Air conditioning modifies the air quality indoors, to make it more comfortable. Air conditioners simply absorbs heat energy from one place and releases it elsewhere.
Air Con is used in many offices all year round to regulate air quality, but becomes essential in summer, to reduce the temperature and humidity levels in their home or work place. Air conditioners provide a cool air flow and do more than just dehumidify; many air conditioners units have special filters to remove small particles such as allergens from the air, so are of particular benefit for those with allergies or asthma.
Air conditioners are not to be confused with Evaporative Air coolers, as they work in a totally different way. Air coolers do not use a refrigerant, and are not able to cool the air in humid conditions. They work by passing air through damp pads, and the moist fanned air creates a sea breeze effect in a localized area, so are perfect for small offices where you cannot have outside venting, but just want to create a cool breeze in which to work comfortably.

Air conditioning does 4 vital things:
1) Cooling
Air conditioners offer accurate temperature control. Air conditioning allows you to create the climate in which you feel comfortable. Air conditioned environments makes you feel fresh and active even when it's extremely hot outside.
2) Heating
Air conditioners can offer heating. Air conditioning allows you to enjoy an ideal constant temperature through out the year, regardless of the weather outside. Heating from an air conditioner unit is environmentally friendly compared traditional heating because it takes energy from the outside air and brings it inside.
3) Cleaning
Air conditioners produce clean, fresh and healthy air. Most indoor units are equipped with filters that catch dust, pollen, mould spores and other allergens as well as smoke and everyday dirt found in the air. Air conditioning is therefore an ideal process for those who suffer from allergic reactions.
4) Dehumidifying
When an air conditioner is in cooling mode it dehumidifies the air. Dehumidified air is a much for comfortable environment to be in. Low humidity prevents dust mites and molds populations growing, which is a very positive factor for those who suffer from allergies. Humans feel most comfortable at humidity levels of 40 to 60 %.

Uses of Air Conditioning
Air conditioning can create the perfect environment for you, with the right temperature and a comfortable humidity.

i) Air conditioning can have a very positive effect on your personal performance. There is connection between your personal performance and the temperature of your immediate surroundings. An air conditioned environment will improve your performance and energy levels.
ii) People naturally cool themselves through the evaporation of perspiration from the skin and air conditioning provided drier air, which improved the comfort provided.
iii) Air conditioning can help those who suffer from asthma and allergies. Air conditioners provide cool air inside allowing windows and doors to remain closed preventing exposure to outside triggers such as air pollution, pollen and mould spores which can cause allergic reactions. Air conditioning units also lower humidity levels indoors which help to control mould and dust mite populations.
iv) Air conditioned environments prolong the lifetime of equipment in your home or workplace.

How do Air conditioners work?

Air conditioners come in various sizes, cooling capacities and prices: portable air conditioners, split portables, window air conditioners, condensing units on the roofs, and fully integrated air conditioning systems, but they all work on the same principle. An air conditioner removes hot (and damp) air from indoors and transfers it outdoors via a hose. The tube, similar to a tumble dryer hose (around 1m long), has to be vented to the outside ideally through a small venting hole made in the wall or window. For a quick fix (temporary solution) you can, with the use of a flattened oval adaptor supplied, put the hose out of a partially opened window or door. In the more powerful split system mobile type, the heat, along with excess humidity is discharged by the external (condenser) unit.

The hot air from the room is drawn by a fan into the air conditioner, and passes over an evaporator coil, which contains refrigerant. The refrigerant is pushed around the air conditioner by the compressor. The refrigerant is very cold and absorbs the excess heat from the air. This cooled air is pushed out through the front air vents back into the room. The absorbed heat in the refrigerant is transferred to a condensing (hot) coil, which causes the refrigerant to release its heat. The heat is then discharged from the room, either to a second section (split units) or directly into the outside air (mono-block unit). The cycle then starts again, to keep the room at the required temperature. Some air conditioners automatically remove the excess moisture from the air and evaporate it away with the excess heat. This also improved the overall level of comfort, reducing that sticky high humidity. With this type, there is no drip tray or tank to empty, so the only maintenance required is to clean the filter to maintain the air conditioner's efficiency. Other units utilise the moisture that has condensed and uses it to boost the cooling efficiency, in a similar way to water cooling, this is called condensate cooling.

Air conditioners are available in different sizes, and have cooling capacities from 5,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units per hour) to as high as 30,000 BTUs.

Understanding BTU's

Most air conditioners have their capacity rated in British thermal units ( BTU ). First you will need to work out your rough BTU requirement for your room size. Room sizes for the units are calculated on the basis that 40 watts is needed to cool 1 cubic metre (4Btu/h per cubic foot). Here's how:

1. Multiply length x width x height of the room to be cooled. This = the rooms cubic capacity.
2. If working in feet: Multiply cubic feet x 4. This =Btu/h.
3. If working in metres: Multiply cubic metres x 40. This = the number of watts required.
4. Select which model in the range is closest in cooling capacity to your requirements.

