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Generally,
air conditioning systems are designed with a split system or a heat
pump. Split system units use a refrigerant such as Freon that is
cycled from an indoor coil to an outdoor condenser with a compressor.
This will decrease the air temperature and dehumidifying the air
that is removed from the house through ducts. In contrast, the heat
pump can extract cool air from the ground or air.
Home
air conditioning units are readily available for purchase online.
Before purchasing an air conditioner, you should determine the
appropriate air conditioner for your space. Choosing the appropriate
cooling system requires the calculation of the cooling load to
determine the appropriate size and cooling capacity of the system.
An incorrect calculation can lead to an improperly sized AC unit
and result in inefficient cooling. The most effective AC units
have long continuous running times, efficient dehumidifying capabilities,
consistent temperatures and good mixing of air. If seeking the
advice of a contractor or salesman, the cautious homeowner should
avoid purchasing any unit that is oversized for the intended space.
The
price of an AC unit varies based on a number of factors, the most
important being the cooling capacity or BTU, efficiency, which
is the amount of cooling per watt of electricity utilize-that
is its energy efficiency rating or SEER, whether the unit is a
portable ac or a larger wall-installed unit, whether the thermostat
is manual or automatic, ease of maintenance, such as whether the
filters can be easily cleaned, whether fans are adjustable and
whether there is a fixed or slide-out chassis. When calculating
BTU, the basic rule of thumb is that every 200 square feet of
space requires 6,000 BTUs. To determine the appropriate SEER rating,
government regulations require these ratings equal at least 13
and mid-range AC units typically have a rating of 14.5 to 17.
Once
an AC unit is installed, there are several steps a homeowner can
take to reduce the related energy costs, including the installation
of a window-mounted AC unit in the shade to increase efficiency
by up to 10%, not lowering the temperature of the AC unit when
turning it on to avoid higher energy usage without the benefit
of a faster cooling rate, fixing any duct leaks to avoid up to
30% of increased energy costs and maintaining the AC at a lower
fan speed on extra humid days to help dehumidify the air.
Proper
maintenance for AC units can reduce overall costs and prolong
the life of the cooling unit. Homeowners can shop around for a
service plan that includes discounted services and annual inspections
or enter into preventive maintenance agreements with a qualified
contractor for scheduled inspections and maintenance. Proper maintenance
can be scheduled on a bi-annual basis, consisting of pre-cooling
season and post-cooling season inspections and maintenance. A
proper maintenance program should include regular filter changes,
duct and vent inspections, condenser cleanings, tree and shrubbery
pruning to maintain air flow around the house perimeter.
Homeowners
can take steps to reduce the need for AC even during the hottest
months, such as limiting use of electric appliances during the
day, including the use of ovens, televisions and lamps, using
fans to keep air circulating throughout the space, keeping drapes
and curtains drawn to block sunlight, keeping windows and doors
closed during the day when the AC is running and maintaining trees
and shrubs that provide shade around the home’s perimeter.
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