Archive for the ‘Tips’ Category

Air conditioning ‘increases productivity’ in the workplace

Thursday, October 14th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

Scientists have agreed that the temperature and humidity at the workplace has a direct impact on the productivity of employees.
If the room is too hot, employees are more likely to feel sleepy and their concentration level drops dramatically. On the other hand, very low temperature leads to illnesses and complaints. In order to keep your employees awake and focused longer, the room should be cooled to the temperature around 20 or 21 degrees.

However, not every air conditioner meets the basic requirements and may be unsuitable for the office with regards to the size or functions. As employers are responsible for the health of their staff, it is important for them to choose the air conditioning carefully.

As we specialise in air conditioning maintenance and portable air conditioning, here are some valuable tips on how to choose the right air conditioner for your office.

Type
Portable, fitted, cooler, fan; there are many types you can pick from. The important thing you need to consider is how, where and for how long you want to use it. If you need a temporary cooling system, you can just hire one for a limited period and save money.

Size
Contrary to the common belief, bigger is not necessarily better. Oversized air conditioning unit may consume more energy than it actually needs, which will reflect on your next bill. Nevertheless, if the unit is too small it will not be able to cool the room properly. The best thing to do is to seek an advice of a specialist.

Maintenance
A lot of people neglect the maintenance and thus considerably shorten the air conditioning’s lifespan, not talking about increasing its consumption of energy. Professional maintenance not only saves you money but also makes sure the unit works well for longer period of time.

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How to save energy and money

Friday, October 1st, 2010, by Richard Salmon

How to save energy and money

save-money1In the previous post, we highlighted some main points why using the air conditioning is good for you. Now, we bring you several suggestions how to use it while saving your money and the energy at the same time.

Choose your air conditioner carefully

Not every air conditioner is the same. When you decide to buy one you should consider what size and type you actually need. A bigger unit is not necessarily the better, depends on how large the area you want to cool is. The basic rule to remember is that an average air conditioner needs 20 Btu for cooling each square foot.

Simple maintenance can boost effectiveness

Don’t worry; you don’t have to have any special technical skills to do that. If you just check the filter once in a while and change when it’s too dusty, you can save up to 15% of your energy consumption.  Also, make sure nothing blocks the vents and they are clean without any unnecessary dust on them. For any other problems, our air conditioning maintenance can always help you.

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Isolate, isolate, isolate!
Again, simple yet effective. Close all that can be closed: windows, doors, draw drapes, storm windows, blinders, and fireplace dumpers etc. It helps the air conditioner to work much faster and thus it consumes less energy.

What else can help?

If you have fans do not be afraid to use them.  Although they cannot replace air conditioners they may help to speed up the process which results in less energy consumption.  Plus, by using passive cooling techniques, such as ventilation or shading, you can be sure that the number on your next energy bill will be considerably lower.

We hope that these tips will help to save both the energy and your money. If you need more information all you have to do is to head right to Airconco.com. Whether you need one or 1,000 air conditioners delivered in just hours to your offices, shop, school or hotel – call us for a worry-free, competitive, tax-efficient and friendly service.

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Some Air Conditioning Tips To Help You Breathe Easy

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

As we specialise in air conditioning maintenance and even portable air conditioning, here are some tips for those looking into purchasing/hiring their first air conditioner, or for seasoned cool customers…

AIR CON EQUALS GOOD HEALTH

Invisible particles, pollen, and stale, languid air can make respiration more difficult, effectively reducing the amount of air inhale with each breath, leading to added stress on your respiratory system. A good air conditioning system can greatly enhance your air quality.

AIR CON CAN HELP YOUR BODY

The human body suffers when subjected to excessive temperatures, at either end of the scale. There are some real risks in hot temperature situations, notably dehydration, and you can burn up calories at a very high rate. If it’s too cold, the loss of heat makes your body work harder to maintain temperature levels, causing progressive loss of energy. Air conditioning gives you added control over these situations.

AIR CON ISN’T JUST A LUXURY COMFORT

The “comfort zone” is no myth. The temperatures at which you’re most comfortable are your environmental optimum range. People’s comfort zones tend to vary slightly, some preferring a little extra cool, some happier with a few degrees extra warmth. Comfort zones can be helped by air conditioning. You can customize your environment to suit your tastes, creating your own optimum conditions helping to reduce bodily stress.

For more information on air conditioning, head to Airconco.com. Whether you need one or 1,000 air conditioners delivered in just hours to your offices, shop, school or hotel – call us for a worry-free, competitive, tax-efficient and friendly service.

