Portable Air Conditioners - an Inexpensive Cooling Solution for Your Home

Portable air conditioners have become very popular in recent years. Many people use them even if they have a central system because portable A/C can provide excellent cooling for a significantly lower cost. Find out about the pros and cons of a mobile A/C unit and if one could work for you. A portable air conditioner is a self contained unit, usually about 30 inches tall and about 80 pounds in weight. The best thing is that it doesn't require any installation: it stands on the floor and you don't have to fit it in your window or your wall. Most mobile A/C units have little wheels, so you can easily move them around. Portable A/C pros: - you can move your portable unit from room to room, so there is no need to buy a window-mounted air conditioner for each room - you don't have to block your window or make holes in your wall - a portable air conditioner is ready to use as soon as you unpack it - using a mobile air conditioner to cool only one room instead of switching on a central system saves you a lot on energy bills Parable air conditioner cons: - a portable unit costs slightly more than a window air conditioner with a similar cooling capacity - comparable to central air conditioning and mini-split systems (where the compressor is outside), portable A/C is loud. If noise is an issue, look at the reviews of several portable units and select the one that makes the least noise. Is portable A/C effective in cooling large rooms? That depends on the size of your unit. Small portable units with cooling capacities of about 8000 BTU are perfect for a 300 sq. foot room, while larger 24000 BTU air conditioners can effectively cool a 1000 sq. foot room. So, as you can see, a properly sized mobile air conditioner can do a good job even in a very large room. However, you should know that larger doesn't necessarily mean better. An air conditioner that is too large will consume more energy and won't cool your room effectively, because it will stop and start constantly. Portable air conditioner energy efficiency Everybody knows that air conditioners chew a lot of energy, so energy efficiency is a big issue. However, recent developments in technology allow manufacturers to produce very efficient air conditioners. A few years ago an EER (energy efficiency ratio) of 6 or 7 was considered good. Now the standard is 12 or higher. Modern portable air conditioners are as energy efficient as window or mini split units. To select the most efficient air conditioner, look at its EER - the higher, the better. Also choose a unit with an Energy Star. The Energy Star means that an air conditioner meets energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. How affordable is a mobile air conditioner? You might be surprised to learn that portable A/C is not too expensive. The prices have gone down significantly, in recent years, and now you can buy a good unit from around $300. Of course, air conditioners with a larger cooling capacity cost more, and so do those with higher energy efficiency ratings. However, when it comes to paying more for a more efficient unit, you actually save money because your energy bill will be lower.

To conclude, if you don't have air conditioning and don't feel like investing in a central system, a portable air conditioner can be a great alternative. And if you have a central A/C, it's still a good idea to have a portable unit for cooling just the room you are in, instead of the entire house. It can significantly reduce your bills.

Tanya Turner publishes 100 Air Conditioner Reviews.com where you can find tips on air conditioner shopping, price comparison and reviews of portable air conditioners .

Do You Know How Important Your Air Conditioner Filter Is?

When most people think about an air conditioner filter, it is in terms of how efficient they are and how much dust they will stop. These are important things and should be considered when replacing or upgrading your air conditioner filter.

There is another very important job that your air conditioner filter does. It helps to keep dust from collecting on the evaporator coil of your air conditioning system. The evaporator is located inside the air handler and is one of the four main components of any air conditioning system. The air filter is usually located somewhere just before the evaporator coil.

Everyone knows that any dust that passes through the filter ends up back in your living space and can be very irritating to allergy sufferers and anyone else who is sensitive to dust and airborne contaminants.

What most people dont realize is that your air conditioner filter also serves another important purpose. It also prevents the evaporator coil from becoming plugged with dust and reducing the efficiency of the equipment.

This evaporator coil is constructed very similar to the radiator in a car. Like your car radiator, it will not be able to do its job without proper airflow. I am comparing the evaporator coil to a car radiator because most of us know what a radiator looks like, but an evaporator coil works to cool air as it passes through.

Over time dust collects between the fins of the evaporator coil and can even form a layer on the surface of the evaporator coil fins (like a blanket). This happens over a period of time and can take months and even years to happen.

If your air conditioner develops a problem with ice build up and it was never a problem in the past, there are two probable causes. The evaporator coil is becoming dirty and causing low operating pressures, or you are not changing your air filter often enough.

