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BASIC GUIDE
FOR SMALL
HOME AIR
CONDITIONER | CHOOSING | USING | BUYING |
Nathan Gale
2016
Created by
ACH Team
5/30/2016
ACH | Air Conditioner Home Team
In most of the climatic regions
with extreme weathers, getting an
air conditioner is quintessential to
have. Whether it is unbearable
sweating hot with scorching sun or
bone-chilling cold, you can’t make it
a go without a good air conditioner.
Since the first air conditioner was
invented, a lot of improvement has
been incorporated and modern air
conditioners are quite robust and
state-of-the-art household items.
Now, we have not only smart air
conditioners but they are also
portable as well as slimmer and
smarter in size. They have gone
green to contribute to the
environment as well. Wide variety
of cooling and heating devices
nowadays causes The Air
Conditioner Guide on How to buy
the best air conditioner for home to
be almost a necessity to have and
read before choosing the right air
conditioner for your house or flat.
The USA is by far the largest market that
demands the best air conditioners.
Companies are working to their best with the
top-notch technologies to bring forth latest
innovations in the air conditioning industries.
Huge demand for the air conditioners has
been observed in most parts of the US.
Southern regions are quite hot throughout
the summers and northern ones are quite
snowy. This is where all of the regions look
for the best air conditioners.
2nd edition
May 2016
Introduction T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S :
BASIC GUIDE FOR SMALL HOME AIR CONDITIONER
Air Conditioners for smaller spaces Small families with small
homes that range up to
approximately 2000 sqft.
are always perplexed as to
what could be the best AC
option to go for. Their air
conditioning demands differ
from that of larger homes,
commercial buildings and
industrial units. Although,
central air conditioning
system can be installed yet
this option can come out to
be very expensive for
smaller families. This is
where they resort to
portable and split air
conditioners and where tips
from ACH team Air
Conditioner Guide on how
to buy the best air
conditioner for home can be
more than useful
guideline for making the
right decision and avoiding
crucial air conditioning
mistakes in your family
home space.
INTRODUCTION
Page 1
ARTICLE 01:
What Air Conditioner To Buy For
Your Home or Work space
Page 2
ARTICLE 02:
Determining the air conditioner
cooling / heating power for
smaller houses
Page 3-4
ARTICLE 03:
Choosing the type of air
conditioner for smaller living
space
Page 5-6
ARTICLE 04:
Where and how to install air
conditioner
Page 7
АRTICLE 05:
How to choose the right
manufacturer of air conditioner
Page 8
ARTICLE 06:
How to perform basic regular
maintenance of air conditioner
Page 9
ENDNOTE
Page 10
CHOOSING | BUYING | USING
In the moment when You should determine the appropriate air conditioner unit for smaller residential or business spaces such as single family houses, flats, offices, stores …, the first question you will ask yourself will be, what type of air conditioner to choose. In this case of small spaces (under 1000sqft), You should not have a lot of concerns, because the best way to go is with the installation of split system air conditioner. In the case of a larger house (1000-2000sqft) with many rooms, You can install multi-split systems (one outdoor unit and several interior AC units). Split systems always have a small advantage over the window air conditioning units.
What Air Conditioner To Buy
How to choose the best air conditioner for home Steps in determining the right Home Air Conditioner
Window air conditioning units should be installed in case you need to cool only one smaller space (room, office, under 100sqft) or if it is not possible to install a split system. Portable air conditioning units should be avoided and their acquisition and installation is only justified if it is not possible to install split system AC or window AC unit, and/or if for some reason you need just a portable air conditioner, such as for buildings that are not air-conditioned on a regular basis and which need short time cooling (or heating) (temporary facilities, in case of transition period to the installation of a new AC unit, or in case of a old AC unit failure ...).