For example, if working in feet and BTU's:

Room size of 12 x 15 x 10 feet =1800 cubic feet

Multiply by 4 = 7200

Therefore an air conditioner with 7200 btu/h or greater cooling capacity would be required.

To choose the right size air conditioner for the space you're cooling see the chart below for initial size, then you need to consider the following:

How many people are in the room? Each person will generate about 2000 BTU worth of heat. You will need to add about 600 BTU's for each additional person using the room over 2 people.

• How many electrical goods such as computers are in the room
• How many windows are there, particularly facing the sun? You will need to add about 10% extra BTU's for a sunny location.
• How hot is the climate where you live?
• Do you need it in the day, when it is hot, or at night time?
• Is the room on an upper storey floor, hot air travels up, so you will need to add about 10% extra BTU's for this too.
• Is the room to be cooled a kitchen? If so you will need to add about 4000BTU's for this.

All these factors will add more heat to the room, so a more powerful unit will be needed. If you buy a unit that is not powerful enough for your room, then it will not be able to cope on the hot days when you really need it. It will improve the air, but it will be acting as a comfort cooler, or spot cooler, taking heat out of the room but not actually reducing temperatures.

Frequently Asked questions

What do I do when the Air Conditioner is delivered?
IMPORTANT NOTE – Unpack the Air Conditioning unit and leave it standing upright for 2 hours before switching it on. Whilst leaving the Air Conditoning unit to stand read the instruction manual and decide how to vent the hose from the room.

When do I use the Air Conditioner for best results?
It is recommended to start the unit 1-2 hours before the sun shines into the room. The Air Conditioner will therefore be able to remove the hidden heat from the fabric of the building so that the unit doesn't struggle to remove heat from the sun and heat from the brickwork.

How can I use the Air Conditioning unit in more than one room? How do I install the through the wall kit?
You are able to purchase additional through the wall kits with cap direct from the manufacturer. Use a core drill to produce a 5” diameter hole, install the through the wall unit and connect it to the hose – a local building maintenance man will be able to do this for you in under 30 minutes. To prevent rodents from entering, use a decorative grill that can be purchased in DIY/hardware stores. If you intend on storing the Air Conditioning unit through out the winter, remove the hose ands place the cap on the inside of the through the wall unit. This can be secures with a small screw.

How do I use my Air Conditioning Unit for best results?
Close external doors and windows to minimise the amount of heat pouring into that space. Direct the exhaust air (the hot air coming out of the unit) away from the open window using the foam spacer provided. Ideally use the through the wall kit as there is only a hole and no gaps like when using the window kit. Keep the exhaust hose as short as this will minimise the amount of heat the hose will radiate.

Can I extend the hose?
NO. You must not extend the hose. The Air Conditioning unit will become less efficient as the hot air outflow will reduce, causing the unit to use more power, resulting in unwanted heat being radiated back in to the room.

What happens to the collected water in the Air Conditioning Unit?
Depending on what Air Conditioner you have purchased the collection of water varies. In some of the Sir Conditioners the water from the humidity and heat is colletced in a tank and HAS to be emptied regularly. This type of Air Conditioner can also be used as a dehumidifier in the winter by switching to the cooling mode and not venting the hose. Helpful Hint – Point the hose form the Air Conditioning unit at wet clothes indoors and the hot air from the hose will dry the clothes and the water will collect in the tank. The room will therefore be warm as the air is circulating back into the room via the hose.
Other Air Conditioning units use the water they have collected to improve cooling efficiency. Within these types of Air Conditioners, water is sprayed over the internal hot coil; excess water is then removed via the hose with hot air. These types of units have a smaller tank that will only need to be emptied occasionally.

IMPORTANT NOTE – All Air Conditioning Unit must be drained at the end of the season.

How do I keep my Air Conditioner well maintained?
Keep the filters as clean as possible. The air filter in an air conditioner should be kept clean and clear. Your air conditioning system will not work to its highest performance if its filters are blocked or dirty. It advised to check your filter about once every week. The less restricted the airflow through the Air Conditioning unit the better it will work.

Can air conditioning make you ill?
Air conditioning can only make you ill when the air conditioner unit is not well maintained. An air conditioner that is well maintained provides healthier environment. Air conditioning controls humidity levels which reduces the growth of dust mites and mould – which is positive for an allergy sufferer. The supply of fresh air from the air conditioner will prevent ‘sick building syndrome' (illnesses linked to living in certain buildings/conditions for too long). All air conditioning units are equipped with a filter. Air conditioning filters can catch dust and particles over fine dust and pollen, bacteria, viruses and odours and even microbes and smoke. Remember to replace the filters approximately every 6 months.