Photo: Collected
In the past few years, the trend of using air conditioners in Bangladesh has increased. Demand for a better lifestyle and affordability are the major reasons behind this. However, before buying an air conditioner, it is very important to know a few topics. First of all, to choose the right air conditioner for one’s home, one needs to keep in mind the different performance aspects of different types of air conditioners. Then he has to pay attention to its price and maintenance details.
What is AC?
The term means alternating current. This means it always changes value and direction periodically. Full form of AC: Air Conditioner/ conditioning, Alternating Current.
What remains indoor and outdoor of an AC?
An AC consists of indoor evaporator, blower fan. And in outdoor it consists of compressor, and condenser.
How does AC work?
AC warms air from inside your home which is drawn through an expansion valve and regulates the flow. It then blows over the cold evaporator coil, which absorbs heat from the air. As the refrigerant inside the coil absorbs heat, it changes back to gas and moves to the compressor.
What is Eco mode of AC?
This advanced technology will make the AC compressor run very slowly and this will reduce the pressure on the condenser. Which means the compressor motor will use less energy to run the full system making the electricity bill more affordable.
Various Functions of AC:
Cool Mode or Default Mode Generally we use cool mode of an AC in home and office. Cool mode is called the ‘default mode’ of the AC. How much electricity you can save depends on the temperature control and usage by running the AC in this mode. The ideal temperature for this mode is 25 degrees Celsius. Running the AC at this temperature puts less stress on the AC compressor and saves electricity.
Dry mode
Humid hotness is felt even though the temperature is low due to high humidity during monsoon and autumn. Areas around the sea have the highest humidity and for this reason alone, turning on the AC does not provide proper relief. Dry mode brings some relief by removing excess moisture from the air. In this mode the AC fan speed is reduced and the compressor runs for some time to remove excess moisture from the air. It neither cools your house down nor warms it up. Besides fan mode, another good way to save power is dry mode. However, it should be remembered that the dry mode does not completely dry the air, but reduces the humidity as much as the body feels comfortable.
Having become an everyday household product, air conditioners or ACs need not resort to frequent repairmen if they are aware of a few things to get hassle-free service. AC can be used in the right way if you know when to operate the AC in which mode. As a result, long term service will be available. Let us know about some functions or modes of AC.
Quick Cool mode
This mode consumes the most power. If the room temperature is about 35°C or higher, this mode is used to cool the room quickly.
The AC runs at 16-18 degrees Celsius in Quick Cool mode and helps to cool down the room temperature in no time. However, Cool mode and Quick Cool mode take roughly the same time to bring the room temperature to 25°C. But in Quick Cool mode, the room temperature reaches 25 degrees and continues to drop.
Also the fan rotates very fast and the compressor works for the longest time. However, it should be remembered that frequent operation of the AC in this mode should be avoided. It increases the risk of accident.
Fan mode
In this mode the AC compressor is off and the indoor fan rotates continuously to generate air. Running the AC in this mode does not produce cold air as the compressor is off. So electricity saving is maximum.
Sleep mode
If we sleep with AC running at night, our body gets cold. When the AC is running in sleep mode, the temperature of the AC increases by one degree Celsius every hour. Sleep mode works pretty well to save power consumption. It takes as much coolness as it needs while sleeping, and the body does not feel cold at all after waking up. A balance of temperature is maintained in this mode.
Types of Air Conditioners
Air conditioners are generally of two types. One is monoblock, and the other is called split systems. In monoblock air conditioners the unit is of one block. Window ACs and Portable ACs include monoblocks. And the split systems air conditioner unit consists of two blocks. Its indoor unit is the source of cool air and outdoor unit is to cool and recycle the air.
4 types of air conditioners are most popular in Bangladesh
1. Portable Air Conditioner (Monoblock)
A portable air conditioner does not require any separate mounting or structure. It consists of a type of flexible exhaust pipe that leads outside the room through a hole in a window or wall; it is because these ACs emit hot fumes when they are running. Portable air conditioners have both advantages and disadvantages. Its compressor is not in a separate unit, but inside the AC itself. As a result, the AC makes a loud noise. In addition, the compressor is small in size and has limited performance.
