Air Conditioning Tips

Air Conditioning Units - A blessing or an electrical power consumer?

Malaysia is a country where it is hot and humid all year long, it is no wonder that we have grown accustomed to having an air conditioning unit(s) in our house for those days that are just too hot to bear. But as anyone who owns air conditioning units in their house could tell you, the electricity bill can quickly add up especially if you have more than one unit running simultaneously or on a regular basis. In here, we will guide you through everything you'd need to know before purchasing an air conditioning unit as well as what you should and should not do after getting one.

Getting to know your air-cond better.

Often, the selection of an air-conditioner's size is a guessing game. To many, buying an oversized air-conditioner may seem to be the solution to ensure that coolness is achieved. Far from truth, an oversized air- conditioner's high initial cost, high electricity consumption and eventual discomfort due to poor selection would definitely spell disappointment at the end of the day. Here's a checklist to help you understand and select a suitable air-conditioner for your home.

How large the cooling capacity needed depends on :

• The SIZE of the room.
• The PLAN and ORIENTATION of the room. Different room plans and orientations require differing cooling capacity even with the same room size. For example, rooms facing east and west, require higher cooling than rooms facing north and south.
• The PURPOSE of the room. Rooms with differing purposes will exude different heat loads. The higher the heat load, the higher cooling capacity is needed. A room's heat load is influenced by many factors. How much heat is insulated also depends on the kinds of material used for the walls and ceilings.
• The LOCATION of the indoor and outdoor unit. Higher cooling capacity is required when the indoor and outdoor units are located in places with excessive heat exposure.
• OCCUPANTS in the room. The number of people as well as their activities in the room affect the heat load of the room.

What are the differences and features to consider when buying an air-conditioner?

• Cooling capacity
  For 1 hp, cooling capacity ranges between 8,500 Btu/hr and 10,000 Btu/hr in different brands. The higher the Btu/hr, the higher the cooling capacity.
• Electricity Consumption
  For 1 hp, EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) ranges between 8 and 12 in various brands. The higher the EER, the higher the efficiency.
• Airflow
  For 1 hp, airflow varies from 210 cfm to 300 cfm. Higher airflow provides faster cooling as well as better air circulation.
• Built-in or external starter
  Built-in starters are maintenance free and more accurate.
• Remote control
  Whether it is wired or wireless.

Read more

• Things you should do for your air-cond
• Things you should not do with your air-cond