Read more about airconditioning:
- Modern airconditioners
- Room size
- Convenient controls
- Noise Levels
- Energy Efficiency
- Inverter Aircon Technology
Modern airconditioners
Air-conditioners not only cools the air it also dehumidifies
it in Joburg.Climates like Joburg has
high humidity levels in the warmer months, causing a high discomfort
index. A high discomfort index means you are producing more heat in
your body than what your skin can lose through evaporation. Factors
to consider before buying an air-con.
Room size
Room-size will greatly influence the size of air-conditioner you need.
It is however not the only consideration - number of windows, lights
(watts), equipment producing heat, occupants and ceiling insulation will
determine the amount of BTU cooling you need. If you buy an air-con that
is too small, the unit will get over worked and fail. On the other hand,
if it is too large, the room will cool down too quickly and the humidity
will hang in the air, leaving cool and clammy!
Convenient controls
Most split-unit air-conditioners have remote controls, and
most window unit air-conditioners do not. Central air-conditioning
can have a variety of controls, mostly wall mounted or built-in.
Noise Levels
Split-unit air-conditioners where designed with this in mind.
The noisy fan unit is placed outside the house leaving a very
quiet indoor unit. Window units do have more noise. Central aircon
systems are very quiet.
Energy Efficiency
With load shedding becoming an unpleasant reality, this is an
important issue. Most newer equipment are very energy efficient.
Inverter Aircon Technology
Air conditioners are one of the biggest power-consuming appliances
used in the home. So you naturally want one that can be run inexpensively.
That's where inverter technology comes into play. To explain how, let's use
temperature setting as an example. If you set the temperature to 23C in the
summer for an air conditioner without inverter control, the air conditioner
will automatically turn itself off once the room temperature drops below 23C,
and will then turn back on when the temperature rises above 23C. This makes
it necessary for the air conditioner to repeatedly turn itself on and off, a
nd a great deal of electricity is wasted due to fluctuations in room temperature
above and below the preset temperature. In the case of an inverter air conditioner,
however, it is possible to maintain a fixed temperature without having to
repeatedly turn the power on and off . A compressor inside an air conditioner's
outdoor unit changes the compression of the refrigerant gas, making it possible
to adjust the temperature. This adjustment is carried out by changing the speed
of the motor inside the compressor. Since the speed can be controlled over wide-range
by varying the frequency of the motor, inverter control makes it possible for air
conditioners to not only be more energy efficient and quieter, but also capable of
fine tuned home temperature control.