Keep Cold Air Out With Window Air Conditioner Covers

With each year comes the season when we tend to worry about the amount of cold air that enters our homes. Keeping your home well insulated during the winter months can become an issue if you own an indoor air conditioner. Cold and high winds break through the AC covers placed on the outside of the unit, since outer covers are made only to waterproof and wind-proof the unit. Outdoor covers can be impossible, dangerous, or difficult to install. This is a task that can be avoided with an investment in window covers for the AC.

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Indoor air conditioner covers are fabric on the outside and insulating fiber on the inside. The cover is manufactured to fit perfectly over the part of the air conditioning unit on the inside of the house. With the adhesive tape for sealing and air waterproof sheets made of plastic, window air conditioner covers grasp and conform to the border of the unit, holding the cover in place. Having this sheet taped to the unit from the inside effectively keeps the air waterproof and also works to protect the seal from the inclement weather than oftentimes destroys an outside adhesive. The inner layer keeps the room safe from cold air in the AC unit.

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Before purchasing air conditioner covers, it is important to measure the size of your AC unit based on the directions given by the manufacturer, as covers come in a variety of sizes. In addition, indoor covers are made with a myriad of canvas options. This allows the buyer to choose the proper material for their air conditioner based on specific climates. For example, heavy duty canvases work for great protection from drafts, while an insulated canvas is central to quality thermal protection and the premium marine canvas is useful in climates that are wet. This winter, instead of hanging out of the window in an attempt to install an outdoor cover, which can be ripped off with the right gust of wind, you might want to invest in something more reliable; something like an indoor air conditioner cover.

Keep Cold Air Out With Window Air Conditioner Covers

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Environmental Benefits Of Using Oil Filled Radiators

Everyone has had that one corner of their house or office that just never seems to warm up during the long winter months. Sometimes it may seem easier to avoid those cold, drafty corners, but what if it's your home office or the downstairs house room that is the victim. Most citizen select to get a small portable heater to help on the cold nights to keep their spaces favorably warm. While there are many options out there for normally a low price there are several benefits that put the oil filled radiator at the top of list for both environmental and relax reasons.

Radiant Heat

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Oil filled radiators work on the basis of radiant heat. There is not an exposed coil or fan to speedily blow the heat where you direct it. Instead the oil enclosed in the radiator heats up and radiates out to warm the space. While this may not give the immediate satisfaction of sitting in the path of an galvanic coil heater, it does allow your radiator to benefit from convection. As the air nearby your heater warms from the oil inside, it rises in the room pushing the cool air down. In this way, all the air in the room is slowly heated. This also save on vigor costs because most units come with a thermostat to allow the electricity to cut-off once it reaches it target temperature. The oil inside the unit will maintain its heat for quite a while before needing to be re-heated.

Safety Features

Safety features to look for are a thermostat, high climatic characteristic cut-off, and some units even come with a tip over cut-off just in case the oil filled radiator gets knocked over. These units rarely get hot enough to cause a burn from just touching the unit, but basic safety protocol should be followed, similar to an ordinary baseboard unit. Do not allow curtains or blankets to rest on the unit and never set items on top of them. Although not truly a safety feature, other thing to look for is a radiator with a 24-hour timer. This will allow you to set the timer for 30 minutes before you plan on using the space or waking up, giving the oil filled radiator plenty of time to heat the space.

Central Heating Replacement

With vigor prices always on the rise, many citizen are taking the cost-savings one step added and going green by turning off the central heating theory in there house to clear rooms. If you have a smaller room that falls within the capacity of your heater you may select to save on your vigor bill as well and only heat the room while you are using it. several units also come on rollers to make captivating the oil filled radiator from room to room easier, addition your saving and environmental benefits further.

Noise Pollution

An often overlooked factor when citizen are shopping for a secondary heater is noise. While the appropriate space heater relies on a fan to help disburse the heat. The oil filled radiator uses radiant heat, as mentioned above, and therefore has a silent execution minus the small crackling noise you may hear as the oil inside heats up to temperature.

In overview oil filled radiators are able to benefit the environment.

