How to Buy and Care for Room Air Conditioning Units
Nowadays, we have many kinds of room air conditioning units to choose from. Whatever is your choice – be it portable type, window-mounted type, wall-through-wall type, or central air system – the important thing is to know how to pick the best and the right unit for you. Because even if you purchased the highest quality and best brand unit, and it does not fit your building, you just have wasted your money and will surely be wasting another good amount again as this does not function well if incompatible with the room’s need.
If we look at it closely, the key to the right unit is matching your room space to the unit. So before buying, measure your room by getting its square footage (room length multiplied by its width). Also, count the number of windows (and measure its dimension) in the room, direction where the room faces, number of occupants, power supply, height of the ceiling, and other things required by your contractor. This is called load calculation. To help you more with this, use the EPA chart showing the area to be cooled (by square feet) and its corresponding needed capacity.
Bear in mind that a big size is not always good. Oversized room air conditioning units work inefficiently as these units cycle on and off very frequently. This mechanism uses too much energy and wears out electrical components. And because you want quality, choose room air conditioning units with Energy Star label and higher SEER ratings of 13.0 and above. These criteria will cost you a lot when buying but these will save you from high electricity bills in the future, save your health from air pollution, and the environment from ozone depleting refrigerants.
When buying, always have someone with you to help you carry the stuff as it is heavy, weighing up to 100 pounds and more. Use the help of a licensed air conditioning contractor not only during load calculation but during installation too. Dealing with electrical gadgets can be very dangerous. Besides, there are room air conditioning units that require special tools that only the professional technicians can handle. Air conditioners should have proper circuits and these circuits should be connected by a licensed electrician to the panel box. The electrician makes sure that these are properly grounded to prevent grave injuries.
Though manufacturers offer good quality products, the proof of efficiency is in your hands- simple maintenance is the key to a long lasting room air conditioner. First and foremost, ALWAYS unplug the unit before undertaking any cleaning or repair procedure! Always keep the coils and filters clean; replace if needed. To clean, remove the grill and take out the filter carefully. Use warm water with soap when washing; rinse and leave to dry prior the replacement. You may also vacuum the unit’s interiors to eliminate dirt, leaves, or bugs. For the other parts, cover those with electric current with plastic and wipe the inside using a damp cloth. Check if you have something to repair or replace. After drying, you may now reassemble and reinstall the unit.
With these simple tips, you are ready to purchase that cool future you have been dreaming of!