If you have your air conditioner serviced regularly, the technician should check the coil condition and advise you when it needs to be cleaned. As airflow through the evaporator coil becomes more and more restricted the equipment efficiency begins to decline. This can even cause equipment failure and lead to expensive repairs.

So, cleaner air is not the only benefit you will get from using an efficient air conditioner filter. You will also save money because your air conditioning equipment will perform at a higher efficiency and you will reduce service calls.

Donald Munn has been in the air conditioning, ventilation and heating industry for twenty years and shares his experience and insight into furnace filter selection, performance and care at www.furnacefiltercare.com
 

For a Healthy Greenhouse Supply Good Air Ventilation

For optimal functioning of your greenhouse, supply sufficient air ventilation at all times.

The air inside a greenhouse is heated by re-radiation of solar energy by objects inside the greenhouse, or, sometimes, by means of artificial heating.

It may reach a point where the temperature inside the greenhouse grows uncomfortably high for the plants. If this happens, you need to implement a good greenhouse ventilation system to exchange some of the warm air inside for cooler air from outside.

Because warm air rises, it is convenient to allow it to escape through vents at the highest point of the greenhouse. Cool air can gain access through natural means - for instance, leaks where glass overlaps - or through side vents set lower down in the sides of the greenhouse. It's especially important to provide lean-to or circular greenhouses, or greenhouses used to grow alpine plants, with an adequate fresh air supply.

A rule of thumb for small greenhouses is that the vents should be equal to 25 - 30 percent of the floor area.

It's best to have an automated system to control the opening and closing of vents. This can be achieved by thermostatically controlled electric motors, or, on a smaller scale, by expansion vent units. Roof vents are best positioned alternately on both sides of the roof, with side vents set to match. Don't forget - if side vents are placed at ground level, you need to cover them with wire netting to prevent unwanted guests like mice or cats from gaining access to the greenhouse.

To prevent cold or wet spots, circulating fans can be used to mix the air inside the greenhouse. Extractor fans will pull air out of the greenhouse, and you obviously need a means of allowing fresh air in to replace the lost air. It's possible to use fans to pull air into a greenhouse, but, in practice, extractor fans work more reliably. Air vents are the normally preferred means of allowing air in.

Extractor fans are controlled by an air thermostat - and they must be large enough to move sufficient quantities of air. A good greenhouse supply retailer should be able to recommend the best type of fan for your requirements. Normal domestic extractor fans are not suitable - those used in greenhouses have larger blades which turn more slowly.

Moisture jets or absorbent pads can be used alongside fans to add or remove moisture from the incoming air to help maintain the correct humidity level in the greenhouse atmosphere. With a little planning and forethought it's quite easy to maintain a good greenhouse supply of fresh air to keep your plants happy!

For resources and information on all aspects of this fascinating hobby visit greenhouse supply now!

HVAC Named One of the Top 50 Most Promising Job Fields in America

What makes the list of the top 50 fastest growing career fields in the Unites States and have annual earnings above the US median income of $28,770? According to Career Builder.Com coming in at number 40 is Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC) mechanics and installers with a median pay of $36,260.

Part of the reason for this growth is concern for the environment has prompted the development of new energy-saving heating and air-conditioning systems. An emphasis on better energy management will lead to the replacement of older systems and the installation of newer, more efficient systems in existing homes and buildings. Also, demand for maintenance and service work will be increased as businesses and homeowners strive to keep increasingly complex systems operating at peak efficiency. Regulations prohibiting the discharge and production of CFC and HCFC refrigerants should continue to result in the need to replace many existing air conditioning systems or modify them to use new environmentally safe refrigerants.

Job prospects for heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers are expected to be excellent, particularly for those with training from an accredited technical school or with formal apprenticeship training, and especially in the fastest growing areas of the country. A growing number of retirements of highly skilled technicians are expected to generate many job openings. In addition, employment of heating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers is projected to increase faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014 by the US Department of Labor. People and businesses depend on their climate-control systems and must keep them in good working order, regardless of economic conditions.