Prices of air conditioners
are very well established
matching to their quality,
due to the large and
transparent market, which
simply means that if you
want a more reliable and
more durable air-
conditioning you must be
willing to give a bit more
money for an AC unit. The
price of the AC device is
adjusted in relation to the
quality and strength of the
device. So when selecting
air conditioners for houses
or apartments first step
will be to determine the
necessary cooling/heating
power of the air
conditioner (in Btu or RT
or kW). Then it is
necessary to determine
the type of air conditioning
system that will be
installed (Split system,
Multi-split system,
Portable or Window, air
conditioner unit). Along
with determining the type
of air conditioner, You
should decide the exact
position in the room where
the AC unit will be
installed. And finally last
step will be choosing the
appropriate AC
manufacturer.
Air Conditioner prices
To quickly determine the approximate
cooling or heating power needed for
your house you can use our:
ONLINE AIR CONDTIONER
POWER CALCULATOR
Air Condit ioner Home Guide | Article 01 Page 2
In this site, we discuss only the types of air conditioners that are used for smaller
living spaces (area up to 2000 sqft). For larger residential homes or commercial
buildings (over 2000 sqft), engineers consider and calculate the installment of
centralized water heat pump or chiller with fan coil water distribution, or central air
handling chamber with air duct distribution of the treated (cooled / heated) air.
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“ Undersized Air Conditioner unit
with low cooling or heating power will work continuously without a break“
Air Condit ioner Home Guide | Article 02 Page 3
Selection of adequate air conditioning unit power is quite significant. Especially because we do not want to choose AC unit with lower power capacity than needed since it will not be able to cool or heat interior space for which it has been acquired. Undersized Air Conditioner unit with low cooling or heating power will work continuously without a break, because it is not able to cool the room to the desired temperature. This situation will increase the cost of electric energy and reduce the life of the air conditioner. Also selecting air conditioning unit with much more power than needed for our
Determining the air conditioner power
for small homes
space, is a bad situation too, because AC unit will quickly cool down the air in our house which will cause frequently starting and stopping of the AC device and this badly affects the vital spare parts of the Air Conditioner (compressor and fans) and therefore also shortens the AC unit lifetime. Plus, power oversized Air Conditioning unit is likely to have poor air distribution, such as a blowing too strong, causing an uncomfortable effect on people in the room, or it will have uneven cooling with different temperatures in separate parts of the room.
This is why it is very important to
choose adequate air conditioning power
for our space. A precise calculation of
the necessary thermal power for air
conditioning is not simple and involves
many engineering parameters (wall
thickness, type of walls and insulation,
orientation of external walls, insulation of
floor, ceiling and the surrounding rooms,
roof type, geographic location, position,
type and size of windows, location
position in relation to the wind, sun and
many other scientific data ...), but for
small objects that interest us, power can
be experientially approximated relatively
quickly according to size of the surface
area that needs to be cooled (for a
standard ceiling height, and that no
additional large heat sources are
present in the room, such as for
example the kitchen, where there are
stoves, ovens ...).
Attached bellow is an approximation table
with values for the power of the air
conditioner related to the floor area of the
space that needs to be air-conditioned.
(Measuring units used for AC cooling /
heating power: RT is refrigeration ton; Btu
is British Thermal Unit, kW is kilo-Watt). Or
you can use our simple online ac power
calculator:
ACH TEAM Online AC Power
calclulator
This chart is just for the first orientation to get a quick information about approximate cooling or heating power you will need
in your home or office. For precise calculation you must consult licensed HVAC engineer.
Air Conditioner Home Power Chart
Air Conditioner sizing
calculator:
Power unit presented in:
BTU Calculator
AC tonnage calculator
kW AC power
We’re on the Web!
www.airconditionerhome.com
Air Condit ioner Home Guide | Article 02
Page 4
Company Name
Split Air Conditioner or
Split system takes up a
minimum of space in the
interior of the room which
is air-conditioned.