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Sharp Drop In Temperature Linked To Heart Failure

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010, by Richard Salmon

We hear about ‘medical breakthroughs’ all the time yet this one caught our eye which we noticed in Reuters news, especially as winter approaches fast and we send our fans for a routine air conditioning service in readiness for spring. British research has shown that  when temperatures dropped just one degree Celsius (1.8 Fahrenheit) on a given day, there were an additional 200 heart attacks in the UK over the next month.

Neither flu nor air pollution could explain the association, according to the British Medical Journal.

“As it gets colder, think about limiting the time outside,” said researcher and doctoral student Krishnan Bhaskaran, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

“Elderly people and those with heart disease were at highest risk and should pay extra attention to their clothing if they plan to spend time in wintry weather.”

It isn’t particularly clear from the data how lower temperatures would trigger heart attacks though boffins have suggested that cooling could increase blood clotting and make the blood thicker, or increase blood pressure.

Based on hospital records for more than 84,000 people who had suffered heart attacks, they calculated that every one-degree temperature drop on a given day was linked to a two percent risk increase over the next month. So with 146,000 heart attacks every year in the UK, just a few degrees of cold would equate to several hundred extra cases.

Great! With such er

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How Much Energy Does an Air Conditioner Use?

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

Malaysia’s ‘cheapest’ hotel – the Air Asia branded ‘Tune Hotels’ – offer an interesting pricing model. Rooms are incredibly inexpensive – often very close to free – and offer minimal comforts. Air conditioning, excess electricity, and other ‘luxuries’ are charged on their own, with visitors presented a bill upon checkout.

The two-tier pricing makes it seem as if air conditioning is a taxing extra expense, costing hotels thousands of dollars monthly. In reality, an air conditioning service is relatively cost-effective, and certainly not the power guzzler that many people believe it to be.

American air conditioning company AeroSys were one of several to learn that air conditioning must be cheap, after their units were withdrawn from the market due to excess electricity usage. Despite the cost-inflating behaviour of ageing air conditioning units, newer air conditioners are required to maintain a certain power level by law.

This leaves the actual cost of air conditioning at very low rates. When used correctly, an effective air conditioner can cool an entire home for less than two pounds daily. Energy conservation advocates claim that expensive power bills are often the result of air conditioning misuse, not the unit itself.

Small changes such as fan strength and room temperature can greatly influence electricity usage, with high-power fans and extreme temperatures drawing more power than moderate use. The message for consumers is clear – air conditioning isn’t expensive, except when used ineffectively. With the right strategy, air conditioning can be a cooling method no more expensive than the average ceiling fan.

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3 Ways to Keep Your Car Cool Without Air Conditioning

Thursday, June 24th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

Every driver has experienced the ‘car oven’ phenomenon. You set off to work on a warm day only to realise that your low-end car lacks air conditioning. Next time you find yourself caught out in an ageing or low-cost automobile, don’t despair. Now, off course we’re total buffs when it comes to air conditioning but although it’s mightily important on a grand scale, it isn’t actually the be-all and end-all. These three tactics can help you keep the car cool, crisp, and comfortable for your commute or long distance journey.

1. Crack your windows, and crank up the fan Inside the New Car by Chris Campbell.

Fan systems are most effective when combined with a source of fresh, cool air. For most car owners, that means a slightly opened window. Don’t open it all the way if it’s warm outside – just crack the window and let a small amount of fresh air enter the car.

2. Store ice in the car

Unfortunately, it’s not quite as easy as popping down to the supermarket and dumping ice cubes in the car. By storing a container full of ice next to your car’s ventilation system, you’ll be able to cool and humidify the air without worrying about excess gas usage. This old-fashioned air conditioning method was popular in Arizona in the mid 20th century.

3. Apply window tints

Tinted windows don’t actively cool your car, but they do cut down on the amount of sunlight that can enter. By decreasing the transparency of your windows, you’ll let less light enter the car and quickly lower the overall temperature. Be careful – some country’s ban tinted windows, or apply limits to the transparency level of the glass.

And no air conditioning maintenance costs going forward…

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3 Common Air Conditioning Mistakes

Thursday, June 17th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

It’s quite common to see major mistakes taken with an air conditioning system, especially with regards to power usage and electrical efficiency. From basic filter mistakes to major errors in air conditioning unit placement, air conditioning blunders can cost a lot of money and cause even more problems.

These three mistakes pop up time and time again in air conditioning installations. If you’re aiming to keep costs down, it’s best to ensure you’re not making them yourself.

