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Types of Cooling Systems

Central Air Conditioners Central air conditioners circulate cool air through a system of supply and return ducts. Supply ducts and registers (i.e., openings in the walls, floors, or ceilings covered by grills) carry cooled air from the air conditioner to the home. This cooled air becomes warmer as it circulates through the home; then it flows back to the central air conditioner through return ducts and registers. Air conditioners help to dehumidify the incoming air,…

A Not-so-Technical Explanation of How Air Conditioning Works

The “Not-So-Technical” Explanation of How an Air Conditioner Works An air conditioner is basically a refrigerator without the insulated box. An air conditioner is doing exactly the same thing as your fridge, except it dumps the heat it takes out of the controlled area and dumps it outdoors instead of in your kitchen. To understand what goes on in the system, let’s start where the “freon” gas enters the compressor located typically in the outside…

Money & Energy Saving Air Conditioning Tips

Air Conditioners It might surprise you to know that buying a bigger room air-conditioning unit won’t necessarily make you feel more comfortable during the hot summer months. In fact, a room air conditioner that’s too big for the area it is supposed to cool will perform less efficiently and less effectively than a smaller, properly sized unit. This is because room units work better if they run for relatively long periods of time than if…

Cooling Equipment Efficiency Criteria

Air-Source Heat Pumps and Central Air Conditioner Key Product Criteria Equipment Specification Air-Source Heat Pumps >= 8.2 HSPF/ >=14 SEER/ >=11.5 EER* for split systems >= 8.0 HSPF/ >=14 SEER/ >=11 EER* for single package equipment including gas/electric package units Central Air Conditioners >=14 SEER/ >=11.5 EER* for split systems >=14 SEER/ >=11 EER* for single package equipment including gas/electric package units *Energy Efficiency Ratio Air-Source Heat Pump (ASHP): An air-source unitary heat pump model…

Central Air Conditioner Definitions

Air Conditioner: Assembly of equipment for the simultaneous control of air temperature, relative humidity, purity, and motion. Air Cooled: Uses a fan to discharge heat from the condenser coil to the outdoors. Air-Source: Air is being used as the heat source or heat sink for a heat pump. BTU: British Thermal Unit. The amount of energy needed to change the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. In practical terms, it represents…

Understanding Air Conditioning

Energy-Efficient Air Conditioning Are you considering buying a new air conditioner? Or, are you dissatisfied with the operation of your current air conditioner? Are you unsure whether to fix or replace it? Are you concerned about high summer utility bills? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this publication can help. With it, you can learn about various types of air conditioning systems and how to maintain your air conditioner, hire professional air…