Air conditioners are very popular now for various reasons, one of which is the increase in temperature that accompanies summer, there are a few points worth noting when getting that perfect home air conditioner you plan on replacing your current equipment with – whether the central air conditioner, or room air conditioners.
Before heading to the market to get a replacement for your home cooling air conditioner, you consider a few things which include energy efficiency and size of the equipment you are going for. If you plan on replacing an old room or central air conditioner, you would need to be mindful of the points stated regardless of the particular type of home air conditioners you are opting for. If you fail to determine your perfect your cooling needs, you could end up buying a product you would regret buying for various reasons including; feeling hot and sticky even when your air conditioner is powered on, you could also end up increasing your electricity bills or if you buy buy an AC with far more capacity than actually you need, you could just end up with a cool, damp space and a cold considering the health angle.
If you are looking to have the best home air conditioner without wasting hard earned money on the wrong product, here’s some guidelines to help you get the best performing and most reliable equipment.
Choosing the Best Home Air Conditioner for fit in room
The first step to getting that perfect Home AC for your cooling needs is to consider the spacing size of where the equipment would be fixed and how large or small the area of cooling is. If you get an air conditioner that’s too small for the room size, you get hot as it won’t cool the the room, and if you get one that’s larger than the room, it would cool up the room so fast, thus there won’t be time to remove enough moisture, leaving the all clammy and cold. You could get sick from staying in there.
Points to note
- The right size matters
The size of the equipment is one of the most crucial points to be noted. To get it right, you will need to take into account not just the size of the room where the air conditioner would be fitted but also whether the cooling unit will be placed in a window that gets shade or direct sunlight, the height of the ceilings, and also the part of the country where you live. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers has a worksheet on its website that will help you make the right determination. All you need to get started is a tape measure, a scratch pad, and a calculator.
- Airflow
Since air conditioners blow air tend to generally blow air in one direction more than the other, you would need to ensure it spreads the air uniformly to get maximum effect. To do that, if you are using a window air conditioner located near a corner, confirm that the unit is able to direct air to the center (check whether your air conditioner needs to blow air to the right or to the left).
Installation of Air conditioners
Installation of air conditioner is usually tricky. If you plan on installing the air conditioner yourself, you should consider buying an AC with a slide-out chassis. That way you can attach the cabinet and adjustable side curtains to the window before sliding in the heavy working parts of the machine. One person can do it, but it’s easier with two.
- Check the electricity
Just before you start the installation sequence of the new air conditioner, please be sure that the electrical circuit to the room can handle the electrical load of the unit. Read the owner’s manual; larger models usually need a dedicated circuit. Never use an extension cord with an air conditioner.
- Secure the unit
Always use the manufacturer’s safety hardware, such as sash locks and mounting brackets. Unless the manufacturer’s directions say otherwise, the window air conditioner should be level from left to right and pitched slightly toward the outdoors so water that condenses on the evaporator drains properly to the rear of the unit and doesn’t leak into the home. Seal around the perimeter of the unit with new weatherstripping.
Maintenance
A clean machine will keep you cool and cost less to run.
You’ll need to clean the filter regularly. Depending on how much time the unit is actually operating and how clean the air is, cleaning may be needed every few weeks to monthly during the cooling season. With that in mind, make sure you determine how easy it is to remove the filter when selecting a new unit—some are trickier than others. Remove debris with a vacuum then wash the filter in warm, soapy water; be sure filters are dry before you reinstall them. Replace damaged filters.
Vacuum coils and fins. When the filter is removed for cleaning, it’s also a good time to check the surface of the evaporator coil, which will now be visible. If there is dust or debris on the surface, gently remove it. Taking care not to deform the soft fins, use an upholstery-brush attachment to vacuum the coils. If your unit has a slide-out chassis, you will usually have good access to the condenser coil when the chassis is removed from the cabinet. That’s a good time to inspect and clean any debris off that coil.
Seal the perimeter. Be sure to seal any air leaks around the unit.
- Avoid “short cycling”
Though most models with electronic controls now have built-in timers to prevent the unit from restarting immediately after shut-down, those with the “old-style”? Mechanical controls may not. Wait 5 minutes after shutting off the unit to restart it. That allows pressure in the refrigeration system to equalize, avoiding stress on the compressor.