General

No sweat and no discomfort, air conditioners are fantastic inventions for those who live in a hot and humid climate. Although a blast of cold air running throughout your home or business can be relieving, many people have certain concerns on whether the water from the unit is safe. We aim to inform you on what water is used in an air conditioner, the process it goes through to transform the water, and how sanitary an air conditioner is to answer the burning question of “is water from air conditioner safe?” 

What Type of Water is Used in an Air Conditioning Unit? 

Basically, the form of water that is used in air conditioning units is condensed water. This water is taken from water vapor in the air and is transformed into a liquid through the compressor. This process happens on the unit outside the building as it requires a lot of energy and, therefore, produces a lot of heat — which is definitely not what you want!
 

This liquid is passed through the cooling compartment on the inside unit and the air from the building passes through evaporator fans. There, the water turns back into a vapor and cools the air within the chamber. Once the heat is removed from the air, it’s blown back into the building at a much cooler temperature.

This is the relatively complex and interesting process that ensures your home or business continues to stay cool in hot temperatures and humid climates.

How Clean is the Water from an Air Con? 

So, considering the process of how the unit cools air, is water from an air conditioner safe?

If there are any contaminants in the water/air coming from an air conditioning unit, then there is a problem with the part/parts that form the machine. The water or vapor in itself is, generally, very sanitary and safe to use. Furthermore, most air conditioning units should use parts that will reduce contamination as much as possible, meaning it’s often not an issue.

However, this is not the same for all companies, and a business may have cut corners when designing and producing their air conditioning units. This means that a unit fitting this description is more likely to release contaminants into the air. Moreover, if the machine is not properly serviced and cleaned, then you will increase the chance of running into sanitation issues.
 

Servicing Your Air Conditioning Unit 

Regular servicing of your air conditioning unit will ensure that it continues to run safely for as long as possible. Fortunately, servicing and cleaning an air conditioning machine is relatively simple. The main items home/shop owners need to consider cleaning are the filters and coil of the machine. There are plenty of videos and guides online on how to effectively complete a service.

If you’re not comfortable with cleaning it yourself, then getting a professional to service the machine is a good option. This can set you back anywhere between $100 to $400 dollars. However, you will have peace of mind that the service has been completed to a professional standard and that your machine is as good as new!

Air conditioners allow us to work uninterrupted during the hot summer days and help us get a good night’s sleep when it’s warm and humid outside. This makes ACs an immensely useful invention and a true blessing. But as with any tool or device, the outcome usually depends on the manner of usage. Air conditioners are no different and can produce negative outcomes if used poorly. But is one of those negative outcomes related to sleep? We’ll explore this question below.

The Myth

You’ve probably heard some people argue that sleeping with air conditioning has a negative impact on health. So is it bad to sleep with air conditioners on? Science says otherwise. In fact, there are studies out there which claim that sleeping at a lower room temperature improves sleep quality.

So, why is this myth so popular? Well, there may be quite a few root origins. Some of them are:

1. Sometimes people wake up with aches in different parts of the bodies.
2. They cannot sleep without turning on the AC.
3. This one might sound funny, but it’s a fact that some parents tell their children that keeping the AC on will make them sick, just to lower their electric bills. The effectiveness of this tactic has made it into a myth.

But let’s move beyond the myths and discuss the situations in which an AC has positive effects.

Positive Aspects of Sleeping with the AC on

1. Your body needs to lower its temperature in order to sleep. So, a lower room temperature helps the body in this function. The ideal room temperature for healthy sleep is between 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
2. The filtration system in modern ACs helps provide cleaner air, which can prevent allergies and breathing problems.
3. Summer nights are often humid, and humidity provides the breeding ground for mold and microorganisms. Sleeping with your AC on can lower the humidity level, making the environment healthier.
4. Apart from all the science, let’s use intuition. Would you prefer to sleep in a hot, sweaty environment? Or does it sound better to have a cool room and a comforter to sleep in? Yes, the second option sounds way more tempting for a good night’s sleep.
5. Better sleep will naturally improve your overall lifestyle. It can improve your productivity, mental health, mood, fitness, and can even help produce good hormones.

