Different Types of Air Conditioning

There are 4 main types of air conditioners:

Window Air Conditioners
Standing Air Conditioners
Mini split Air Conditioners
Central Air Conditioners

Window air conditioners are the most economical and easy to install. To install open the window place unit into the window, pull down window tight against it and open side flaps to close the gaps at either ends. Then just plug in and switch on, the hot air is vented out the back of the unit into the atmosphere. In the colder weather it works in reverse, that is it intakes cold air and gives out heat.

The standing air conditioner benefits from that it is portable, and it main requirement is an exhaust hose which must be vented out. Also to get the best efficiency you should place the unit away from direct sunlight and electrical equipment. As the thermostat measures the temperature this will give it a false reading and so it will operate longer than required. Most models now have 4 functions, that is cooling, dehumidifying, air cleaning and heating.

Also when buying standing or window air conditioners you must check that you have the correct power unit (measured in Btu). That is if the unit is too small it will not cool the room efficiently, and if too large it will cool the room too fast and not remove humidity.

Btu is short for British Thermal Unit, which is the amount of air required to cool or heat one pound of water by one degree. Therefore 10k Btu unit will work best in a room up to 300sq ft,12k Btu for 400sq ft, etc. Other points to note is do they have self evaporating technology, that is as the unit cools the room water is taken from the air and recycled in unit to make it run more efficiently and check the energy rating.

Both standing and window air conditioner like most equipment must be looked after to get the best out of the unit and increase the lifetime of the unit. Therefore you should clean the filter regularly because if they get clogged up they won't let the unit work properly and thus efficiency will decrease and can be a health risk.

Mini split air conditioners have a small attractive indoor unit and a main compressor unit is usually placed outside. Therefore it is quiet and only needs a 3 1/2 " conduit to connect the two units. Also you can have multiple indoor units for each room operating at different temperatures or you can switch off unit that are not needed to save energy and money.

The central air conditioner system is the most expensive. This system requires ducting which is either on the ceiling or under the flooring to all the rooms, with the main unit being placed outside.
For window, ductless mini split and central air conditioners it is advisable to get covers for them. They serve the purpose of protecting the units from rain, heat, leaves and dust, so this extends the life of the unit. Cheap cover are available but this is a false economy, a good quality cover will protect the unit and let it function properly, a cover must be the right size with built in vents to let moisture out.

The choice of which type of air conditioning to choose depends on how long a period of the year it will be in use, how much you want to spend on buy one or if it is for your own home or rented accommodations.

Benefits of Air Conditioners, whether it is Standing, Window, Ductless Mini Split or a Central Air Conditioning system. Modern air conditioning systems have multiple functions, that is cooling, heating, dehumidifying, ionising and cleaning the air. Therefore it is important to choose the correct size (Btu) for the size of the room, efficiency and energy rating.

How to Find the Best Heating and Air Conditioning Service Shops

There are plenty of different heating and air conditioning shops both online and in person, with each store offering a range of tools and technologies. From heat pumps to in-floor heating, from fireplaces to ductless air conditioning, these various shops can handle it all.

If you are looking for these shops you are going to want to make sure that you find the best shops available. You want to know that they are known for their service, and that they are known for strong customer relations. If you are looking for heating or air conditioning work, these tips should help you to find the best heating and air conditioning shops around.

Talk To Your Friends

You may be surprised to find out how much your friends know about heating and cooling and how much experience they have had with service shops. Ask them about their experiences with different forms of technology, such as in-floor heating and infrared heating. Ask them how the shop talked to them and taught them about the system and how they felt about their experience with the shop. The more information you take in, the better.

Use the Internet

The Internet is an incredibly tool for anyone who is looking to get information on heating and air conditioning service shops. You can use the Internet to find as many different shops as possible. Be sure to read online reviews about the shops to understand if they are experts at home comfort or if they fail to provide the strong home heating and air cleaning needed to be comfortable in your home.

