requiring repair. If you are looking to save money on air conditioning repairs, it is important that you make maintenance of your AC unit a priority.

Here are a few air conditioning repair tips that will save you money in the long run: Replace Air Conditioning Filters If you are looking to avoid clogs and blocked airflow within your air conditioner, you need to change the air filter regularly. This is an expensive way to avoid major issues down the road. If airflow becomes obstructed due to a dirty filter, this can lead to major repair issues involving the evaporator coil. Not only can replacing your filter regularly ensure that the evaporator coil maintains proper heat absorbency, but it can also reduce the totalling consumption of your cooling unit by more than 5%. Check Your Evaporator Coil Annually Changing your air filter regularly can help you avoid major repairs involving your evaporator coil, but you should still change this part once a year. Your evaporator coil will collect dirt over time and needs to be replaced to ensure that airflow is not restricted. If it is not very dirty, you can simply clean it thoroughly to keep a major repair need from happening. Coil Fin Repair If your coil fins on your Air conditioning system are not functioning properly, you may be able to repair them on your own. These aluminium fins will start to bend automatically overtime, which can lead to blocked airflow. However, it is possible to purchase a tool that is referred to as a fin comb. This comb can be used to comb back the fin coils to their original position. All you need is this affordable and easy to use tool to get the job done. You can avoid costly repairs if you do this on your own. Condensate Drains If you want to avoid expensive repairs involving your condensate drains on your air conditioning system, you must maintain these drains by pushing a stiff wire brush through the unit drain channels periodically. This keeps the unit from reducing humidity. All of these tips and quick fixes will keep you from having to spend excessive amounts of money on air conditioning repairs in the future.

3 Of The Most Unusual Air Conditioning Installations

When you think about installing an air conditioning unit, you might think of a central air unit that is installed outside your home or a window unit in the living room or bedroom. These are certainly the most popular types of air conditioning, but they’re not the only types you’ll find around the world.

Check out three of the most unusual air conditioning installations you’ll ever see.

1. In bus shelters. Dubai is known for its heat and its wealth, so it’s no surprise that it has many air conditioned bus shelters in the city. These shelters are typically the same size as any bus stop you might see but they are built to be self-contained and enclosed, with an outside generator that runs the air conditioning unit when temperatures are at their highest. The bus shelters also typically boast leather seats and spotlessly clean interiors, as you would expect to see in one of the world’s wealthiest countries. 2. On the roof of a golf cart. A golf cart doesn’t offer much protection from the blazing sun during the warmest months, which is why some may now be equipped with rooftop air conditioning units. These carts typically have vinyl sides which zip like a tent so you can sit inside and keep the cool air in as much as possible. The units are attached to fans that are on the ceiling of the cart so they blow cooler air at your face rather than your feet. They may not be standard on all golf carts yet but considering how hot it can get on a course in the tropics during summer months, it’s no wonder they’re becoming more popular every season. 3. In bed. Japanese manufacturers have designed a special accessory that works to keep you cool in bed. This air conditioning unit operates with two fans that sit at the foot of a specially designed pad, and it pulls hot air out of the pad while circulating cool air through vents, keeping you comfortable. The pad sits right over your mattress and can lower your body temperature even during the hottest summer nights. Check out these three unusual air conditioners which are available online. They may seem odd at the moment but considering how cool they can keep you, it might not be long before they make their way to the mainstream market!

Preparing Your Air Conditioning For The Colder Months

If you want your air conditioner to last the usual 15 to 20 year lifespan, it’s vital that you take care of it and maintain it properly. This includes caring for it during the winter months as snow and moisture pile up around the unit and it stays idle for several months. Many homeowners have a mistaken idea about how to maintain their air conditioning unit during the winter, so consider some simple tips in this regard.

