Complete Guide of Air Conditioning for Home Owners

Air conditioning refers to the process of maintaining a certain temperature by controlling the humidity, airflow, and purity of air in an enclosed area, whatever may be the weather condition outside. This is done mainly to maintain a level of personal comfort.

Do Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Differ?

The mechanism followed by refrigeration and air conditioning is the same, yet there is a considerable difference between the two in some aspects. They are the same in the aspect of the cooling circuit which constitutes a compressor, evaporator, condenser, and expansion devise. They differ concerning their components, their designs, and the commercial or industrial structures where they get installed and the way they operate.

Types of Air Conditioning Systems

There are six different types of air conditioning systems, each of which are used for different spaces. They are:

• Central Air Conditioner – This air conditioning device has an evaporator, condenser, and compressor combined into a single unit. This is placed in a strong place near the foundation. It pulls in air from indoors and sends cool air back into our house.
• Window Units – This is mostly used for single rooms and is fitted on walls or windows.
• Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner – Houses having no ducts choose these types of air conditioning units, which has compressor and condenser with one or multiple indoor air handling units and which also has blowers attached.
• Portable Units – This unit can be moved from one room to another room, it can be made to stand on room floors and is self-contained. It uses an outlet to put on power and to exhaust the hot air.
• Hybrid Air Conditioner – These units work using fossil fuels and electricity alternatively. This saves money as well as energy.
• Geothermal Heating and Cooling – This air conditioning system is used for both heating and cooling factors of the rooms. These are energy-efficient, sustainable, and have a long life compared to the other types of air conditioners.

Reasons for Air Conditioning Functions

Air Conditioning is implemented for purposes as below;

• Cooling of air or water;
• Heating of air or water;
• Air dehumidification;
• Air humidification;
• Air filtering/purification;
• Mixing of air indoor/outside air;
• Ventilation

Dos and Don’ts

Air conditioners provide personal comfort and are a piece of great equipment to have. To make it last longer and work efficiently, some simple rules need to be maintained. The dos and don’ts of air conditioning are as follows:

What we need to do

• Professional installation – A professional can accurately calculate the cooling loads and the exact equipment that is required to be installed. An oversized, undersized, wrongly charged, and haphazardly installed air conditioner can damage the device, shorten its lifespan, and can also be unsafe.
• The air filter needs to be checked – Dirty air filter can degrade the air quality at home and thus it needs to be replaced if seen to be dirty or clogged. A clogged air filter can damage, or cause the air conditioning unit to malfunction. It can reduce performance and cause the breakdown of the device.
• Programmable thermostats to be used – A programmable thermostat helps in keeping both the temperature and cost of running an air conditioning unit low. Proper usage of thermostat allows minimum energy usage with a significant influence on utility cost.

There are certain other things that we should not do to keep the device in order. They are:

• Any unusual sound, smell, and the behaviour should not be overlooked
• Annual maintenance of the air conditioning unit should not be skipped
• No debris or waste materials should be allowed to accumulate near the outdoor unit.

Hence, the more is the maintenance of the air conditioner, the more it ensures its longevity.