Adjust The Thermostat Levels To Increase The Efficiency Of The Air Conditioner

Be it the hot and scorching summer months or the cold and chilly winter months, it is hard to imagine life without an air conditioner. There are several issues that we need to consider before buying an air conditioner. This would include the make of the air conditioner, the capacity of the air conditioner, the room you would be installing it in, etc. There is also the issue of efficiency of an air conditioner linked to the choice you make.

The efficiency of an air conditioner is important to many people as the running costs of an air conditioner is generally pretty high. With a lower efficiency air conditioner, these costs could sky rocket. However, there are a number of things we can actually do to increase the efficiency of the air conditioner.

The first thing that we need to do is take proper care of the device. Maintaining the air conditioner and its different parts in prime working condition ensures that the unit will work at its optimal level and be more efficient.

Similarly, if we keep the room from heating up too much from the rays of the sun by drawing the curtains, we can further increase the efficiency of the air conditioner.

Another very effective way to increase the efficiency of an air conditioner is by adjusting the thermostat levels of it. By setting it at proper levels you can save significant amount of power consumption. During the summer months try and adjust the thermostat levels at 78 degree Fahrenheit or higher. If you adjust at any lower temperature, you will be spending about 7% extra on your electricity bills for every additional drop of Fahrenheit degree temperature.

Similarly during the winter months adjust your air conditioner?s thermostat level at 68 degree Fahrenheit or below it. This will again save you a lot of power consumption and hence cooling costs.

If you are not used to such temperature in either of the seasons, then it will take time for you and your family to adjust. Don?t just rush into it. First let your family know why you are adjusting the thermostat levels. Then reach the level gradually by changing the thermostat temperature every day by a degree. This would help you and your family to acclimatize better. And in no time you will be saving a lot of extra bucks on your electricity bills. You can even plan for something with those extra dollars to reward yourselves for sticking to the plan.

Adjust the Thermostat Levels to Increase the Efficiency of the Air Conditionerbest air conditioner, window air conditioner and air conditioner repair.

Benefits Of A Freestanding Air Conditioner

It is a tough job surviving the summer months without proper air conditioning. Generally it is hot, and it is humid too. With an air conditioner installed not only will it cool your surroundings cool but you will also have a less humid place to work or relax in.

There are mainly four kinds of air conditioners available in the market. They are:

1. Central Air Conditioners
2. Window Air Conditioners
3. Freestanding Air Conditioners
4. Ductless Air Conditioners

Of these, the most convenient and economical would be the freestanding air conditioners. There are a number of benefits that the freestanding ones have over the other types. We will list a few below.

First of all, the freestanding air conditioner is the easiest to install. In fact there is hardly anything to install. You only have to plug it in and it is ready to start working. But with window air conditioners, and more so with central air conditioners, you need to go through a lot of installation work. This does not only mean that you have to put up with a considerable amount of hassle, but you also got to spend a significant sum of money to get the units installed. There are no such costs with a freestanding air conditioner.

The other great advantage is that with a freestanding air conditioner you can have it wherever you want to have it. So when you are in your living room with your friends you can have it over there, and when you are back for to sleep after an evening of fun you can have it in your bedroom. The freestanding air conditioners are light enough to be moved around. This means that you can further save on your expenses. If you had window air conditioners you needed to install separate ones for each of the rooms. With freestanding air conditioners you can do with a single unit. Although central air conditioners cool the air of all the rooms together, but they also consume much more power than the freestanding air conditioners. Power is being expended for rooms which are not occupied. With freestanding air conditioners you can reduce your electricity bills.

Since there are no installation issues it can be used anywhere. While window air conditioners require a window or an open stretch of wall and the central air conditioner requires the provisions for ducts, you can place the freestanding air conditioners anywhere.

Jason Uvios writes on "Benefits of a Freestanding Air Conditioner" to visit it :- cool air conditioner, air ozonators and air conditioners.

Sizing - Part I - Air Conditioner Sizing

Summary

Air conditioner sizing means finding the air conditioner that can balance the heat gains and losses within a building. There is a famous way of sizing an AC. It is the square feet method. However, there the-also-famous Manual J method available, to size ACs accurately.

We hear a lot about air conditioner sizing, whenever we make the important choice of purchasing, or installing one. What does the word sizing really mean?

Air conditioners are designed for heat removal, or addition (if heat pump is included in the single package). Therefore, the "size" of an AC, will be specified in terms of heat removal, or addition capability.

Units that we use for air conditioner sizing, are BTU/hr (British Thermal Units per hour), Ton, and Watts. Some countries utilise one unit, more than the others, in air conditioner sizing.