Now let’s discuss the negative effects and some best practices to counter these effects.

Negative Aspects of Sleeping with the AC on

1. You may wake up all sore if you direct the air jet directly on you. The best practice is to direct it upwards. Another preventive course of action is to turn the AC on before bedtime, so you can switch it off later, either manually or by using the timer.
2. If you don’t clean the filters of your AC timely, it can spread perilous microorganisms into the environment of your room.
3. Finding the right room temperature is important. Your sleep may be disturbed if the temperature is too low or too high.
4. Depending on the settings of your AC, it might absorb too much moisture, making the environment too dry. This can lead to dry & stretchy skin, dehydration, and breathing problems. Using the timer and keeping a source of ventilation can solve this issue.
5. If you have an old model AC, it might make a certain revving noise which can adversely affect the quality of your sleep.
6. Your body might develop a habit of sleeping with the AC on. This association might disturb your sleep at the change of the season. The good news is that this will be temporary.
7. A sudden change of temperature can disturb your body. That’s why it’s always best to let your body get prepared before you go out into different temperatures.

So the next time you see someone discussing whether it’s bad to sleep with the air conditioners on, you can present them with the above points.

Theoretically, an AC should never require refilling Freon. Every AC comes with enough refrigerant that should last its complete duration of life. However, there may be some cases where your AC unit needs to have Freon added. If you’re asking yourself the question, ” How often should you put Freon in air conditioner?” then this article is here to help. 

Note that refrigerants R-12, R-13B1, R-22, R-410A, R-502, and R-503 manufactured by The Chemours Company are given the brand name Freon. The immense popularity of Freon has made it synonymous with refrigerants in general.

Signs that your AC needs Freon

If your air conditioner is low on Freon, it may give you the following signs:

1. The overall cooling of the AC decreases.
2. The vents blow lukewarm air.
3. The evaporator coil has ice formation on it.
4. Electric bills are higher than usual.
5. Refrigerant lines produce a bubbling or hissing sound.

The most common cause behind these signs is a leak of Freon in your AC. But before you proceed with the fixing and refilling, try changing the air filter and cleaning the outside condenser unit. If the performance of the AC improves, you might not need to refill the refrigerant.

The Misconception

There is a misconception that an AC needs Freon in the same way a car needs fuel. Freon is a refrigerant, not a type of fuel. Your AC’s refrigerant is a sealed system, so the levels should stay the same throughout use.

The only reason your AC unit would require refilling is because it has a leak. Leaks are difficult to find, so some technicians don’t bother looking for them and just refill Freon. Or, they want to sell Freon, which is quite expensive. Either way, with Freon leaks you end up paying for refills after refills.

How to Deal with a Leak

If any initial troubleshooting doesn’t fix the issue and you become certain that the AC has a leak, you have three primary options:

1. Refilling Freon without fixing the leak

You might opt for this option because finding and fixing a leak can be expensive. Some leaks are slow, so refilling Freon can get you through the season. Next year, you can either get it fixed or replace the AC with a newer model. One tip is to add a UV dye with the refrigerant in order to help diagnose the leak in the future.

2. Finding the leak and fixing it

This course of action can be costly and time-consuming. But with the right technician, it can solve your problem in the long run. The technician will have to take these steps to identify and fix the leak:

1. Use UV dye or a bubbling agent to find the leak.
2. Then carefully remove Freon from the system in a controlled manner.
3. Now fix the leak.
4. After that, it’s time to refill Freon.
5. Finally carefully test the fix to make sure it works.

3. Replacing your AC

This may be a logical way to go in some situations. If you have a really old model AC, it might be the right time for an upgrade. For instance, changing the condensing coils is particularly expensive, so if you face this issue, buying a new AC would make perfect sense.

Conclusion

Now you know how often you should put Freon in an air conditioner (hint: hopefully never!). With this information, you can avoid getting scammed and choose the right course of action whenever your AC needs refilling.

