Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is a necessary part of modern life. Although air conditioners have become more efficient over the years, they still use up energy.

We've gone some way to help you understand precisely what air conditioning is and if it's right for your home and or business.

What is air conditioning?

Air conditioning (also A/C, air con, air conditioner) is the process of removing heat and controlling the humidity of air in an enclosed space to achieve a more comfortable interior environment by use of powered 'air conditioners' or a variety of other methods, including passive cooling and ventilative cooling.

Why use air conditioning (portable air conditioners)

Reduced Possibility of Asthma Attacks

Setting up an air conditioning unit at home can reduce the chances of you suffering from asthma symptoms. They filter out contaminants, produce a pleasant environment, and lower humidity levels, which could aggravate your allergies or asthma.

A More Secure Home

Generally, when we AC our homes, we keep the windows and doors closed. We do this is for safety because if you have your windows open, it is easy for someone to break in.

Cool Place to Exercise

Air conditioning can help provide a relaxed and comfortable environment for indoor exercise. For example, if your home is comfortably warm, you are more likely to hit the treadmill instead of vegging out after work, and no one wants to work out in hot conditions.

Fewer Insects and Parasites

Did you know that pets can keep bugs like fleas off your property? Air conditioning filters are more effective in keeping insects out than open windows. Not only does this protect you and your pet, but it helps keep the area around your home cleaner and healthier for friends or family members who visit!

Better Sleep

We sleep better in colder environments, and air conditioning is the perfect way to keep your room fresh!

Prevents Electronics From Overheating

While we know when our bodies are getting too hot, electronics can't always tell us when they are. Heat can do severe damage to electronics, such as shortening their lifespan to losing data.

Improves Work Performance

Have you ever had one of those days when everything seems to drag on because it's hot and uncomfortable? Air conditioning can fix that! In addition, air conditioning can actually improve employee comfort keeping their minds clear and ready to tackle their tasks for the day.

Reduces the Risk of Dehydration

Lower temperatures mean less sweating. Many people don't realize that we are losing a large percentage of our water intake when we sweat. Keeping hydrated in extreme conditions can be difficult, but some air conditioning is the perfect way to stay alive and have your sanity intact!

Less Noise

Air conditioning units are usually installed in rooms with closed doors and windows to keep air circulating inside the unit. This helps to circulate cool, nice new air and reduce high levels of noise coming from outside sources.

Differences Between a Heat Pump and Air Conditioner

Heat pumps and air conditioners essentially control the temperature by moving heat from inside your home to an outdoor location.

It is often thought that air conditioners cool a home by producing cold air, but the truth is they cool your house by removing heat energy from home, pumping it away to a location outside the home.

Air conditioners pump heat out of a home, just like a heat pump operating in cooling mode.

When it comes to the outdoor unit of an air conditioning and heat pump system, they are nearly indistinguishable.

So, from a cooling perspective, minus a few technical details, heat pumps and air conditioners are essentially the same when operating in cooling mode, with no significant difference in operation, efficiency, or energy costs.

While essentially identical in cooling mode, the heating mode is an entirely different story.

Air conditioners do not provide heating, but heat pumps do. Thanks to a reversing valve in the outdoor unit, a heat pump can absorb heat energy from outside air, even in freezing temperatures, and transfer the heat inside the home, where it releases the heat into the air.

A heat pump can heat and cool, but an air conditioner cannot, which is the primary difference between the two HVAC systems.

An air conditioner is typically paired with a furnace to provide heat during the cold months. Together, an air conditioner and furnace are complete heating and cooling system.

Although a heat pump can heat a home, when outside temperatures drop below freezing, the efficiency of a heat pump is affected as the unit requires more energy to maintain warm temperatures inside the home.

Typical heat pump systems have an auxiliary electric heater added to the indoor unit to add supplemental heat when outdoor temperatures drop.

Does My Business Need Air Conditioning?

When you run a business, you usually only want to spend money on things that will bring you revenue or profit. However, it is necessary to spend money on things that don't quite bring these same benefits.

We hear many business owners ask, "Do we really need air conditioning in our offices?" In short, the answer is yes.

Though installing an air conditioning unit will not bring profit into your business, it is an excellent benefit for your employees and, therefore, for your business.

Which System is Right for You?

Both a heat pump and an air conditioner are a great choice, but one might be more appropriate for you, depending on your situation. Here are some things to consider when choosing a system to heat and cool your home

What Size Air Conditioner Do You Need?

Air conditioners come in various shapes and sizes. Still, they can be typically described by referring to the unit of measurement most commonly associated with them: BTU or British Thermal Unit.

A general rule is that 5,000 to 8,000 BTUs should be adequate for most living rooms or bedrooms. You can find the appropriate number for your home by multiplying the size of a room (in square feet) by 5.

So for a room measuring 15x10x8 feet: 15 x 10 x 8 x 5 = an air conditioner of 6,000 BTUs.

If you're concerned about how much energy an air conditioner will use, look out for one with a good energy efficiency ratio (EER). This is the ratio between an air conditioner's BTU and its power input (in watts).

In general, the higher a system's energy efficiency ratio (EER) rating, the more efficiently it operates.

In addition to considering the size of an air conditioner, you will also want to consider its energy rating. Air conditioning manufacturers are voluntarily required to self-certify their energy classification from A through G.

How Much does it cost to install an air conditioner?

It's hard to imagine choosing between a heat pump and an air conditioner when they both do the same job, but there are plenty of benefits that come with each type.

A few things you should consider before making your decision: whether or not electricity is readily accessible for use during peak demand hours; which one can cool down more quickly on warm days (air conditioners); how big your area needs to be cooled in square footage; etc.

While a heat pump system has a lower cost indoor unit, the outdoor unit can have a higher upfront cost than an air conditioner.

When considering cost, it is essential to understand the total costs of installing a system that can heat and cool your home correctly.

All Heat Systems can help determine all of the costs involved.

Energy efficiency/cost to operate

In moderately cold outdoor temperatures, heat pump systems provide energy-efficient heating using only electricity.

They can be less costly to operate in these conditions than systems that use more expensive heating fuel sources such as natural gas, oil, or propane.

As temperatures drop below freezing, the heat pump requires more energy to maintain comfort inside, reducing efficiency and increasing your electric bill.

You can solve this problem by pairing a heat pump with a furnace, creating a Hybrid Heat system.

However, due to the higher initial cost for the heat pump unit, a hybrid system may be more expensive than a more commonly paired air conditioner and furnace system.

In cooling mode, both heat pumps and air conditioners come in models with high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER ratings), providing energy-efficient cooling during the warm summer months.

SEER ratings are like miles-per-gallon for a car. They give you a standard measure of efficiency so you can compare different models. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the unit.

In heating mode, heat pump efficiency is expressed in HSPF. The higher the HSPF, the higher the efficiency. In many ways, the energy efficiency and cost to operate factor comes down to location.

In areas with moderate temperatures, a heat pump is a better option for efficient heating than in areas with freezing winters.