It is excellent if you can remember the relationship between BTU/hr, Ton, and Watts. You can quickly gauge the AC size, in case if your friends use units - that are unfamiliar to you;

• 1 ton is equivalent to 12,000 BTU/hr. And,

• 12,000 BTU/hr is equivalent to 3,516 Watts - or 3.516 kW (kilo-Watts).

Concept and fundamental of air conditioner sizing

It is based on heat gain, and/or losses in a building. It is obvious that you will need to remove the amount of heat gain into your house - if it is hot outside. Similarly, you'll need to add in the heat loss from your house - if outside temperature is cold.

In short, heat gain and loss, must be equally balanced by heat removal, and addition, to get the desired room comfort that we want.

What determines the amount of heat removal and/or addition that we want?

It is determined by,

• the temperature difference between outside temperature, and our desired temperature. It is common sense that if you want a cool room, in a very hot climate, you'll need to remove a lot of heat. On the other hand, it does not take much to maintain a cool room, on a mild day

• the construction material, and arrangement of your building. Let's say, that you have two identical houses. One is build out of glass, and the other out of brick, and well insulated.

  Of course the one built with glass would require much more heat addition, or removal, compared to the other - given a same day.

  Two identical house, with different orientation with respect to the direction of sun rise and fall, will also influence the air conditioner sizing

• the surface area of the walls. The larger the surface area - the more heat that can loose, or gain through it. Hence, effects the AC size that you would need

• infiltration plays a part in determining our air conditioner sizing. Door gaps, cracked windows, chimneys - are the "doorways" for air to enter from outside, into your living space. Only you know how frustrating it can get, to feel a draft of chill, or hot air from outside

• activities and other equipment within a building. Cooking? Hot bath? Is it a gymnasium with a lot of intense exercise?

• the occupants. It takes a lot to cool a town hall full of people, doesn't it? Oh yes, we generate heat.

Square feet method?

You might have heard about the square feet method in air conditioner sizing. In fact, it is used often by many contractors, that we sometimes use it arbitrarily. This method have been generalised, and simplified by contractors, from sizing many ACs.

The most common relationship is, "1 ton for every 500 square feet of floor area". This method might work for a contractor, working in a small area, with similar type of houses or buildings, and similar wall material.

But, the relationship will not work, if you change the wall construction type, or if you move into a different area, with different climate. Simply said, this method of air conditioner sizing will only work for a confined group of building, in a given area.

However, this is method is reasonably useful for installing window, small split, or portable air conditioners.

Manual J

Now, this is the way we should do air conditioner sizing. Manual J is a database, with methodologies, formulas and guide for sizing and AC. This manual has been developed by ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) - with regular reviews.

It will provide you with necessary data for heat gain and heat loss calculations. Wall construction, building orientation, infiltration, shading, number of occupants, the temperature you would like to set, outside temperatures, are among the most important values it will look for, for proper air conditioner sizing.

This is indeed, an extensive manual, which is used by certified and experienced air conditioning contractors.

Manual J is just a tool. The important things are, the values that are put in it. If we put in accurate values, then our results will be come accurate. Otherwise, it's not going to help much.

What are amongst the important information, you should have for air conditioner sizing using Manual J? These are,

• required temperature range within your space,

• approximate temperature distribution within your area, to find out the number of months you have winter, summer, and mild weathers,

• wall surface area and material. Window surface area,

• any tinted window? Any insulated space?

• how many person is going to live within each space?

• what are the activities carried out throughout any day? How much cooking? How much of hot water utilisation?

• orientation of your building, with respect to the sun's rise and fall direction, and,

• sources of infiltration

Part II or air conditioner sizing is coming soon...
Provides information on air conditioners and air conditioning in her site,
http://www.air-conditioner-selection.com/

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Good Air Conditioners

Many people have trouble purchasing an air conditioning. Many times we have a habit of just focusing on the brand names of the air conditioner. And decide which one is better, but there are more things that you should look at besides the name.

You should focus more on the size and installation of your air conditioner, rather then a high end air conditioning. Because the big factor is the installation, if it is not installed properly you can face more problems later on.

One good reason the have properly sized ac system is humidity control. When it operates the evaporator coil temperature is below the dew point temperature. The result of this is that the moisture condensing on the evaporator reduces the moisture in the air. This would mean a decrease in the humidity. This process cannot happen with an oversized ac, the run cycle on them are too short for this to happen. So keep that in mind when you?re shopping around.

Also maintaining and repairing an over sized ac can cost you much more. The compressor for example, over time will wear out and you will need to get it replaced. If your ac turns on and off for 4 or 5 times in an hour instead of the normal 2 or3. It will wear out your compressor. There are many other factors to look out for when shopping around for an air conditioning unit so be sure to do some research and not be afraid to ask questions.