Installation of the split
system air conditioner is
relatively simple. The only
drawback is the
positioning of external
(outdoor) AC unit of the
split system on the higher
floors and access to it for
mounting, servicing or
repairs, for this reason,
the external split system
Choosing the right type of air conditioner for small living space
unit is necessary to install
on the outer wall under
the window, or on the
terrace, or if there is a
secure platform on the
outer wall on which is safe
to walk and stand then
place the outdoor unit
above this platform, all in
order to secure safe and
easy access to it. The
indoor split system air
conditioner unit can be
easily mounted on the
inner wall near the ceiling
(just install mounting
brackets and drill the
smaller hole about 4
inches diameter in the wall
for the passage of the
pipes, cables and hose to
the outdoor unit). The
indoor unit also does not
take up much space in the
room and if installed
properly, air distribution is
more efficient than air
distribution from a window
air conditioner or portable
air conditioner.
Split Air Conditioner
Air Conditioning units for apartments, rooms, houses, officies … Split Air Conditioner
Window Air Conditioner
Page 5 Air Condit ioner Home Guide | Article 03
Window Air Conditioner
Window Air Conditioner and
Wall unit Air Conditioner
only advantage over the
Split Air Conditioner is that
the entire device is packed
in one whole unit, and there
is no need for special work
on connecting the indoor
and outdoor unit. However,
Window Air Conditioner unit
requires a much larger hole
in the wall or window and is
generally placed lower (at
window height), which
disrupts the aesthetic look
of the room and somewhat
causes worse air
distribution than the Split
Air Conditioner. Also,
since the Window Air
Conditioner device is all
packed together as one
unit (compressor, fans), it
produces more noise than
split system air
conditioner, and this may
be a problem for sensitive
people, so avoid window
air conditioner installment
into a space where you
are sleeping or space
where it is necessary to
have silence (like reading
room). Furthermore, when
window AC is removed, it
requires bigger
construction works on
repairing the big holes in
the wall or window. Wall
AC unit is very similar to
window AC unit but it is
prepacked especially for
wall installation. Initial
investment costs due to
construction work needed
can be much higher and
must be carefully planned
before purchasing and
mounting this AC unit
type.
“Split Air Conditioner is probably always the best option for small home air conditioning“
Air Condit ioner Home Guide | Article 03
Page 6
Portable Air Conditioner
unit, except being
movable and doesn't
require special work on
installing, has no
advantage over split air
conditioner and window
air conditioner units,
especially as a permanent
solution for the air
conditioning space. One
of the drawbacks of the
Portable Air Conditioner
unit is the need for manual
discharge of the
condenser container
(every several hours). Its
acquisition and usage is
only justified for smaller
rooms and rooms that
need air conditioning
temporarily or if for some
reason it is not possible to
install a split system air
Portable Air Conditioner
conditioner or window or
wall unit air conditioner, or
there is a need for
frequent relocation of the
air conditioner. Also, it has
a higher level of noise
compared to the split
system air conditioner
indoor unit. Additional
inconvenience is the big
hose for hot air exhaust
wich must be placed to
blow hot air to outdoor
space. If you can't use
room window for exhaust
hose you will have to use
the door, and if the door is
in the interior room it will
introduce the hot air to the
neighboring room (or
space). This can make
neighboring room
unbearably hot.
The conclusion is definitely that for a smaller living space, if possible we should first
consider the possibility of installing a Split Air Conditioner, and then on second place
Window Air Conditioner. Portable Air Conditioner unit, You should use only where it is
not possible or reasonable to install a split system or window AC unit.
Summary
Company Name
Air conditioner needs to
be installed in the place,
where it is easy to access
AC unit for maintenance
and repair. Also, pay
attention that the air
conditioner is installed in a
location that will allow
better air distribution
through space, to avoid
blowing cold air directly
into people and that there
are no obstacles to
exhaust air from the air
conditioner (pillars, walls,
shelves, cabinets). It is
desirable to install AC unit
near the electric power
outlet, to avoid stretching
long cables because it
would increase the risk of
their breaking. Air
conditioner must be
correctly positioned and
leveled without inclination
(to avoid a spill from the
condenser tubes) and well
attached to the wall or in a
window without vibration
while in working mode.