Environmental Benefits Of Using Oil Filled Radiators

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Why Window Air Conditioners Ice Up

One of the most frustrating problems with a window air conditioner is if it starts to ice up. For the owner of the air conditioner is can be perplexing.

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When this problem occurs most people immediately think it is the fault of the refrigerant gas. More often the cause is the result of other difficulties.

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It is most often the result of poor airflow.

Any time the airflow through an air conditioner is restricted the cooling system becomes affected. If taken to extremes the critical pressure-temperature balance of the cooling coil can be changed. If they drop too low the cooling coils surface temperature can drop below the dew point temperature of the room. When this happens the cooling coil will begin to operate as a refrigerator rather than an air conditioner. Rather than simply cooling the air it will collect and hold moisture. The moisture will freeze onto the cooling coil where it will appear as ice.

The primary job of an air conditioner is to de-humidify, not refrigerate, the room air. By removing the moisture from the room air it gives us a feeling of comfort. To do this though the temperature of the cooling coil must always be higher than the room's dew point. If it is allowed to drop below the dew point the air conditioner will start to produce ice.

With this information in mind the following are a few problems that can result in your air conditioner icing up:

1. Dirty filter.
To avoid this replace or clean your filter every couple of weeks of the cooling season. If a smoker do it every week. To clean filter remove from air conditioner, wet thoroughly, and lay in bottom of a sink. Sprinkle detergent (laundry detergent works well) onto filter surface. Allow to sit for a few minutes. Add warm water to sink so that filter is completely covered. Soak for 15 minutes. Remove from water and rinse. Allow to air dry.

2. Dirty or blocked cooling coil.
An air conditioner requires regular maintenance. Usually every two or three years. Every year would be best, but this can be costly unless you do it yourself. During cleaning the cooling coil should be degreased and washed to remove accumulated dirt and debris. Degreasing is important to remove any coatings on the coil. If not done greasy residue can trap and hold air borne particles. They will build up on the coil and affect heat transfer. If left too long this can result in the cooling coil becoming partially blocked. This will produce a lower airflow.

3. Dirty or blocked condenser coil.
The condenser coil is the one at the rear of the air conditioner. Its job is to dissipate the heat that is being removed from the room. Just like the cooling coil it too must be cleaned every few years. Since the condenser is on the outside of the home it becomes exposed to a lot of dirt, pollen, and smog. Since airflow direction is from inside to outside it is the inside surface of the condenser that becomes dirty. Therefore to clean this part the air conditioner must be completely disassembled. If not cleaned regularly an airflow blockage here can even burn out the compressor. Before this happens though the lowering of airflow will affect the overall operation. This can result in the compressor efficiency dropping, the internal pressure-temperature relationships being affected, and the resultant production of ice on the cooling coil.

4. Inefficient compressor.
As describe above an inefficient compressor can cause icing up. If the compressor is not able to pump the refrigerant properly the cooing coil may not get cold enough to shut off the cold control. It can hover just above the cut off point. When this happens the cooling coil will begin to refrigerate. Ice on the cooling coil will result. If the compressor itself is at fault the air conditioner will have to be replaced. But note that many icing problems are misdiagnosed as bad compressors when they were actually one of the other faults discussed in this article.

5. Not enough refrigerant. Too much refrigerant.
Both scenarios can result in and icing condition. If your air conditioner was repaired recently suspect too much refrigerant. Mixed with an airflow problem this can be difficult to diagnose. If not repaired recently then suspect airflow problems before considering a refrigerant imbalance.

6. Outdoor temperature too low.
Icing can occur if the outside temperature falls below 60 Degrees Fahrenheit. If the outside temperature is too low the air conditioner pressure-temperatures can be affected. When the outside temperature falls the cooling coil temperature will also fall. So much that the coil will refrigerate the room air. This will result in the cooling coil beginning to produce ice. This problem is more prevalent in the fall. If it is hot during the day but cold at night suspect this problem as the cause of icing up. If this problem is suspected try running the air conditioner in the fan only position. Leave the re-circulating vent open. This will circulate the room air without cooling it, while bringing in a small amount of outside air during the night.