An air conditioner is a must-have equipment in a recreational vehicle (RV). RVs are susceptible to humidity caused by moisture and condensation from breathing users, cooking, and the drying of clothes. Without an air conditioner, the indoor air quality quickly deteriorates. Unfortunately, the tradeoff for clean air is often a noisy air conditioner. The noise can be so high that even holding a conversation becomes impossible. Below, we examine the reasons an RV AC unit becomes noisy and offer solutions on how to quiet an RV air conditioner.

Three Ways to Quiet an RV Air Conditioner

So how do you quiet an RV air conditioner? These are three ways to do it.

Regular Maintenance

Based on the reasons for the noise as explained above, it follows logically that one of the ways to quiet an RV air conditioner is to perform regular maintenance. You don’t have to be an electrician to maintain your AC unit. All you need is a few simple tools and elbow grease. Inspect your AC unit for loose or too tight bolts, worn rubber cushions, motor issues, and other problems at least once a month. Replace worn rubber cushions and if the motor bearings and bushes are worn, hire a technician to replace them.

Install an RV AC Silencer

If the noise is still too high for your liking after regular maintenance, consider installing an RV AC silencer to bring the noise down to under 50 decibels. There are many RV AC silencer models in the market. Most of them come with detailed do-it-yourself (DIY) installation instructions and are designed for easy installation without hiring a technician. However, make sure you buy the correct model for your AC unit. Better still, talk to the vendor to allow you to exchange the device if you purchase the wrong model.

Replace the AC Unit

Unfortunately with air conditioners, the older it gets, the louder it gets. Sometimes the only solution is a new unit. Replacing an RV air conditioner should be done by a professional. Shop around for a service provider and discuss the options available. Don’t just accept the model the technician suggests — do your research and check the reviews. 

Reasons for a Noisy RV Air Conditioner

While the emanation of sound from a running AC unit is normal, it should be a low whooshing sound. In technical terms, it shouldn’t be more than 50 decibels of ambient noise. This level of background noise is sufficient to hold a conversation. Anything higher calls for some investigative skills on your part. The problem is usually caused by one or more of the issues below.

Loose or Too Tight Mounting Bolts

Loose mounting bolts cause a racket. Inspect your unit for loose bolts and tighten them to make them snug, but don’t tighten them too much. If they are too tight, the unit’s vibrations dissipate into the RV’s frame. When the bolts are too tight, the noise can become unbearable when you set the air conditioner to run at full power.

So you may be wondering how to tell if you have done it just right. It comes down to trial and error. Run the AC and start tightening the bolts while listening for a reduction in sound intensity.

Worn Rubber Cushions

AC units come with rubber cushions to absorb vibrations within moving parts in the unit that sit between the AC and RV body frame. When these cushions wear out, your air conditioner becomes noisier. Check the rubber cushions for wear and tear and replace them to quiet the RV air conditioner.

Old Fan Motor

Aging fans are the cause of the loudest noise in an RV air conditioner. Over time, the AC motor bearings and bushes wear out and cause a screeching, squeaking, or roaring sound.

Conclusion

Is the noise from your RV air conditioner too loud? All the solutions we have outlined on how to quiet an RV air conditioner are easy to implement. Good luck!

Shading an air conditioner refers to the process of creating natural or artificial shade around an air conditioning unit. This is specifically referring to central air conditioning units installed outside a home or building that deliver cool air to the building using air ducts. But how and why to shade an air conditioner isn’t exactly a straightforward matter. There are rules to be followed to ensure that you reap the maximum benefits.