1. Keep it clear. As leaves and snow begin to fall during the autumn and winter months, be sure that you keep your air conditioner unit clear by several feet. Allowing snow to pile up even around the base can allow moisture to seep into the unit and in turn, it can begin to rust and parts begin to break down. The motor may need to work harder once you switch it back on during the summer months and you’ll notice higher utility bills and earlier signs of wear and tear. When you go out to rake leaves or shovel snow, be sure you do the same around your air conditioning unit. 2. Don’t cover it completely. Some shops sell air conditioning covers and often show them covering the air conditioning unit completely. However, if you wrap your unit tightly and cover it completely you can actually allow moisture and condensation to build up in the unit and in turn, it can begin to rust. It’s better if you don’t cover the unit completely but leave enough room to let it breathe. It might be recommended that you put a piece of plywood or a thick board over the top of the unit before you cover it so that the cover doesn’t sit right on the unit. This will allow it some air so moisture can escape during winter. 3. Get a tune-up every spring. In the spring, schedule a tune-up for your air conditioner. A professional can come out and inspect your entire unit, clean it, dry it off from any moisture, and check the major parts like the compressor. This will ensure it’s in good working order and that you won’t damage the unit the first time you turn it on. A spring tune-up can extend the life of your unit and keep it working effectively and efficiently all season long. This is one of the best things you can do to protect it during the colder months.

A Look At The Different Manufacturers Of Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is one of the most useful inventions for the office. Not only does air conditioning keep a room temperature low, but by doing so it creates a more sterile environment for workers and a greater level of comfort during the hotter months. Modern air conditioning units can even cool or heat air in an environmentally-friendly way, which can reduce a company’s overall energy bills.

Let’s take a look at the different manufacturers of air conditioning.

Wall air conditioners

The following manufacturers have wall air conditioners on the market:

EcoAir

EcoAir are manufacturers of some of the best performing and most energy efficient air conditioners on the market. The ECO2416SD 24000 BTU is a prime example offering power and the latest technology.

Fujitsu

Fujitsu have manufactured air conditioning units for a number of years catering for homes and industrial applications alike. The Fujitsu ASYG09LMCA air con system is a reliable and cost-effective example.

Hitachi

Hitachi are manufacturers of the latest ElectriQ wall-mounted air conditioners. These air con units are reasonably cost-effective high-performance machines designed for complete temperature control.

LG

Although better known for TVs and smartphones, LG have a number of reliable and powerful air con units on the market today, such as the P09RK.NSB/UA3 which has a 9,000btu output at a great price.

Midea

Midea’s air conditioning units are found in retail stores up and down the country. The Midea SSRFC24 24000 BTU air conditioning unit is a prime example of the commercial air con units made by Midea.

Prem-I-Air

Prem-I-Air are manufacturers of stylish, high-performance air conditioning units that are much cheaper than you might think. Their Air9000 is a cost-effective air conditioner for year round climate control.

Portable air conditioning units

The following manufacturers have portable air conditioners on the market:

Beldray

Beldray manufacture cost-effective portable air conditioners in 4-litre and 5-litre guises. Designed for hot, stuffy and poorly ventilated rooms, Beldray conditioners are a cheaper solution to air conditioning.

Challenge

Challenge has one portable air conditioner on the market. It costs more than the Beldray options but it’s a more advanced machine with 2 speed settings, a 24-hour timer, and A energy efficiency class.

Electrolux

Much-loved by British consumers, Electrolux have launched the Air Comfort EXP09HN1WI that cools and purifies air. This product has the potential to decrease room temperature by 2 to 3 degrees.

Olimpia

Olimpia portable air conditioning units are well-known for their reliability and performance. The Olimpia Splendid Eco 9500 BTU portable air conditioner is a great little unit for year-round climate control.

Air Conditioning Can Lead To a Happy Workforce

As an employer it is important to consider the needs of your workforce and how you can keep them happy. I think most of us can come to grips with the fact that going out to work isn’t a favourite pastime but that doesn’t mean that you can’t try and make things a bit better for the people who work for you.

Of course, the happiness of your workforce is important but not just because it is nice to take their thoughts into account. As an employer you want to make sure that your employees are as motivated and productive as possible and the best way to ensure this is to make sure that they are happy in the work place.

Ensuring Their Happiness

It stands to reason that if someone is working in good working conditions then they are much happier. Most of us spend a great deal of our day at work and so we want to be comfortable while we are there.  This means providing good facilities, the right safety equipment and comfortable seating.

On top of that you want to make sure that the work place itself is not too hot or too warm. Unlike being at home that isn’t always as easy as just putting on the heating or opening a window because you have a much larger space to contend with.

Instead what you should do is look at installing air conditioning into your work premises. When you look into air conditioning you’ll find that there are lots of different types for you to choose from. This helps to ensure that whatever your working conditions are and how big (or small) your work premises are, you’ll be able to find something that keeps everyone happy.