The advantage of these types of ACs is that they do not require any extras to install and are also very affordable. Moreover, being very energy efficient and portable, they are very useful for many people. For example, having a portable air conditioner in your baby’s room will be very useful to cool certain areas of the room.
2. Window Air Conditioner (Monoblock)
Many people call window air conditioners ‘wall air conditioners’. Before the advent of split air conditioners, this type of AC was most common in apartments, houses, office cabins all over the world and in our country. Window air conditioners are still popular in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.
A typical window air conditioner only provides cool air. But DamiWindow air conditioners are also available with heat pump mode and remote control. Like portable air conditioners, it also makes noise while running. It also consumes more electricity than other ACs and requires a separate mounting or platform when installed on a window or wall. But its affordability and ease of installation should not be forgotten.
A typical window air conditioner only provides cool air. But costly Window air conditioners are also available with heat pump mode and remote control. Like portable air conditioners, it also makes noise while running. It also consumes more electricity than other ACs and requires a separate mounting or platform when installed on a window or wall. But its affordability and ease of installation should not be forgotten.
3. Wall Mounted Air Conditioner (Split Air Conditioning)
Wall mounted air conditioners are the most popular split air conditioners used in Bangladesh. There are different types of ACs available in the market in terms of style, performance and functionality. However, its installation type is engineer fit, that is, it does not have the facility of quick self-installation. The installation process is also quite complicated! But the advantage is that the installation is quite perfect. Wall mounted air conditioners are usually installed in high places of the house and have several operating modes and features like heat pump, timer, remote control, air purification. Also, it consumes less electricity than other ACs.
4. Ceiling Cassette or Ceiling Suspended Air Conditioner (Split Air Conditioning)
Ceiling cassette or ceiling suspended air conditioners are suitable for large home spaces or commercial spaces. Ceiling-mounted or suspended ACs are usually connected to air pipes coming from inside the building. You will get both aesthetic beauty and functionality. Because they look both modern and do not need to be installed through windows or floors. Only it’s 4 outlet louvers are visible from outside. Since it is high efficiency, one ceiling suspended air conditioner can do the same work as 3-4 wall mounted units. But it also consumes more electricity.
How does it cost?
Air conditioners of different prices are available in the market. AC capacity in Bangladesh is usually measured in tons instead of BTUs. The more tons of AC you buy, the more expensive it will be. For example, one ton or 12000 BTU per hour AC will cost 30,000 or less. ACs with inverter technology are more expensive again. Portable ACs cost less than other ACs in the market, but cassette or suspended ACs cost the most because of their high efficiency.
Capacity of air conditioner
One of the most important aspects of detailing and maintaining an air conditioner is its capacity. The larger the room, the higher the capacity of the air conditioner should be. But in which part of the world you live, the weather-climate is also important here.
For example, 1 ton or 12,000 BTU per hour AC is suitable for a 110 square feet space in a climate like Bangladesh. But you can also calculate using area method to get the correct idea.
Area Method:
First measure the length and width to find the square feet of the space. Then divide its square root by 10. The quotient will tell you how much AC should be suitable for your room.
Caution:
1. This calculation method will help you to estimate. But it is better to consult an expert.
2. AC capacity also depends on what things are in the house. That is, an empty room will cool quickly in AC, a room full of things will not cool so fast in the same AC.
How to take care of air conditioner:
If you want to avoid unexpected accidents, you must know the ways to take care of the air conditioner. Besides, to save repair costs and get good service for a long time, attention should be paid. Experts say that AC should be serviced once a year. Apart from this, regular check up is definitely necessary to ensure that the AC is working properly. And some of the tasks can be done by self. For example, find out where the filter slot of the AC unit is.
Then take out the old filter and replace it with a new one or clean and reuse the old one it does not require any institutional skills. It is important to pay attention only to the direction of air flow, correct direction of filter etc. And it is easy to know the size and details of the filter by looking at the instruction manual.
But in some cases you have to take professional services. For example, if there is a strange noise coming from the AC or the cooling air suddenly stops flowing, it is better to call a professional.
For proper maintenance of AC, immediate action should be taken if anything unexpected is noticed. Who does not know that prevention is better than cure!
When you buy an air conditioner for the first time, it is really useful to keep in mind the details and maintenance methods of the air conditioner. Because it ensures your safety and also saves money.
Messenger/Fameema
