Home air conditioning – the basics

Family life, household chores, cooking dinner or working from home can be extremely difficult in hot temperatures. Even if summer months are short in some areas, the heat can still be intense and make it difficult to function productively. Hot weather can reduce productivity and reduce energy levels.

In short, home air conditioning is a great idea, even if only to make those hot summer months more bearable. A cool, chilled out environment makes for much more effective working conditions, as well as a nicer environment to relax with your family.

But knowing where to start with replacing an old AC unit or installing a brand new one can be difficult if you do not know the basics. In this article we cover the basics of home heating and air conditioning.

Inside an AC unit

Don’t fear – you don’t need to know the inner workings of air conditioning units to choose the best one for your home. But since you’ll ultimately be investing in a new piece of equipment, it pays to know a little about what’s under the bonnet.

First, find an air conditioning service near you to help walk you through the process. A specialist will be able to guide you on every aspect of the process from the technical to the commercial. Still, knowing a bit of the detail beforehand will put you in a strong position.

The key parts of Los Angeles heating and air conditioning are the compressor, evaporator coil and condenser coils. These three parts work together to, in simple terms, pull in warm air, cool it and then distribute it evenly around your home.

This process is achieved using a substance called refrigerant that travels through the coils to draw out heat from the air. This heat is then pumped back outside through an extractor that sits on the outside of your home. Working in this way makes the process efficient and as eco-friendly as possible.

The cooling process

The secret sauce of an AC unit is the ability to turn warm air into cooler air, and to distribute it around a property. This is achieved with the refrigerants’ ability to turn from liquid to gas and vice versa. This cooling ability makes it possible to reduce the temperature of air in an efficient way.

The refrigerants’ unique ability to change state not only allows them to cool air, but to take out the heat from warmer air.

Another clever aspect of AC technology is its ability to draw air in from outdoors, cool it and then push out the warmer air. This creates a cycle of cool, fresh air that enhances the environment of any home. This is in contrast to a fan, which only blows warm air around without actually cooling it or recycling it.

Although this can sound quite technical, heating and air companies near me can give you trusted expert knowledge!

AC does not just cool – it cleans the air too!

Although the primary function of home AC units is to cool the air, a convenient by-product of the process is that you will have fresher air to boot!

The process begins when you set your chosen temperature with the thermostat. Once the air goes above this threshold, the AC unit kicks in. Because of the properties of refrigerant, the air is filtered as it comes into the system. This ensures the AC system is working optimally, but it also doubles up to give your home fresher, cleaner air.

Choosing an AC unit for your home

Now you know a little about the finer points of heating and air conditioning, you are in a better position to start the process for your own home.

Controlling humidity and getting cleaner air into your home will be achievable regardless of your budget. Speaking with an air conditioner service near me will allow you to understand more about the financing options available on machines, and the aspects you will need to take into account. The goal is to choose an AC unit that is suitable for your home’s size and location. With this knowledge, you can tailor a solution to fit whether you live in a spacious suburban home or a more compact inner city apartment.

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Getting a portable air conditioner with the best value

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During the summer, the heat from the sun can be unbearable. It can be even worse if you live in a house without an air-cooling system. For this reason, many people opt for a central air conditioner that regulates the indoor temperature and humidity. However, such units require space, venting and even more power consumption.

Not all homes have provision for window air cooling systems. As such, it’s essential to find an alternative. Portable air conditioners are ideal replacement options for these cooling units. They keep the room cool, take up less space and require far less power to operate. In some cases, a centralised cooling system may not get the job done. You can replace it with a portable cooling option to direct air flow more effectively.

How efficient are portable air conditioning systems?

“Can a portable cooling system keep my home cool and regulated?”, you may ask. In a word, yes. These air conditioning units are designed to provide unique cooling options, regardless of the size of your home or office. As long as your air conditioner has the appropriate BTU power for the room size and is well vented, you should achieve the required temperature. Most portable ACs provide the same result as window air conditioning units. One of their functionalities includes venting warm air outside.

Do you have a residential, commercial or industrial building that requires cooling? Portable air conditioners can create the desired environment. To maintain your unit, you should drain the condenser on a regular basis. This will prolong the cooling system’s life span.

Factors to consider when shopping for a portable aircon

The keyword here is ‘portability’. You need an air conditioning unit that provides easy mobility. It has to be the right size for your room and transportation. For this reason, consider the following factors:

Energy consumption rate

All electronic appliances run on energy, including portable air conditioners. Energy takes a toll on your expenses and the environment. Consequently, many households have switched to energy-efficient cooling systems. You need a portable air conditioner that is both low-energy and robust enough to cool your room to the right temperature. Units with small capacities may be inefficient for this task, while those with extreme power demand can make you uncomfortable due to the constant production of freezing air. Understanding your device’s BTU rating will avoid this problem. Ideally, 1,800 BTUs are required for every 100 square feet to produce efficient cooling air.

Energy efficiency

As partly discussed in the section above, having an energy-saving cooling system will reduce power consumption and still cool your room effectively. These units may be slightly more expensive than the standard cooling systems. However, you don’t have to risk high running costs or outrageous utility bills. Research which cooling appliance has the best energy rating and comes with the Energy Star seal.

Bottom line

Portable air conditioners are easy to manoeuvre. You can easily lift, transfer and position them in your vehicle, home or office,. These cooling units also help to eliminate air-borne particles, creating a clean and humidified environment.

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Price Points: Ceiling fans

This week, there’s a heatwave being enjoyed / endured across the whole of Europe. I don’t envy the Football World Cup women currently playing in France in these temperatures!

The vast majority of houses in the UK have central heating installed as standard. However, air conditioning units that cool your home are something of a rarity. True, there’s not often any need for them in our temperate climes, but I’m sure we can all claim to have endured uncomfortable, stuffy, sleepless nights.

It’s times like these that a ceiling fan comes into its own. Suitable for any room in the house, they cool the space, dispatch annoying buzzing and biting insects and lull you to sleep with their soft, low drone. It’s a bonus if the fan also incorporates a ceiling light that can be switched on and off independently.

Of all the ceiling fans, I’m veering towards the Viceroy from Value Lights; it’s modern, minimal and stylish and comes with a remote control… who wants to bother getting out of bed in the middle of the night to switch the fan off/on?

Candy 6 blades ceiling fan: £65.99, Wayfair
Tiga ceiling fan with transparent blades: £621.90, lights.co.uk
Viceroy 52″ ceiling fan, walnut: £199.99, Value Lights

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Tiga ceiling fan with transparent blades
£621.90