If you are entering the HVAC job field, it is recommended that you first enroll in technical training from a quality technical or trade school. Many options exist, so it is in your best interest to find a school that offers quality, cutting edge training. One example school on the forefront of HVAC training is The Refrigeration School, Inc (RSI) of Phoenix, Arizona. An accredited technical school that offers courses in Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Heating Technologies, Electrical Technologies, Electro-Mechanical Technologies and Associate of Occupational Studies in Mechanical Maintenance Engineering. Implementing their new STAR system, instructors can emulate scenarios that would be found in real world situations, directly in the classroom. This new technology utilizes a computer interface to "break" HVAC systems and allows students to diagnose and repair the systems in real time. To learn more about the STAR system, visit The Refrigeration School Inc.'s HVAC school resource.

Basics of HVAC

What is HVAC? You've probably heard of the term from different contractors, engineers, or perhaps colleagues and business partners; but you're still wondering what the initialism means. Well, HVAC ("H-V-A-C" or "H-VAK") stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning--three closely related fundamental functions found in homes, offices, and other building structures.

The beginning of HVAC is not clear, though as early as second century, a lot of Roman cities were using a central heating system known as hypocaust. This is further popularized during the Industrial Revolution as big factories used it. Now most modern buildings that you see have integrated HVAC.

The HVAC system is also known as climate control. This is because these three functions are essential in maintaining comfort in every dwelling.

The primary use of HVAC is to regulate room temperature, humidity, and air flow, ensuring that such elements remain within their acceptable ranges. Effective control of such factors minimizes health-related risks. A very humid atmosphere impairs the body's ability to regulate body temperature as it prevents the evaporation of sweat. High humidity also decreases physical strength, which usually leads to fatigue. An unhealthy surrounding can also affect people's thinking abilities. Hypothermia, heat stroke, and hyperpyrexia, among others, are some of the illnesses that may also occur.

There are three basic functions of HVAC. Heating is significant in maintaining adequate room temperature especially during colder weather conditions. There are two classifications of heating: local and central. The latter is more commonly used because it is more economical. Furnace or boiler, heat pump, and radiator make up the heating system.

Ventilation, on the other hand, is associated with air movement. There are many types of ventilation, but they all function similarly. Ventilation is necessary to allow carbon dioxide to go out and oxygen to get in, making sure that people are inhaling fresh air. Stagnant air causes the spreading of sickness, usually airborne, and allergies. But it is also essential to maintain an efficient ventilation system, especially in the attics. Insufficient ventilation usually promotes the growth of bacteria and fungi such as molds because of high humidity. It will also decrease the effectiveness of rafter and roof sheathing insulation because of water vapor condensation.

The air-conditioning system controls the heat as well as ventilation. They often come in different sizes. Most air conditioners have large air ducts, so it is better to check out the building first to see if they can be installed. Or else, you can use the split system or remote coils. It is necessary, though, that air ducts are properly cleaned. Pathogens thrive in dirty air ducts. Return-air grills are also vulnerable to chemical, microbiological, and radiological elements. Thus, HVAC return-air grill height should be that it is not accessible but visible for any observation.

HVAC has gone a long way over the years. Now, you may be wondering, how has technology changed in the HVAC field? Well, using PLCs (programmable logic controllers) in HVAC is the trend nowadays. But a great deal of development of the HVAC system lies on the ever-changing technology and continuous innovation. Companies are adopting wireless technology after they found out that networking HVAC controllers, which often use sensors, can eventually cut installation and labor costs. A lot of engineers are also focused on further improving this technology through the use of mesh wireless setup, which will work for both the wireless sensor and wireless controller networks. The only downside of this could probably be the risk of being exposed to RF (radio frequency) radiation.

The installation of an HVAC system is imperative if we want to achieve maximum comfort and be healthy in our homes, office spaces, or other building facilities. But you also need to consider the building size in installing an HVAC system. Optimum efficiency and comfort level are best achieved if the system is appropriate for the size. After all, any ineffective system usually means more incurred costs in the future. You should also see to it that HVAC is carefully integrated to the overall building design so other aspects needed for proper operations, such as cabling, are not sacrificed.

Milafel Hope Awe is a freelance web writer, project leader, and a loyal mom to her 16-year-old stepdaughter and 2-year-old son. Right now, she's writing articles for HVAC Home. In her spare time, she writes poetry, travels, and plays the guitar.