Use the Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau is an incredible source for those who are looking to find information on a company. Found a heating and air conditioning service shop that you are interested? Check to make sure that they treat their customers right. Any complaint filed with the BBB is tracked and they contact the company and keep track of their response to the situation.

Talk to the Shops

At the end of the day, you simply need to go into a shop and talk to them about what you are interested in. Talk to them about ductless air conditioning and pumps or the benefits of utilizing humidifiers and hybrid systems in your home. Get a feel for their knowledge and expertise, along with their customer service, as you speak with them. The best shops will stand out among the rest after a few conversations.

These different tools will help to lead you directly to the various shops that are going to be able to provide you with the heating and air conditioning that you need. They will be able to help you to switch over to new sources of heat and can help to recommend new energy-efficient options for your home. They will be able to give you solid quotes for pricing and will be able to help you install everything that you need.

Air Conditioning Repair

What should you be seeking when you request a person to make an air conditioning repair in St. Louis, MO to suit your needs?

• Notoriety


• Dependability


• Experience


• Equipment

An air conditioner is an expensive item and a very crucial thing during a hot St. Louis summer season, therefore, you want to be careful about whom you allow to fix it. Most people don't have a clue with regards to the things it takes to make an air conditioning (A/C) repair in St. Louis, MO, so they wouldn't have a clue if what the A/C service tech says is right or not. Reliability and reputation are the only tools you're likely to have for knowing whether your A/C repair technician in St. Louis knows what he or she is talking about. Suggestions from acquaintances, coworkers, family members or people born and raised in St. Louis are also respectable indications regarding the dependability and integrity of your St. Louis A/C repair company.

Ask the air conditioning repair company for references and inquire as to how many years they've been in operation. Any reliable repair provider should without difficulty have the ability to provide you with a listing of satisfied St. Louis, MO customers. Doing an A/C repair involves special equipment, such as air conditioning pressure gauges and Freon or supplementary cooling gas supplies. Older air conditioner models utilize a special type of Freon and may be ruined if serviced incorrectly. Newer air conditioner systems use different types of gas in order to operate well and still meet EPA requirements. Be certain that your St. Louis air conditioning repair technician is using the correct tools and possesses the proper licenses to handle Freon and the other gases.

Experience may mean the difference between an air conditioning repair technician determining when the A/C system needs to be removed and a new one needs to be installed or if a good old fashioned cleaning may be sufficient. Components of the cooling system might be complicated to get at in a number of the older St. Louis houses, so your technician may not be very agreeable to making an air conditioning repair just by cleansing the unit. They might think it is a lot easier to put in a new A/C unit and also pocket the extra money from doing the installation, as opposed to taking the additional time necessary to extend the life of the older unit. Not all St. Louis models can be saved by performing a cooling system repair, and sooner or later all air conditioner units will require replacement. However, getting a skilled St. Louis air conditioning repair technician with a reputation for integrity and dependability to work on your air conditioning unit will offer you the greatest outcome.

And do not fail to remember to switch the air filter inside the A/C unit frequently. A lot of times a simple swap of the filter can mean a big difference in the way your air conditioner works. Most central air conditioning units contain an air filter positioned inside the air handler which is where the furnace is found. Inspect the air filter by taking it out and looking at the exterior to determine how much dust and debris has accumulated. If it looks grimy, filled with dust, or cluttered, it is definitely time to change. During extreme running times you should check or change your air filter month-to-month. That's a suggestion you are able to execute yourself to prevent a call to your St. Louis, MO air conditioning repair technician.

Inverter Split System Air Conditioners - How They Save Money

If you are thinking about installing a split system air conditioner, you may have noticed there are two technologies to choose from, "inverter" and "non-inverter".

A lot of people choose the cheaper "non-inverter" model without realising that in the long run it will be more expensive and certainly less comfortable.

Our advice is to spend that little extra and buy an "inverter" model for the following reasons:

Why choose an Inverter Model?