How to Shade Your Air Conditioner

Let’s now consider how to shade air conditioner. The best way to shade your AC unit is to use natural means. Trees are the preferred method to provide shading, but you have to do it correctly. There are also a few other issues you need to consider for the best results. Below are a few pointers:

• Deciduous trees: Deciduous trees provide lots of shade during the summer months. During winter, they shed their leaves allowing winter sunlight to warm your home. Plant them to the north so that they provide maximum shade throughout the day. They should be planted at least 25 feet away from the home.
• Evergreen trees: Also known as conifers, these are great windbreakers. Plant them to the north and northwest where they will block winter winds. In addition, plant them a bit further from the home than deciduous trees.
• Re-locate your air conditioner: If your air conditioner is located to the south of your home, relocate it to the northern side if possible and financially feasible. This is because the southern side gets inundated by sunlight during much of the day. If it’s not possible to relocate, ensure you plant very tall trees that have lots of foliage to provide all-day shade.

Six Reasons to Shade an Air Conditioner

Let’s begin by considering why you would want to shade an air conditioner in the first place. There are five good reasons listed below.

1. Reduce energy consumption

Air conditioning units are notoriously energy-hungry. In a home, the air conditioner is often the largest energy consumer. Air conditioners use about 6% of US electricity production, and the average central AC unit consumes 3500 watts of electricity. Compare this to a ceiling fan that only consumes 35 watts or a medium-sized refrigerator that consumes 225 watts. According to the US Department for Energy, a little shade can go a long way. The air beneath trees is as much as 25°F cooler. So planting trees near the air conditioning unit is one way to ensure the AC takes in cool air and consequently doesn’t have to consume too much energy cooling the air. There is also the bonus that trees also provide the home with shade. Cooler homes don’t overwork AC units. This combined effect can lead to a reduced electricity consumption of up 25 percent.

1. Return on investment

The energy savings accruing from proper landscaping are estimated to increase the return on investment of a property to less than eight years.

1. Increase AC unit efficiency

Shading an air conditioner using natural or artificial means also increases the unit’s efficiency percent. The unit quickly cools the home, and when optimum temperatures are attained, it shuts off leading to even more energy savings.

1. Reduce summer AC costs

AC costs are typically higher in summer, but with proper shading, you don’t have to put a dent in your pocket every summer.

1. Windbreaks cut fuel consumption

Natural shading like trees also acts as windbreakers. Placing trees on the windward side of a home leads to greater energy savings. Windbreakers are beneficial during the winter. During winter, an AC unit has to warm cold air to regulate the temperature in a home. Windbreaks protect your home from cold winter winds and reduce your heating bill.

We hope you now have a full grasp of how and why to shade an air conditioner. Implement these suggestions and reap the cooling benefits.

Start capacitors can be found in air conditioners, refrigerators, and even in washers. One of the most commonly asked questions is how to test the capacitor on an air conditioner if it starts humming and does not start. A capacitor can actually help you see whether the appliance is working correctly or not. All you will need is a multimeter, and you should be able to check whether the capacitor is working fine or needs a replacement. So if you’re curious how to test the capacitor on an air conditioner, keep reading and follow the step-by-step guide below.

Discharge the capacitor

The first thing that you will have to do is locate the capacitor inside the air conditioner. Capacitors will be metal tubes. They store an electric charge, and you should be able to find it near a motor inside the air conditioner. If you have a screwdriver, use it to open the air conditioner.

After that, locate the capacitor. It’s recommended to use a needle-nose plier, which has an insulated handle so that you can remove wires. Ensure that you have unplugged the air conditioner before locating the capacitor inside it.

Now take the screwdriver that has an insulated handle. If you don’t have one, it’s recommended to buy one; you will find it easily in a hardware store. You should use a screwdriver with an insulated handle because the rubber will not allow electricity to travel through the metal. This way, you will be saved from getting electrocuted. Ensure that you’re taking extreme caution while working with electricity since electricity shock can cause severe damage to your body and health. Along with it, make sure that the handle doesn’t have any crack; if it does, replace it right away.

For added protection, it’s recommended to wear a pair of gloves. Hold the screwdriver’s handle correctly, and then place the shaft of the screwdriver on the positive terminal. You will see a plus sign on the correct terminal. Ensure that you don’t end up touching the other terminal.