1. Changing the filter infrequently.

Air conditioning filters need to be changed regularly, else they’ll become inefficient and significantly increase the cost of running an air conditioning system. For tropical climates, it’s best to change them every month, and occasionally even more frequently. Drier climates can get by with less frequent changes – once every two or three months is generally okay.

2. Poor unit placement.

Positioning your air conditioning unit in a sunny section of the room will significantly increase the costs of cooling your home. Not only does the unit have to fight harder to cool the air, but your room will naturally increase it upon exiting the unit itself. Place your air conditioner somewhere energy efficient – dark areas and non-crowded parts of the room are best for air flow.

3. Pairing with a humidifier.

This error depends on your climate, but is generally a poor idea. When paired with a humidifier, it’s possible to waste energy and create an uncomfortable climate. Using two air appliances together isn’t a major problem,but is still best avoided for ideal energy efficiency.

If you’re not DIY-savvy and prefer a helping hand, get yourself an air conditioning service...

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Air Con in the Car – What’s the Deal?

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

The sun’s out, the shades are donned, and the A/C is is turned up to the max – instantly we’re feeling cooler – but at what cost?

There are plenty of myths and half-truths doing the rounds about how your vehicle’s resources are drained by aircon – so what’s the actual deal here?

The truth is this; the air conditioning in your car is powered by a compressor, which, when switched on, places extra load on a car’s engine. This ultimately has a negative affect on the overall performance and efficiency. You can expect a 5-10% increase in fuel consumption by switching the air conditioning system on. Not dramatic enough to install a portable air conditioning device, such as a fan, pointing at your face but enough to make a difference.

But there are ways to limit its inefficiency; climate control systems in cars also include an air conditioner which automatically varies the amount of air conditioning depending on specific temperature set by the driver. Should you have a car with climate control, pressing ‘econ’ should switch off the air conditioning compressor, allowing you to drive more economically.

Many car manufacturers recommend that you keep the air-conditioning system on constantly, even if you are not using it to produce cold air. By continually circulating the coolant within the system all the parts are kept lubricated and in working order.

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How To Avoid The Dreaded Sneeze At The Wheel

Monday, June 7th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

Is there anything scarier than sneezing at the wheel? Think about it; you’re travelling at 30mph, 40mph, 70mph, wherever you may be – and for a couple of seconds you totally blank out, effectively driving blindfolded. And that’s not including the dreaded double sneeze! By the time you regain your composure, you realise you’re careering towards the car in front or drifting across the next lane – it can be a fairly harrowing experience.

In fact, in excess of 2 million UK motorists (7 per cent) have had an accident, near miss, or momentarily lost control of their car as a result of sneezing while driving, whilst almost 60% have, at some point, looked away from the road to search for a tissue. But did you know that air conditioning can help?

According to Kwik-Fit, a car’s air conditioning system can provide a defence against pollen, but to be effective the system needs an air conditioning service regularly and the pollen filter changed at least once a year, even more so if the car is often parked under trees.

“All too often, air conditioning units are ignored from one summer to the next,” says David White, customer services director at Kwik-Fit, “But air-con is most efficient if it’s used frequently and serviced regularly.

“As the weather gets warmer, motorists quickly realise that their air-con isn’t functioning as well as it could. But if you’re a hay fever sufferer with a fit of the sneezes, the incentive to have your system serviced is even greater – the benefits aren’t to be sniffed at.”

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Lofts and Attics: The Forgotten Air Conditioning Areas

Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010, by Richard Salmon

We all remember high school physics classes, right? Warm air rises, and just like many other scientific truths conveniently ignored by homeowners, this one comes with some real-life added effects: an annoyingly toasty temperature in your loft.

A growing number of UK residents are enjoying the warm air on offer in summer by converting their otherwise stuffy attics into full-scale loft living rooms and bedrooms. While most stick to the basic conversions and additions – a small sofa, TV set, or fold-out bed – a range of UK do-it-yourself fans are investing a lot more time, and some serious money, into their lofts. Loft by someToast.

Of course, there’s one part of renovating a loft that’s often ignored: the temperature. Even in the UK’s crisp climate, warm air tends to rise upwards through the house towards the loft or attic space. In homes with insulation, the air difference can be quite noticeable, particularly when the loft itself is only used as a relaxation or living area.

There’s a clear solution, though. Air conditioning service units are available for a range of spaces and room sizes, and loft owners are often let off the hook when it comes to price. With small attic rooms and living spaces, the cost of a full-power air conditioner can be remarkably low.

So save yourself from sweating this summer with an air conditioning unit for the new loft living space. Inexpensive, quiet, and ultra-convenient, an air conditioner is the perfect addition to any stylish loft living space.

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