• Basically, they automate the cooling and heating in a very smooth and energy efficient way.


• They do this with a sensor that notes the current temperature and adjusts the power accordingly. It's kind of like how you control the speed of your car by just reducing or increasing pressure on the accelerator.


• They are also quieter because instead of automatically turning off and on every time they reach temperature limits (as non-inverter models do) they cruise along adjusting and maintaining the temperature in a consistent way.


• Another benefit of this is that they use approximately 30% less power than non-inverter models that are always working much harder to get back to desired temperatures.


• And, as they don't have to work as hard there is less wear and tear, which means they last longer than non-inverters do.

Non-Inverter Models

• Non-inverter models are constantly turning off and on again when reaching set temperature limits which means much more power use (about 30%) and wildly fluctuating temperatures. One minute its freezing and then it's getting hot and uncomfortable.


• They are also noisier due to working harder when constantly turning on and off again to reach certain temperatures.


• There is also more wear and tear which results in them generally not lasting as long as inverter models.

Summing Up

Split system air conditioners with inverter technology provide a much more comfortable experience with consistent temperatures and less energy use. This is much better for our planet and of course your pocket.

Portable Air Conditioning for Leisure Centres and Gyms

People go to leisure centres and gyms to:

- Feel better (both physically and mentally);
- Control their weight;
- Protect their overall health (both in the short and long-term);
- Improve their flexibility;
- Increase their stamina; and to
- Meet new people and make new friends.

They do not go to catch a cold! But, in fact, many people do. Why? Because the air conditioning system at the leisure centre and gym they use is poor and/or does not help reduce humidity without reducing temperatures to unbearable levels. In short, the room rapidly overcools, and users head for the showers.

Before we talk about the solution, let us take a look at the background to all this...

Not every leisure centre and gym in the UK is part of a state-of-the-art leisure complex; the shiny, happy result of a multi-million pound investment sometime over the past decade. Many are located in converted buildings that were originally intended for another purpose, not for personal fitness training, aerobics, badminton, or even salsa soul classes.

During the property's refurbishment, the cost of installing a hi-tech air con. system was simply prohibitive, or was even dismissed as 'not a priority'.

Modern, newly-built leisure centres and gyms can also lose members for the same reason. In their wisdom, the commissioned architects opted for a basic, no frills built-in air conditioning system from the get-go, assuming that would suffice. After all, people go to leisure centres and gyms to pump iron and clock up miles on a treadmill and are far too focused on reaching their fitness goals to think about air conditioning, right?

Wrong.

People remain loyal to their local leisure centre and gym (and recommend it) if the facilities are good, the cost is reasonable, the staff are friendly and helpful, and the environment has an ideal temperature. According to the International Fitness Association, 65-68 F is best for aerobics, cardio, weight training and Pilates and 80 F is best for Yoga areas with around 50 per cent humidity.

Seasonal factors affect the indoor temperature at a sports facility, of course; as can how many people are using the place (and which equipment is being used) at any given time.

So, why hire portable air conditioning? Why not just improve (or replace) the built-in a/c system?

A major reason is continuity.

If a fitted air conditioning system fails, leisure centre and gym managers without a contingency plan will lose money. But one call to an established portable air conditioning hire company could mean they avoid that. The external team will respond immediately to an emergency call out. They will have the products in place (and know which are most appropriate for a leisure centre and gym environment). Therefore the centre could continue to trade normally.

As part of a contingency plan, a reputable portable air conditioning company will always do a site survey and agree plans to safeguard an organisation from the consequences of an air con system failure.

As well as being the ideal emergency back-up option, portable air conditioning units for hire can be:

- Used immediately;
- Easily stored;
- Hired on a short contract basis, and then returned. With some sports halls and exercise rooms only being used during certain months of the year, this makes portable air conditioning units for hire a cost-effective alternative to a fixed system;
- The perfect 'stop gap' between the removal of an existing (fixed) air conditioning system, and the installation of a new one;
- Added to an existing air conditioning solution when extra air is required.