But at least you know it?s not all in the name. Be sure to pay the extra money and get the air conditioner installed properly, because that is the main thing. Sure there are other aspects, but not everyone has the budget for the air conditioner with better features. So getting it installed properly will save you quite a bit of money down the road.
Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.atv-parts-n-accessories.com/ . His articles have also been featured on related sites such as http://www.coolingsystemsmadeez.info/ and http://www.ezacguide.info/

Air Conditioner Buying Tips

Most new homes today have air conditioning units. It is more unusual to see homes without central air then to see ones with it nowadays. Air conditioning can be a necessity in warmer climates for the comfort of the family. Most air conditioner units will range from three to six thousand dollars, including installation. This is not a minor investment but one necessary for comfort. If you need a new air conditioner, there are several things to consider prior to purchasing.

Air conditioning units should be installed by a contractor who is experienced with this type of work. Depending on existing ducts and the type of unit purchased, the price may vary greatly. Get several estimates from qualified contractors before deciding on the unit and installer. Ensure the contractor has experience and works well with you. Get references and check them thoroughly.

Air conditioner units use electricity to run. If the unit is used often this can increase energy costs significantly. This is especially true in warmer climates where it is a necessity to cool the home. To help combat these costs, it is advisable to look at the efficiency of the unit. This may mean a larger initial investment, but should save money in the long run.

The efficiency rating is required to be on all air conditioners. Compare units carefully to determine the cost for each type of efficiency. The more efficient a unit is, the more money you will save on energy bills. A more efficient air conditioner will take less energy to run and cool the entire house.

You will need to determine the appropriate size of the unit needed for your house. This is an important step because units that are too small will have to work harder to cool the home. Units that are too large are simply wasteful and unnecessary. A qualified air conditioner contractor will be able to analyze the size of your home and make recommendations on the size needed.

Always get a contract before starting work with any contractor. Make sure all the costs are clearly spelled out. This should include both the cost of the unit and installation. It should also detail payment policies and warranties. Warranties generally cover the compressor and additional parts. Do not choose a unit that has anything less than a five year warranty on the compressor, but a ten year warranty is better. Additional parts may be warranted anywhere from one to five years and are usually separate.

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for AirConditioningZone.com. To learn more about central air and air conditioner installation, visit us.

Air Conditioners, What Could Be More Important Than A Good Brand Name

A common misconception about air conditioning equipment is that Brand Name is the best indicator of quality. While it is true

that some brands are better than others, this is not the main criterion you should use when making your buying decision. You

may do yourself a great disservice if you overlook this. The most important factor regarding central air conditioners and heat pumps, without exception, is the quality of the

installation.

A high-end air conditioning system installed in an unprofessional manor, without regard for quality of installation or proper

sizing will not perform any better than a low-end system installed with emphasis on the quality of the installation. Furthermore, using the above example, the operating and maintenance costs associated with the high-end system may very well

exceed that of the low-end system by a large amount over the life of the equipment.

These expenses will show in increased monthly energy costs, maintenance costs, and equipment breakdowns. There are also

concerns about indoor air quality, and noise.

One of the benefits of a properly sized air conditioning system is humidity control. The operating characteristics of air

conditioners is similar to dehumidifiers. The evaporator coil temperature is below the dew point temperature when in

operation. This results in moisture condensing on the evaporator and reduces the moisture content in the air. This results

in lower humidity. The run cycles of an over sized air conditioner will be too short for this dehumidification process to

occur.

The run cycles of an undersized system will be too long and may keep humidity levels too low. This system will loose a lot

of its capacity to the dehumidification process and only cool effectively when humidity is very low.

Maintenance and repair costs can be higher than normal on an over sized air conditioner. There are components in air

conditioners that require replacement from time to time because they wear out. For example the compressor contactor. The

contactor is the device that operates the compressor. Each time the compressor starts, the contactor closes. The more often

the compressor starts and stops the faster this part will wear out. The compressor is another example. It is common knowledge the greatest amount of wear on a car engine is at start up. The

same is true of an air conditioner compressor. There is oil in the compressor and each time it cycles off the oil drains

from the bearings and gets picked up again at startup. Because there is less oil for lubrication at startup, this is when

the greatest amount of compressor wear happens. If your air conditioner cycles on and off 4 or 5 times per hour instead of

the normal 2 or 3 times per hour it only makes sense that this causes more wear on the compressor.

These are only some of problems associated with over sized and undersized air conditioning equipment. There are other

complications that add to these problems and cost you more money. So when shopping for a new air conditioning system get

more than one or two prices and make sure the contractor does proper load calculations so you can avoid these problems.