While maintaining contact with the screwdriver on the positive terminal, tap on the negative terminal once. Once you make the connection, don’t feel alarmed when you hear a small pop sound. This means that the capacitor is discharging. After the first spark, allow the screwdriver to contact the terminal for some time while tapping on the negative side one or two times. This should be done because sometimes excess charges sometimes are left behind.

Using a Multimeter

Multimeters are good equipment to use to read the capacities and voltage of a battery or circuit. Before using a multimeter, ensure that the capacitor is completely discharged. Digital multimeters are readily available in both online and hardware stores. Take the red probe and place it on the positive terminal. Now use the black probe and put it on the negative terminal. If you’re worried about residual charge, wear a pair of gloves.

Once you do the above, you will see the number fluctuating for a few seconds. You will have to wait for some time to see the readout to have the same number. Disconnect the probes only after seeing the exact readout, and then write down the capacitance numbers. If you fail to see the number moving at all, this is a clear sign that the capacitor needs to be replaced and it has worn out.

The number that you should see should match the capacitor’s number. Look at the capacitor — both the maximum and minimum numbers will be listed on it. In case you end up seeing the capacitance number go up infinitely, then this means that the capacitor needs to be replaced.

Conclusion

These are the two ways to test the capacitor on and air conditioner. If you’re not sure how to calculate it on its own or if you’d prefer some assistance, ensure to call an HVAC professional to do it for you.

Each house is different when it comes to its size and space, which means that different houses will call for different air conditioner units. The design of an AC will rely on a lot of factors, apart from the size of a room. Some of the variables that matter are the number of windows, wall heat transfer, ceiling height, and roof size. The size specifications mentioned of the AC may not take these variables under consideration, meaning the size of AC that you have bought or thinking of buying may not be right. So if you’re wondering how to know what size central air conditioner to buy, then read on.

How to determine size

Since not everyone will be familiar with the nitty-gritty of an AC and its required size, let’s try to explain it in a layman’s language. So, there are quite a few ways to know which AC size will be best suitable for your house. Before getting to know which AC size one should buy, you need to know which sizes do AC come in. ACs will come in all shapes and sizes, and they are measured in tonnage. Contrary to what you may think, the tonnage of an air conditioner can actually be decided based on its weight; tonnage is basically the measure of an AC’s ability to cool a room. If you buy one ton AC, it means that your AC will be able to cool 12,000 BTUs in an hour. Simultaneously, if you are purchasing a 2-ton AC, it means that it will be able to cool 24,000 BTUs in an hour.

Now, you may question what BTU stands for — BTU is a British Thermal Unit, and it’s the required amount of energy used by the machine to cool or heat one pound of water.

Usually for homes, the air conditioners that get installed may range from 1.5 to 5-ton units. If you pick an AC with more than 5-tons, that will be a light commercial HVAC unit, which is not advisable and available for residence. If you need an AC that is more than five tons, you will have to install multiple air conditioners. This means that if you ‘re looking for a 6-ton AC for your house, you will have to install 3-ton ACs. Of course, two ACs will cost you more, but the benefit is that even if one AC stops working, you have the second one running. This will certainly not make the room cool enough that it requires 6-ton AC, but it will certainly help your room not get skyrocketing hot.

Why does size matter?

If you end up buying an air conditioner that’s too big for your rooms, the AC will cool your room at a rapid state and will frequently shut down again and again. You may feel that there is no harm in buying an AC that is bigger since it will cool down the room faster, but the issue is that the AC will shut down repeatedly since it’s not going through the complete cycle that the AC has been designed for. Frequent shutting down and turning it on will ultimately affect your electricity bill.

The second point is that those who buy an AC that is too small will deal with different problems. Your AC will keep on operating all day long because it can’t cool down the huge room efficiently. Keeping the AC on all-day-long will undoubtedly make you feel better, but since the small ACs are not designed for bigger rooms, it will end up consuming more energy, leading to increased electricity bills.

If you buy an AC that is of the right size, it will operate and function properly, keeping your house nice and comfortable, and neither will you end up paying burning-high electricity bills.