Where and how to install air conditioner for home
For split system and
window AC units pay
attention to install
condensate line in a way
that it will be carried to the
nearest point of the
drainage. Condensate
pipes or hoses, install with
a necessary slope
towards the central
drainage point. For a split
system, pay attention that
the external unit must be
located in a place where
there are no obstructions
of airflow and if possible
don't expose outdoor unit
directly to sun or wind
gusts. If the outdoor unit is
located on the upper
floors, it is desirable to
mount it under the window
or on the terrace, for easy
and safe access. On the
lower floors or ground,
consider putting a
protective cage over the
external AC unit (to
prevent damage or theft).
Take into account that the
distance from the outdoor
and indoor AC unit is not
too large (directed by the
manufacturer or max 30ft).
Split system AC copper
pipes, must not be bare,
they must be wrapped in
adequate thermal
insulation layer. For
portable AC unit, pay
attention that hose for the
hot air waste exhaust is
carried out from the room
into the external
environment. When using
air conditioners ensure
that there is no infiltration
of the outside ambient air
(close all doors and
windows). Below the AC
units don't place electrical
appliances such as a TV
or a computer, as this may
cause water dripping
directly on them in the
case of condensate hose
clogging and therefore
greater damage to them.
How to find the best position for air conditioner in your home
Installation of split, window and wall air conditioner must be performed by HVAC technician
Page 7
Air Condit ioner Home Guide | Article 04
What are important guidelines for air conditioner installation
It is wise to leave the installation of air conditioning unit to a qualified technician, authorized for this type of work. If you are not able to control the execution of the works, be sure to inspect the
AC unit at the end of the works and check that the technicians filled the guidelines that are listed here (if the air conditioner is placed correctly, whether there are vibrations, is
condense line adequately drawn to the point of drainage, whether the air flow on the outside and on the inside of the AC unit is unobstructed, whether it is possible to remove the air filter easily ...).
.
Company Name
In general, how much money are you ready to spend on AC unit corresponds to the quality level of AC unit you will get. Today the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) industry and market are highly developed, widespread & transparent throughout the world. The result is that the prices of air conditioners between
How to choose the right manufacturer of air conditioner
manufacturers are equally adjusted to the product quality and You will hardly make a mistake if You purchase air conditioner from authorized retailers. Of course, there may be minor differences from seller to seller, so if you want to save a few bucks and have the time it does not hurt to check in a few shops before you buy. Manufacturers are pretty
well sorted in a relation of price and quality, so you can choose the best and most expensive or the cheapest and lower quality AC product. While it is hard to point to the real best manufacturer, however, we can talk about some of the trends and AC unit specifics in relation to the country of origin of the manufacturer
What are some specifics for different air conditioner manufacturers sorted by the country of origin
Page 8
European manufacturers of air conditioning
equipment (as well in general for technical equipment), often give emphasis on the aesthetic appearance of the product or even artistic impression. AC units are made with solid energy efficiency, good-looking form, good quality, with not so frequent failures, but when failure occur there might be the problem of difficult acquirement of spare parts.
Japanese and South Korean manufacturers such as Fujitsu and LG,
produce mainly a modern high-tech looking AC units with an emphasis on reliable automation and precise control of the device, with a large number of options for regulating the device. Their products are made with very high energy efficiency. The failure is rare, but if occurs it is usually fatal or expensive to repair. Failure of these AC units are mostly caused by wrong handling and not following the manufacturer's instructions.
Chinese Air Conditioner manufacturers are
mainly characterized by lower prices. The
devices are not high-class quality and are simpler in design. A lifetime of AC unit is shorter and failures are not rare but usually, failures are simple to fix. Their advantage may be an easier way to purchase spare parts and much lower cost of spare parts. Of course, to avoid complete geographical generalization, there are Chinese manufacturers such as Midea, who by the quality of their product can be classified among top world producers.