When selectinghome air conditioners it is very important to consider all of your options. Maintaining this equipment is equally important. A good first step in air conditioner maintenance is choosing qualityfurnace filters and air conditioner filters

Ventialtion Systems Training Schools - HVACR & Ventialtion Industry Growth

The U.S. Department of labor reports that last year, there were over 20,000 new jobs created in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Fields. Rapidly increasing services and technological innovation in areas of climate control are creating many new job opportunities. Job forecasts for skilled heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers are expected increase faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014. Learn more: US Census Bureau.

One of the fastest growing of the HVACR specializations is Ventilation Systems installation and repair. Buildings that are airtight need some kind of mechanical ventilation systems. If not they will have poor indoor air quality or problems with mold and mildew. As commercial construction and development continues to increase, there is an accelerated demand for Ventilation System installation and repair. Ventilation Systems training outlines step by step procedures for choosing, designing, installing, and repairing ventilation systems.

To further understand the benefits and advantages of being technically educated in the HVACR and Ventilation job field, we will look at The Refrigeration School, Inc. (RSI) of Phoenix AZ. As one of the leaders in HVACR and Ventilation Systems education, RSI has become known internationally as a training center devoted to providing affordable, high quality education in the HVACR technical fields. This is accomplished through a mixture of lecture and shop classes with a key emphasis on "hands-on" training. The mix of lecture to hands-on varies from class to class as a student progresses.

To provide students with up to date industry knowledge and training, many of the following topics are taught in quality Ventilation training programs:

• Controlling moisture
• Improving building durability
• Installing bath and kitchen fans
• Installing heat recovery ventilators
• Sizing ventilation systems
• Designing duct systems
• Installation tips

The courses cover the fundamentals of air quality assessment, system requirements, and focuses specifically on system design and installation.

If you are planning on pursuing an education in Ventilation Systems Training, be sure they provide the aforementioned subject matter. A more specific outline of the standards for Ventilation training can be found at this Ventilation Training Course outline.

The Need for Heating and Air Conditioning Technicians - HVAC

Regardless of where you live, people need heating or air conditioning HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning) job opportunities are dramatically increasing all over the United States. While the need for Air Conditioning and Heating Technicians steadily rises, the amount of trained graduates to fulfill the positions has not. Because of this, HVAC technicians are finding themselves with great job security as well as increasing salaries. Here are just a few reasons why more people are turning towards a career in the HVAC field everyday:

1. HVACR certification requires quick and easy training that often lasts as little as nine months. According to Jon Cline of RSIAZ, a heating and air conditioning training school in Phoenix, Arizona, ?Of the approximately 7,000 technicians trained in 2004, very few graduated from other than a career school such as ours. Traditionally, career school programs for HVACR are from 6 to 15 months. Graduates of accelerated training programs find a high employment demand and starting salaries in the range of $32,000 to $35,000 with as little as six months of training.?

CASE STUDY:

Typical Program breakdown:

Day Program Night Program

Electrical Technologies 3 months 4 months

Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heating Technologies 6 months 9 months

Electro-Mechanical Technologies 8 months 12 months

Mechanical Maintenance 12 months 24 months

Graduates from the Electro-Mechanical course have completed the Air Conditioning, Refrigeration Heating AND Electrical portion of our course. Therefore when they graduate they are an Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, and Heating Technician AND an Electrician. This is important to employers because they only need to hire one person to perform both functions.

Graduates of the Associate of Occupational Studies in of Mechanical Maintenance Engineering add an additional 5 months of training to the Electro-Mechanical Course to prepare a graduate to work in the large commercial industry.

2. The demand for HVAC technicians and engineers is high and steadily increasing, thus the wages are much higher than similar jobs in the labor industry.

3. Because most unions and employers only require less than 2 years of training, a career in HVAC costs much less then a four year school.

It is no wonder why heating and air conditioning technician jobs are one of the fastest growing employment opportunities in the world, and they offer involvement in business ownership. In fact the U.S Department of Labor estimates that there will be a 17% increase of jobs in this field over the next 2 years.

Why are heating and air conditioning technician jobs at a premium?

Heating ventilation and air conditioning is a very important factor in residential homes as well as businesses, this is because being comfortable is something every aspects whether it?s in their cubicle or bedroom. Heat ventilation installment only requires two semesters of training.

Little known facts about HVAC ( Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning) jobs:

- An average hourly wage for a certified worker can be as much as $10-15 higher when compared to a non-union worker in the HVAC industry.

- Due to the overwhelming demand for heating and air conditioning technicians many technicians clear $200.00 a day without a college degree.

- Because of the extensive training in the HVAC industry business ownership is highly implicated in these fields

For more information on becoming an heating technician or air conditioning technician please visit our school at www.refrigerationschool.com