Why Air Conditioning?

Air conditioning can change the temperature of the air in a room quickly and without hassle. There are different machines out there which means that there is always something to suit your needs. On top of that it is possible to set them on timers and even have them as temperature controlled.

You want your employees to be as happy as possible in the work place and a big part of this is making sure that they have comfortable working conditions which aren’t too warm or too cold. Air conditioning units are a reliable way to make sure that this happens.

A Look At The Different Types Of Air Conditioning Units

Perhaps unsurprisingly air conditioning comes in many different shapes and styles. Some of this is governed by customer taste and making sure there is something to suit everyone but a lot of it is down to the capabilities of different units and making sure that there are different systems to suit the needs of everyone.

This is good news because it means that there is something to suit everyone, including specifications needed and budget.

Small Split System

If you are looking for a small or basic air conditioning unit then a small split system unit could be perfect for you. These are generally used in places where just one room needs to be air conditioned at a time.

This type of system is made up of a small indoor unit which is in charge of cooling and heating the air. This is connected to a small outdoor unit which allows unwanted heat from outside to be kept there. Even once you decide you would like a split system unit there are different brand name and types to look at, so make sure you do a little research to see what is going to suit you and your needs best.

Medium Split System

If when you assess your needs you decide a small split system isn’t going to be up to the job then you might want to step it up a gear and get something slightly larger. A medium split system works in much the same way as the smaller sized air conditioning unit. The main difference is the capability of these larger units, which will be able to air condition more than one room within a home or business premises at a time.

Multi-Split System

If you have a larger premises that you want to air condition then a multi-split system could be the right choice for you. These are suitable for office suites and even larger apartments. They are connected to a bank of outdoor units, which are usually stored either on the roof of a building or in a central room designed to house these units safely.

Industrial Cooling

If you have a large premises and you want to make sure that the whole place is temperature controlled then you might want to look at larger industrial cooling units. These work in much the same way as smaller units, they’re just more tailored towards larger premises where a smaller unit just won’t do the job.

Is Air Conditioning The Only Option To Keep A Conservatory Cool?

A conservatory can be a great way to add extra space to your home whether it be traditional or modern.  As a room that is typically used for entertainment or pure relaxation, a conservatory usually offers an abundance of light as they are mainly constructed out of glass.  The reason as to why you may want to consider keeping your conservatory cool is because during the summer, the glass can soak in an ample amount of heat, making the room uncomfortable to be in.  Although you may assume that air conditioning is the only method available to keep a conservatory cool, there are a couple additional options to be aware of.

Air Conditioning

As previously mentioned, air conditioning is thought to be the sole method for keeping a conservatory cool.  Although air conditioning is the most effective method, there are others to consider.  One of the largest benefits associated with air conditioning is that it can not only keep your conservatory cool during the summer, but it can also keep it warm during the winter.  With the use of a professional installation company, you will be able to entertain in your conservatory with a reliable air conditioning unit during the warm months.

Awnings and Blinds

If you are looking for a less expensive way to keep your conservatory cool, consider purchasing awnings or blinds.  The majority of the heat in a conservatory is derived from sunrays beaming into the glass, therefore if you are able to cut off the light source, the room will become far more enjoyable.  A benefit to be aware of in regards to awnings is that depending on weather conditions, you can extend your conservatory into your back yard so that there is even more room for enjoying the summer months.  Blinds are also a great addition as they not only help to keep the heat out, but they give you privacy as well.

Window Film

As the essentially maintenance-free way to keep your conservatory cool, window film is an incredibly popular option.  The majority of window films help to reflect over 75% of solar radiation, helping to keep the room at a comfortable and cool temperature.  When you install window film it will remain on your conservatory windows throughout the year, helping to shield the sun even in the winter time.  Window film is also an extra source of strength for the windows as it helps to provide a higher grade of impact performance.

What Does It Mean If Your Air Conditioning Unit Is Leaking Water?

If you have spent money on an air conditioning unit then it stands to reason you are going to want it to last as long as possible. Investing in an air conditioning unit costs money so you need to make sure you maintain it properly. By keeping an eye on your unit and ensuring it is well maintained you have the best chance of it working as well as possible for as long as possible. One common problem with air conditioning units is that they start to leak water. If this is the case then you need to get it looked at as an air conditioning unit that is leaking water can mean a number of things.