7. Oversized air conditioner.
If the air conditioner is too large for the room size icing up can result. If oversized the air conditioner can short-cycle. This condition is usually seen as the air conditioner starting and stopping every few minutes. Even though it runs almost constantly the air conditioner will give poor cooling. Use a sizing chart to determine what is the proper air conditioner size for that particular room.

8. Cold control not shutting off. If the cold control does not shut off the cooling coil surface temperature will drop below the room's dew point and begin to refrigerate. This will allow ice to build up onto the cooling coil.

9. Cold control bulb broken or loose. As in the previous paragraph this will result in the cold control not shutting off and ice to build up on the cooling coil. If this is suspected remove the front grille and inspect the bulb. If broken replace cold control. If bent, kinked, or not securely fastened suspect a problem here.

Also check out our other related articles about air conditioners:

How to Clean your Air Conditioner like a Pro

How to Size an Air Conditioner

Placement of a Window Air Conditioner

Why Window Air Conditioners Ice Up

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Top 10 transported Air Conditioner Questions Answered

1. Why Do I Need One?
Besides helping you create a cool, comfortable environment in your home, the benefits you receive from these units include: energy recovery spot cooling, no obstruction of window views, no ugly window units descriptive to neighbors, cools a home without the cost of central air, easy assembly, and quick set up time. All of these units are on casters and most come with easy grips on the sides to make them portable and easy to move throughout the home.

2. Will It Help With My Allergies?
It not only help keep you cool while hot summer months, they also help allergy sufferers keep their allergies under control by regulating indoor temperatures and humidity levels. Dust mites and mold spores, two of the most potent and prevalent allergens, both of which can aggravate both allergy and asthma symptoms, are particularly affected by fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

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Portable air conditioners lower indoor humidity. Controlling humidity levels and holding allergies under control go hand in hand. Allergy sufferers should monitor humidity levels and use portable air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and humidifiers to keep humidity levels between 40 and 50 percent.

3. How Do They Work?
A portable air conditioner operates the same way as window air conditioner does. They cool your room by cooling the warm air in your home and exhausting the byproducts of heat and moisture out the window. Hot air from the room passes over coils cooled by refrigerant gas. Excess heat and moisture are pushed out straight through the exhaust hose while the chilled air is emitted back into the room.

The main inequity is that they come with an exhaust hose (or two) that directs the hot air from the back of the unit straight through a window. You could also cut a hole in a wall for a more permanent exhaust option. Window air conditioner units do not have this feature, because the exhaust is covering already. Most also have a water tank to collect excess condensate, or water, that is extracted from the air. This tank needs to be emptied which needs to be emptied occasionally to keep the unit working properly.

4. What Are Btus?
Almost all portable air conditioners are rated by the amount of British Thermal Units (Btus) of heat they can remove per hour. Yours should be generally, at least 12,000 Btus for a room size of 300 to 400 quadrilateral feet. The size of your air conditioning unit also depends on many factors like how much shade there is in the room, how many population are normally in the room, what the room is used for (kitchens will need more Btus), what other sources of heat are in the room, and how much insulation is in your walls and ceilings. This guide is based on general room insulation, median amount of sun-exposed windows and two-person occupancy. Here are some approximate room sizes and the corresponding Btus needed to cool these rooms:

* 100-200 = 8,000 - 10,000 Btu
* 200-300 = 10,000 - 12,000 Btu
* 300-400 = 12,000 - 14,000 Btu
* 400+ = 14,000+ Btu

Please remember that the size on the room is only one factor that you need to reconsider when choosing the definite size for your portable air conditioner.

5. What Features Should I Look For?
After seeing at the Btus for a unit, one of the biggest features to look for in is whether the unit is a dual hose or single hose unit. Dual hose units control more efficiently in most cases. Dual hose units highlight two air intakes and one outtake hose. The air intake pulls air from the room, cools it, and then returns it back into the room. This process causes heat to build up in and nearby the unit's motor, so other intake hose takes air from covering to cool this part of the portable air conditioner down. The second hose expels all warm air back outside. Dual hose systems are more efficient in larger settings and do no create negative air pressure like single hose units do.