Leisure centres and gyms can have the best equipment in the world, but their members will go elsewhere if the temperature there is uncomfortable. Hiring portable air conditioning means that simply will not happen.

Is Your Office Air Conditioning Making Employees Sick?

The Dangers of Mold

At some time we've all found moldy food in our refrigerators. Although people realize mold is dangerous, many may not know that we are at the most risk from mold we can't see. Individual mold colonies are microscopic in size and can be easily inhaled, leading to a variety of respiratory and sinus problems.

Our bodies are not as well equipped to fight mold as they are to battle bacteria and viruses. As a result a small mold infection can lead to serious ongoing health problems. Because there is no obvious source of contamination, people often just blame the problems on allergies or a minor cold.

The most common symptoms of mold contamination include coughing, sneezing, watery eyes and headaches. However mold can affect any part of the body and people may also suffer stomach pains, skin problems, or even more serious symptoms.

Mold in Air Conditioning Vents

No matter how meticulous the office cleaning staff is, it's safe to assume they aren't vacuuming the inside of your building HVAC system. This dark, moist environment is ideal for mold to thrive in and the addition of dust to feed the colonies make your air conditioning vents a paradise for fungi.

What makes air conditioner mold so dangerous is that every breath of air you take has passed through the HVAC ducts where mold lives. Regardless of where the contamination started, it instantly spreads to every corner of the building. Regular replacement of air conditioning filters helps but doesn't solve the problem. The real solution is a thorough, professional cleaning of the ductwork and that is a service that doesn't come cheap.

Portable Air Conditioners Are Safer

Since portable air conditioners move air along a shorter path, there is less space for mold to grow. They build mold less quickly than central air conditioners do because the environment inside is less ideal for mold growth.

If you do get a mold outbreak, the nature of portable air conditioners is reduces the spread of contamination. Each unit is designed to service a small area so in the rare event mold gets in the system, it will be broadcast only throughout a room rather than the entire building.

Ductwork for portable air conditioners can be replaced periodically to ensure you are working with clean ducts. As long as the filters are replaced on schedule and the new ducts installed when the old ones get dirty, portable units are safer and less likely to spread mold than central systems.

Air Conditioning

In ordinary conversation, when the term air conditioning is mentioned, people automatically take it to mean cooling room temperature. Technically speaking, though, air conditioning is the process of controlling room temperature through various means that involve ventilation, heating and cooling. In construction, it is referred to as HVAC.

In 1902, The New York Stock Exchange was the very first building to use air conditioning units that separately cooled and heated the air. Later that year, Willis Havilland Carrier installed the very first electrically-run air conditioning unit at a printing plant. The unit not only cooled the air but also controlled the humidity.

In those times, air conditioning was mostly used in manufacturing facilities to improve products by controlling the effects of humidity, thus, increasing employee productivity. It was several decades later, in the 1950s, that homes and automobiles started to be fitted with the air conditioning technology.

An air conditioning unit cools the air through a refrigerant, a substance that alters the temperature of the air. In the early stages of its development, air conditioning units used harmful gases such as ammonia and methyl chloride as refrigerants. They were soon replaced by another type of chemical, the patented substance called Freon.

Freon is safe for humans. However, it is harmful to the environment. When released into the atmosphere, this chlorofluorocarbon gas is believed to be a contributing factor to the thinning of the ozone layer. Most air conditioning units sold today still use this type of gas, particularly the HCFC R-22. It is said that environmentalists will have to wait until 2010 to see the total eradication of HCFC R-22 in air conditioning untis.

Air conditioning units have different types of refrigeration cycles. The first type uses a heat pump that drives out hot air from the room and blows in cooled air though a compressor. The second type pumps in a refrigerant. When the refrigerant evaporates, it takes with it the hot air and leaves cooled air.