Finding the ideal room temperature for personal comfort is something that is often not easy to maintain. Just as we are asked to be energy efficient, homes in the UK are getting warmer. It may be nearly Spring but many people will be running their heating systems at full capacity until it warms up enough to turn off the heating.

Now that well insulated homes and central heating is commonplace, the average ambient temperature is creeping up. Over many years, the ideal room temperature has varied and many studies have taken place finding the ideal room temperature for working and living. According to the World Health Organisation, comfort is difficult to absolutely define, but their standard for warmth is 18C (64F) for suitably dressed healthy people. For those suffering allergies or respiratory disease, the temperature should be a minimum of 16C (60.8C), with disabled, sick, very young or very old comfortable in a minimum of 20C (68F).

How Home Temperature Has Changed

Before central heating, people wore more clothing indoors and were used to lower temperatures so despite our progress for more energy efficient ways of living, the ideal room temperature in 1940 for example would be significantly lower. People are more sedentary in the home these days and household chores that were done manually are now done by machine. Consequently, it feels chillier and the thermostat goes up.

The last measurement survey on indoor temperatures took place in 1996, when it was found that the living room temperatures in winter remained the same as 1986 at about 19C, hallways and other rooms had increased by two degrees. With energy bills rising in recent years, and more awareness of energy consumption, finding the ideal room temperature at the right price is becoming ever more important.

While it is likely that all members of a family sharing a home will disagree on the ideal room temperature, some being chilly sorts and others that dislike too much heat, an ambient temperature can be found to suit all with a little compromise. Buildings vary greatly and differences in insulation, glazed windows, draught proofing, and build all affect how efficiently energy is used. Finding a heating system that is energy efficient, good value and delivers high performance for less energy for all these variables is difficult unless you consider air conditioning. Finding the ideal room temperature is simple with the right air conditioning system.

Air Conditioning Systems

Finding the ideal room temperature and keeping it stable throughout the home is something that modern central air conditioning systems can do. Often the first thing people think of about air conditioning is the old-fashioned rattling units on windowsills or in hotel rooms. The modern air conditioning split systems will ensure an ambient temperature of your choice in every room of the house.

Heating and cooling are two sides of the same coin and an air conditioning system can keep your home at the same temperature all year round or make it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Air conditioning is ideal for allergy sufferers and it controls the humidity so you always have the right balance in your rooms. Once adjusted to the temperature of choice the system will run quietly, economically and efficiently in the background only balancing the temperature if an event such as opening a window or door causes the thermostat temperature to rise or fall. Any variance in the temperature is carefully adjusted so you never feel any chills or overheating. You are able to experiment with different settings until you find the perfect ambient temperature and humidity.

Clever controls allow you to programme the settings even when you are away from home so that your ideal temperature awaits you on arrival home.

We stock a variety of top quality air conditioning systems that will make finding the ideal room temperature easy. We perform the calculations to ensure you have the right sized units and also provide a clean, fast installation followed by a full back up service and maintenance.

In this article, we are looking at two types of air conditioning units that are ideal if you are looking for summer cooling and some winter heating for one area in the house or even multiple units for more than one room. Everyone knows of the “old timer” window air conditioning unit beloved of New York apartment blocks and Hong Kong high rises, but today’s sleek models are a world away from those atmospheric but clunky old style units.

Window Air Conditioners

These are the most common type of air conditioning units and solve your microclimate problem cost effectively. A window air conditioning unit is a single monoblock – a single case containing all the components that makes it sleek and free of any unsightly outlet hoses. The units come in different colours these days including pastels so you can even co-ordinate the unit to your décor. This single unit is mounted into the window opening. The condenser, evaporator, fan, and compressor are tidily fixed inside the case. This link has a useful diagram so you can see how it works.

The cooling operation of a window device has huge advantages when you need instant cooling or warmth. Remote control options are available which means you can control the system from the comfort of your seat. There is a wide range of temperatures so you can find the optimum one for you. Powerful performance is common with these compact systems with cooling and heating distributed with even airflow.