You might also try to find out what exactly the window kit is like. Some have hard plastic window sliders, while others just have a foam insert for the window.

6. Does The Portable Air Conditioner Need To Be Vented?
Yes, the hot air that is exhausted out the back of these units must be vented to the covering via a window, wall, or your existing duct work. A window kit is included with each unit that is designed for duplicate hung and sliding type windows. The window kits are adjustable. The exhaust from the unit is not harmful. It is just hot air!

7. How Long Will My Portable Air Conditioner Last?
If your unit does not run every day or 24 hours a day, it will inevitably last longer. Most units are durable from 3 to 5 years though most have warranties that are shorter than that time frame.

8. How Do I Clean And voice One?
Proper maintenance and cleaning is very prominent to holding the unit in working order. The air filter should be cleaned every 2 weeks or every 100 hours of use to voice permissible air flow. Once the filter is removed from the unit, most of the air filters can be cleaned with soft cloth or with a vacuum cleaner attachment. You can use a mild detergent on most filters. Make sure the filter is fully dry before replacing in the unit. Some portable air conditioners use a replaceable filter. These filters, while providing far superior air filtration, cannot be washed and reused.

To clean the covering of your portable Ac. Turn the unit off and unplug. Wipe with a soft, damp cloth. You can use a mild detergent, but be sure to allow the unit to dry completely. Do not use harsh chemicals on the covering and avoid splashing water on or into the portable Ac unit. This can severely damage the unit and may put you at risk for electrical shock.

9. How Loud And Heavy Are They?
Portable air conditioners are heavy. They can range in any place from 60-120 pounds. They all have casters and grip handles, but these units are difficult to move up or down stairs. They are fine if you can roll them between rooms.

Portable air conditioners are not too loud. They are not as quiet as central Acs or even some window units. Most do not make immoderate noise and generally fall in the 50-59 decibel category.

10. How Will Using A Portable Air Conditioner Impact My Power Bill?
You are surely going to notice an increase in your power consumption and an increase in your galvanic bill. Depending on the size of the unit, they will consume a range of power. Look for models with higher Eer's. This amount corresponds with how much of the energy consumed it well turned into cooling power. The higher the Eer, the more cooling you are getting for your buck.

Top 10 transported Air Conditioner Questions Answered

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Replacing Air Conditioner What To Replace?

So, your air conditioner has finally quit. A technician found that the condenser (aka outdoor unit), needs to be replaced. The other main part - the evaporator - is still OK, so you're tempted to just replace the condenser. Don't do it.

air conditioner

Let me explain. There are two main parts in an air conditioner, the evaporator and the condenser. You've never seen the evaporator. It quietly sits inside the ductwork and absorbs heat from inside air into the refrigerant. The condenser sits outside of the house and looks like it's doing all the work. Actually, it's only doing half the job. The condenser squeezes heat out of the refrigerant into the outside air.

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Parts of existing central air systems aren't good at all at adjusting to each other's needs. If the evaporator absorbs too much heat from the house, the condenser will overheat. If the evaporator doesn't absorb enough heat, it will freeze. The only way make sure an air conditioner will work properly is to match its two main components - the evaporator and the condenser.

It's fairly easy to match components when you install a new air conditioner, as you can see in this article:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Buying-An-Air-Conditioner?-The-ARI-Reference-Number-Is-Your-Best-Friend&id=620937 However, it's much more difficult to match the components of aging systems. Virtually all the systems that may require condenser replacement today were designed to work in 6, 8, or 10 SEER air conditioners. All the air conditioners on the market today are 13 SEER and up. Good luck matching 10 SEER (or even 8 or 6 SEER) evaporator with 13 SEER condenser.

This is why; if you have to replace your old air conditioner, replace everything.

Replacing Air Conditioner What To Replace?

