Main Functions of Air Conditioners
When choosing an air conditioner, not only the basic functions such as cooling and heating are important, but also additional features, as they can significantly increase the ease of use and efficiency of the device. This is especially true now, in the conditions of changing climate and extreme temperatures. The right choice of air conditioner will not only increase the comfort of using the equipment but also simplify AC maintenance.
How to Choose an Air Conditioner For an Apartment?
The criteria for choosing an air conditioner may differ depending on the room and the purpose of its use. So, a large living room where guests gather needs a more powerful device, and a small bedroom needs a less powerful and noisy one. Some additional functions can be both a big plus and an empty marketing gimmick. Now we will tell you more about this. If you’re looking for the best deals on air conditioners this summer, click here to explore our top-rated models and save big!
Air Conditioner Power
The most important criterion when choosing an air conditioner is the cooling power, this indicator shows how much cold the split system produces. Do not confuse this indicator with the power consumption of the air conditioner (it indicates the power consumption during continuous operation of the device for an hour).
Power consumption during cooling is the power consumption during the operation of the air conditioner for an hour. Cooling power is an indicator of the cooling force. The more powerful the device, the greater its power consumption.
When choosing the required power of the device, proceed from the area of the room (the larger it is, the more powerful the air conditioner you will need).
Which Air Conditioner to Choose: With or Without an Inverter?
There are air conditioners with and without an inverter (ON/OFF air conditioners). Air conditioners without an inverter operate on the “on-off” principle: when the air conditioner has cooled the room, it turns off and then turns on again when the temperature rises by 1-2 °C.
In inverter air conditioners, the compressor power changes depending on the room temperature and the temperature to which the air needs to be cooled. When the split system has cooled the room to the set values, it maintains the temperature, operating at minimum power.
Air conditioners with an inverter operate constantly and do not turn off, which reduces energy consumption by about 30% compared to models without an inverter. Due to the absence of constant on-off switching, such devices will last 1.5-2 times longer. At the same time, inverter air conditioners are 30% more expensive than their counterparts without an inverter.
When using inverter air conditioners, there is less chance of catching a cold, because they eliminate sudden temperature changes and cool the room more smoothly.
Air Conditioner Noise Level
Air conditioners are often installed in the bedroom, where night noise interferes with sleep. Therefore, before buying, find out the noise level of the device. As a rule, at maximum power, the noise of the indoor unit of the air conditioner is from 19 to 38 dB, which is comparable in volume to a whisper or normal speech. The higher the power of the air conditioner, the louder it is.
If you are sensitive to noise, then choose inverter models of air conditioners. Due to the fact that after reaching the temperature set by the user, they maintain it at minimum power, the noise from them will be less than from ON / OFF air conditioners.
Features of Standard Operating Modes And Functions
In addition to cooling the air in the room, most split systems have heating, dehumidification, ventilation, and night modes. To form the correct expectations from the device, it is important to understand how these modes work and under what conditions before choosing an air conditioner.
Heating
Air conditioners equipped with heat pumps can heat the room. In heating mode, air conditioners usually consume less electricity than when operating in cooling mode. For example, an air conditioner with a cooling capacity of 9000 BTU in cooling mode consumes about 0.64 kW, while in heating mode – about 0.57 kW.
Dehumidification
This mode is designed to reduce excess humidity in the air. When dehumidifying, the air conditioner operates almost in the same way as when cooling, but at minimum speed. The radiator is slowly blown, and moisture condenses on it. In this case, the air temperature decreases by a maximum of 1 degree, and excess moisture is removed through the air conditioner drain hose.
Ventilation
In ventilation mode, the air conditioner evenly distributes air around the room without cooling or heating it. This is useful in winter when air heated by radiators accumulates in the upper part of the room.
Night Mode
The night mode of the air conditioner is needed to cool the room at night without affecting sleep. In this mode, the air conditioner fan operates at minimum speed, which reduces noise from the device and allows air flows to mix without a draft.
Air Purification
All split systems are equipped with coarse filters that trap large dust and animal hair in the air. In addition, split systems can have fine filters designed to remove finer dust.
Some air conditioners can be equipped with additional functions. However, you should keep in mind that choosing such equipment may require more thorough HVAC maintenance:
Auto Cleaning
To prevent the proliferation of microorganisms, air conditioners are equipped with an auto-cleaning function. It works like this: after the device is turned off, a fan turns on in the indoor unit, which dries the heat exchanger. This eliminates the conditions for the formation of microbes, bacteria, and fungi.
Humidification
The humidification function is useful for normalizing air humidity after air conditioning. Depending on the model, humidification in air conditioners can occur using a steam generator, an ultrasonic humidifier, or a humidifying element in the outdoor unit. In all versions, the air is humidified due to condensate, which is not discharged through the drain pipe but is used to saturate the air with moisture.
Ionization
Some models of split systems have an ionization function – saturating the air with negative ions. It is believed that this has a positive effect on the body (increases immunity, improves well-being, and neutralizes the negative impact of electrical appliances).
Final Thoughts
Choosing an air conditioner is an important decision that affects the comfort and quality of life in your premises. Knowing the basic and additional functions of air conditioners will help you better understand which parameters are important for you. For installation and maintenance of air conditioners, we recommend Alpha Mechanical, which has been specializing in HVAC equipment for over 15 years.