North American Air Conditioner
manufacturers are my natural favorites. USA product as in many industry spheres is characterized by the raw power and strength that can survive the shock from the nuclear bomb. By appearance, they may be big and robust, but that is all pure muscles and durability. Energy efficiency is generally good. Spare parts (if from the US) are the highest quality. The disadvantage is that they are not much present outside the Continent in other parts of the World. Failures are not frequent and usually not fatal and can be fixed relatively easy.
These are just some of the subjective opinions based on generalized characteristics of air equipment manufacturers, specific for a particular geographic area at this moment. You must understand that there are always exceptions like I mentioned and that these aspects are constantly changing.
Air Condit ioner Home Guide | Article 05
Air Conditioner Manufacturers - Production Trends
Company Name
In order for air conditioning
to work as efficiently as
possible and to prevent
failures and to extend the
lifetime of AC unit, it is very
important to conduct
regular maintenance. For
the main service that is
carried out on average at
least once a year, the
engagement of a
How to perform regular maintenance of air conditioner
professional technician is
inevitable. HVAC
Technician will perform
washing and disinfection
of AC units (condenser,
evaporator, air filter),
check the gas (freon)
pressures and refill the
gas if necessary and
identify and fix any leaks
of gas if present, check
condenser and evaporator
exchanger fins and fix them
if they are deformed, check
electrical installations and
remove burned parts and
tighten connections, check
and unclog or replace
condenser drain hose or
pipe if necessary.
What simple maintenance operations can you perform on your air conditioner
Page 9 Air Condit ioner Home Guide | Article 06
How often should you clean air conditioner
However, the owner or user may himself carry out some simple actions on maintenance that will improve the performance of air conditioner. First, You must turn off the air conditioner from the electric power supply and remove the air filter and then wash the filter under warm running water. Removing the air filter is usually not complicated. Often you can remove the air filter, just by lifting or pulling the front
plastic cover of AC unit, but it is best to refer to the manufacturer's directions obtained with the device because this procedure is always explained in manuals). Also, the owner can clean plastic covers of the air conditioner with a clean cloth and little water, at least from the outside. When the front plastic mask cover of AC unit is raised and the air filter is removed, you can clean the dust around the
evaporator with a vacuum cleaner. It can also be quite easy to find and buy spray disinfectant for air conditioners and evaporator in local stores and if you have one, spray it on AC unit and leave it to dry. When the AC unit and air filter becomes dry after a few hours, return the air filter back to the air conditioner and close the cover, plug it in, and switch on the power supply.
If you have an opportunity, you can use water hose with sprinkler to wash external condenser unit with running water (with or without the use of chemical detergents for AC heat exchanger). The air
filter keeps dust and dirt in order not to clog the evaporator (heat exchanger) of the air conditioner. Dirty exchanger, significantly reduce the energy efficiency of air
conditioners and in the extreme case could block air flow and stop AC unit. Therefore, it is advisable to wash your filter, at least, every two or three months.
For what service work on your air conditioner you should hire HVAC
professional technician
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AIRCONDITIONERHOME ACH TEAM
Check our website for other useful content. Get latest air conditioner guides, HVAC
News, air purifiers information and much more.
www.airconditionerhome.com E-mail: [email protected]
Air Conditioner for home buying guides.
Air conditioning tips.
Air conditioner recommended
products shop.
Online air conditioner shop
ACH TEAM is a group of HVAC engineers, designers and technicians with a great experience in selecting and implementing HVAC equipment. The purpose of this guides is to use our knowledge and expertise to help other people in finding the best air conditioner units for their family homes, offices or some other smaller spaces.
We’re on the Web!
www.airconditionerhome.com
Air Conditioner Home Guide | ENDNOTE
Page 10