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Automotive Air Conditioning Repair - Car Air Conditioning System Parts

It's always a pleasure to enjoy the fall of cool air on our body especially during hot summers. So you can attend marriage or any other personal functions or meetings with your face radiating beams of freshness. A powerful car air conditioner could greatly bring down the weariness caused by long drives especially automotive air conditioners in many cars which would be the dream cars of today's youngsters.

air conditioner 8000 btu

However, automotive air conditioning is always not a standard addition provided in a car. Cars manufactured before 1940 lacked the feature as it was not invented by then. Gradually several enhancements were done to the system. The repair requires a trained professional's help. People curious to get to know the bottom of things may attempt to do some repairs by themselves exercising caution.

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In small air conditioned cars, there may be a slight drop in pick up of the vehicle but this will not be the case with big cars.

The Standard Parts of Automotive Air Conditioning

The automotive air conditioning system comprises seven major parts.

These parts are:

1) Compressor - As heart is to the human body, so is compressor to the AC system. It is basically a pump connected to the engine whose chief function is to compress the refrigerant from the evaporator coils and the compressor, or "the heart of the system," is a pump that is attached to the engine. Its purpose is to compress and transfer refrigerant gas. The compressor has both an intake and a discharge side.

2) Condenser - It functions very much like the radiator and will most often have a similar appearance. The purpose of the condenser is to radiate or to give away heat, so whenever the AC is switched on condenser must have good supply of air for cooling purposes.

3) Evaporator - Its chief duty is to absorb heat. Besides getting rid of heat from inside your vehicle, it is also responsible for dehumidifying the car. In order to regulate the temperature of the evaporator, pressure introducing pressure regulating devices like orifice tube is necessary

4) The receiver is used in automotive air conditioning systems that employ thermal expansion valves as pressure regulating devices to ensure that this pressure regulating device receives the liquid refrigerant that it needs in order to function. In order to do so, it must separate gas and liquid.

5) The accumulator is used only on automotive air conditioning systems that have the orifice tube as the pressure regulating device, and its main function is to store surplus liquid refrigerant. In doing so, it prevents any liquid from entering the compressor, which could be detrimental to the system.

In spite of the modern advancements that have been made in the automotive field since the introduction of automotive air conditioning, it is still possible to maintain your own system even if it is an olden day style.

Automotive Air Conditioning Repair - Car Air Conditioning System Parts

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Ductless Air Conditioning Systems - Central Air for Any House

Until recently, any house without ductwork ("ductless") could not have central air. If you had forced hot water heating or electric heat, for example, your only options were to use noisy, highly inefficient, and expensive window air conditioners in each and every room you wanted to cool. This was as expensive as it was unsightly.

air conditioner wall unit

Now, the invention of ductless air conditioning systems provides everyone, regardless of how old your house is or how it is currently heated, the opportunity to get a central air conditioning. These systems are quiet, simple to use, energy efficient, and quick and easy to install. They can even be "zoned" to cool only parts of your house at a time.

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The system consists of just three parts:

1. Quiet indoor air-distribution units

2. Hidden refrigeration lines that link this/these units to...

3....an outdoor compressor/condenser.

The only visible parts to the ductless system inside the house are small 1-3 inch in diameter holes where the distribution units are mounted. Ductless systems are actually much less visible that almost any other kind of heating or cooling system.

You do not have to change any existing ductwork, or anything about how you currently heat your house to get a ductless air conditioning system.

Advantages of ductless air conditioning systems:

1. Central air increases the resale value of your house, and in some areas is close to required to get any buyer interest

2. They are very small; in fact they are practically invisible.

3. Ductless air systems are easy to install, and the technology has made it so that the systems can be installed with little or no disruption to existing walls and facades.

4. These systems have flexible types of installation - you can choose floor, ceiling, and/or wall-mounted units depending on what will be least visible and disruptive to your existing decor

5. They can be "zoned" to individually cool specific rooms or groups of rooms, further reducing the cost and wastefulness, especially as compared to window units.

Even in some homes that are heated with forced air, the ductless air conditioning system may be optimal because it will save the energy that is currently lost as air travels through the ductwork (think of cooled air passing through a duct in a super-hot attic, or hot air through a cold basement).

More and more you will see window units disappearing from homes like yours...look into the opportunity to use ductless central air conditioning yourself!

Ductless Air Conditioning Systems - Central Air for Any House

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