The major advantage of a window air conditioner is price and easy installation. The window air conditioning models also use far less refrigerant than other types, which is important for the environment. Economical operation combined with comfortable cooling and heating make the window air conditioner the first choice for affordability and compactness.

Window air conditioning units Advantages:

• Affordability.
• Compact style.
• Can provide partial ventilation.
• No installation required.
• Portable from place to place.
• Suitable for apartments, offices, summerhouses, and smaller homes.
• Simple maintenance.
• Reliability.

Portable Air Conditioning Units

This type of air conditioning system is useful for those rooms that cannot accommodate a window unit. The main benefit of a portable air conditioning unit is they can be used in the room where they are needed and set up again fairly quickly provided there is enough room for all of the exhaust hoses.

It is very important when setting up a portable air conditioning unit that you are within seven feet of a ventilation source. This is because the unit contains refrigerant, which may be Freon, which can be dangerous if it leaks into the environment. The units while performing the function of cooling or warming your room space can be intrusive in the room especially if you have to move furniture or put the unit in an awkward space so it is well ventilated. On the whole, despite the drawbacks, they are affordably priced and are popular in workplaces as a temporary option.

This type of system works by venting out warm air. Most portable air conditioning units come with venting kits including an exhaust hose around 5 to 7 feet long, five inches in diameter. These are made of flexible high quality, durable material and can be modified to suit your needs. Portable air conditioning units produce water due to condensation and this will need draining from the collection tank from time to time.

We offer a range of easy solutions for your window and portable air conditioning units and are happy to advise on the right solution for your home to suit your lifestyle.

Sometimes air conditioning units need to be recharged. Knowing when to recharge will help your air conditioning unit to work efficiently using energy economically. Sometimes the first sign that an air conditioning unit needs recharging is when the air conditioning unit has difficulty in cooling the room temperature. This is usually linked directly to the refrigerant levels in the unit.

Adding refrigerant is usually one of the first things people think of when air conditioners are not working properly or stops cooling the air. This may not be the immediate solution to the problem. All air conditioning units are charged with the correct amount of refrigerant and the balance is set. In the course of an air conditioning unit being used, it is possible for a change in the charge and or refrigerant to occur. Refrigerant does not evaporate or burn off like other liquids, so it is only in the event of a leak that refrigerant needs replacing or recharging. Of course, the system must be examined in detail to identify any leaks that need to be repaired before any recharge or adding of refrigerant takes place.

Leaks

Once any leaks are repaired often, a recharging of the air conditioning system is often the solution to any inefficiency in the system. Knowing when to recharge an air conditioning unit is a job for a professional engineer once other diagnostic procedures have been carried out when your system is not functioning, as it should be.

Refrigerant and the Environment

The medium that cools in your air conditioning is called refrigerant. In most domestic air conditioners, the refrigerant is Freon (which is a chlorofluorocarbon or CFC). Freon is a controlled substance, which is a hazard when released into the atmosphere and is harmful to the Earths ozone layer if not properly handled. As air conditioning does not consume Freon, it will never need replacing except for a leak. Should your engineer ever recommend adding or replacing this substance then in accordance with environmental laws, the refrigerant will be extracted and filtered by a recycling refrigerant machine. Because of the hazardous nature of this process only qualified engineers should perform this process and do it yourself is never recommended.

A regular check of the coolant or Freon levels of your air conditioning system is important. A loss of 10% in coolant levels will add 20 percent to your electricity bill and cause wear and tear to your unit. We carry out this check in our regular annual service

Recharging

Recharging your system is necessary as a low charge decreases the efficiency of an air conditioning unit. A low charge will cause the unit to operate at higher ranges than it should. Units that have been running on low charge for long periods of time are likely to need replacing. Professional air conditioning engineers will only recharge air conditioning units when all remedial work is carried out and only if it will remedy the deficiencies of the system. Knowing when to recharge air conditioning is something your engineer will be an expert on, as it requires careful analysis and re-balancing of the system.