A Broken Pump

Leaking water could be an indication that your condenser pump has stopped working correctly. If you want to test this yourself then you can by pouring a little water into the condenser pan. If it doesn’t seem to be able to pump out the excess effectively then this could be an indication that there is a problem.

Blocked Drain Hole

Another problem that could have taken place is that your drain hole has become blocked. This is an easily fixed problem. The best thing you can do is take off the front of your unit and simply see if any of the tubing or the drain hole is blocked – removing any dirt or debris that has caused the blockage will help to eradicate the problem.

Not Fitted Properly

If this probably has occurred on a newly fitted unit then it could be an indication that the installation was not done correctly. Common problems be that there is too much pressure to the unit or that it has not been fitted level. If the problem does start near to installation then you need to call the company who fitted it for you and get them to take a look.

The good news is that usually water leaking with an air conditioning unit is not an indication of anything serious. You can do some basic checks to see if it is something that you can spot yourself (for example a blocked drain hole) or call out an air conditioning engineer who will usually be able to fix the problem for you and hopefully be able to stop the problem occurring in the future.

Conservatory Air Conditioning – Prepare Yours For The Heat Of Summer

If you have the space for it then having a conservatory built onto your home is a fantastic way to enjoy the summer. In the grand scheme of things we don’t really get that many days of sun, so it is vital that we make the best of the days we do get.

A conservatory is a lovely place to sit on your own or with loved ones and make the most of the sunshine, especially in the extra long summer evenings. The problem is that unless you have the right system installed they can become unbearably hot. You might think that having a conservatory installed as a suntrap is fantastic but when it becomes too hot to sit in there you’ll soon be wondering how you can get around the problem of too much heat.

Keeping The Room Cool

One of the best ways to do this is to make sure that you have an air conditioning unit installed. Of course when you come to looking at your air conditioning options there will be lots for you to choose from. The best thing you can do is spend time researching all of your options. It could even be worth speaking to the company you want to buy your unit from to see what they recommend for keeping a conservatory cool. The system that they recommend will probably depend on the size of your conservatory and your needs, but they can discuss all of this with you at the time.

Keeping Costs Down

If you want to have an air conditioning unit installed but are worried about the cost of running a unit then make sure that you also get blinds fitted to all the windows in your conservatory. These won’t really help to cool down a room but they can help when it comes to making sure that your room doesn’t get too hot too quickly by keeping direct sun light out.

Buying A Unit

If you want the perfect combination for a room then you want fitted venetian blinds together with an energy efficient air conditioning unit. There are lots of choices on the market for both of these so whatever you have in mind you should be able to find something that suits you without too many problems. After that you can get on with enjoying the sunshine in your conservatory without worrying about the heat being too much.

Is Solar Powered Air Conditioning A Viable Option?

Unless you’re particularly into different technologies and want to try something new, then when you’re shopping for a new air conditioning unit you’re probably looking for one that is powered by electricity.

Electricity powered air conditioning units are by far the most common and if you’re just looking at air conditioning units in general then these will be the ones that you see most. If you are looking for this type of unit then it is important that you give some consideration to the running cost of your new air conditioner and not just the one off cost you are spending out to buy it.

A few years ago gas-powered air conditioner units were popular but these weren’t as efficient as they could have been. Nowadays we have natural gas to power these and so they are much more efficient than they were in the past. These units can be very effective and are generally recommended for larger areas.

The third option, which is slowly starting to become more popular is solar powered air conditioning units. There are two ways that you can run these and the set-up really depends on your personal needs and your personal preference.

You can either opt to buy an air conditioning unit that has been built and designed to be used specifically with solar panels. Often these cannot be then connected to mains power so you only have the solar power to rely on. Of course the running costs of a system like this are kept low, which is always a good thing.

The second option is to run a normal electric powered air conditioning unit but simply attach this to the solar panels on your roof – much like if you were to power your washing machine or other electrical items in your home. This works well because if you don’t have enough solar power to run the unit then it can usually easily switch to mains power so you don’t miss out.

Of course with any technology like this, it is a matter of looking into all of your options and what suits you best. The good thing about solar powered air conditioning units is that there are different options open to you, so whatever you are looking for you can be sure there will be something to suit both your needs and your budget.