Your accredited engineer also knows the rules and regulations for handling the refrigerant and disposing of any discarded fluids. It is essential to have this process done in accordance with the law, as it is a hazardous process that damages the environment. If you were to tamper with the refrigerant on your air conditioning system, it is quite likely your home insurance would invalidate any claims that may be made in the future.

Knowing when to recharge air conditioning is as simple as checking your refrigerant levels and noticing any decline in performance of the system. If your electricity bills are up this is another clue. In any of these events, call your air conditioning professional who will determine if you need a recharge, repair, or refrigerant top up as soon as you suspect anything. Remember if you have an affordable annual maintenance plan, these issues will be dealt with for you.

In this article, we are giving some information on what you should know about your air conditioning unit. An air conditioning unit is a system that uses a series of ducts to distribute cool air to more than one room. It may also use pipes to distribute water that is chilled to heat exchangers in more than one room. Air conditioning units also come as stand-alone units for single rooms and some types can be used as heating systems too.

A typical split air conditioning system has a condenser and compressor in an outdoor unit, with an evaporator in the air-handling unit. Some systems have all components situated outdoors. Air moves into vents inside the home from the condenser via one or more air filters. These air filters help purify the air and keep any harmful particles at bay. Air filters need cleaning and replacing regularly.

Knowing about your air conditioning unit, enables you to operate it much more efficiently once you know some basics

General Information

The compressor is a motor that cools refrigerant, and a fan pushes the cooled air into the building. It is helpful to become familiar with the normal amount of airflow you unit generates, and then you can tell if there is anything wrong with the flow if necessary.

A useful check is to check room temperature and the air temperature of the flow from the air conditioning unit. The air from the unit should be around 20 degrees F below room temperature.

Coils

The coils in your unit should be regularly checked to make sure they are clean. The build up of dust on coils is one of the main reasons air conditioners become inefficient. Your maintenance engineers will clean them in the regular yearly check up of your unit, but will always come and check them for you if you are concerned.

Refrigerant

The refrigerant allows your air conditioning unit to cool the air that passes through. Refrigerant gases have become a lot more environmentally friendly, but there are huge efforts all the time to develop new refrigerants that are better for the environment. In Europe, carbon dioxide (R-744) is increasingly being used as a refrigerant with a global warming potential of 1, which compares well to older refrigerants that are still in use that have a global impact potential of 1800. The air conditioning unit is charged with refrigerant at installation.

Efficiency of Your Air Conditioning Unit

Simple common sense helps to reduce the amount of energy expended by the air conditioning unit.

• On hot days leaving curtains drawn and avoiding the use of appliances like fans helps. Heat generating activities such as ironing or cooking are best left until the evening.
• Always make sure the thermostat of your air conditioning unit is not near any heat generating devices such as a TV set of lamp as the sensor will detect the heat and keep the system running for longer than necessary.
• Make sure windows and doors are properly sealed. Whether you are using your unit for cooling or heating the same rule applies.
• Check the sealant in the space between the air conditioning unit and the wall. This sealant can be damaged by moisture so regular checks will alert you if the seal needs attention.
• The unit’s drain should be looked at occasionally. If moisture is not coming out, then it is likely the drain is clogged which will cause the unit to ice up.
• Every degree you set your air conditioning below 78F, costs increase by 3 or 4 %, so obviously running your system very cold or very hot will increase energy usage.

While it is important for all owners of air conditioning units to be familiar with their appliances, nothing substitutes for a professional engineer experienced with all kinds of makes and models. When things do go wrong, it is more cost effective in most cases to call out an engineer rather than risk a DIY repair. We are always on the end of the phone for any advice you may need and we look forward to hearing from you.