We all face a variety of risks to health as we go about our day-to-day lives. Driving in cars, flying in planes, engaging in recreational activities, and being exposed to environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees of risk. Some risks are simply unavoidable. The good news is the quality of the air in your home is one risk that you can do something about and it can be as simple as changing your air conditioning filters.

When it comes to air pollution, there’s no place like home. Today, most homes are well insulated and air tight to keep the weather outside, but they also keep airborne contaminants inside that cause allergies. We spend as much as 90 percent of our time indoors where it can be polluted two to five times higher €”than outdoor levels.

As a result, the EPA has identified indoor air pollution as one of the top five urgent environmental risks to public health. This makes the performance of your air conditioning filters more crucial than ever.

The dust and dirt floating in the air and collecting on end tables and bookshelves is only a fraction of what’s actually swimming around in the air: an invisible mix of dust mites, pollen, pet dander, mold, and smoke that can be annoying to breathe and hazardous to your health and trigger allergic episodes. When your air conditioning filters are clogged because they haven’t been changed, the resulting poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

It is critical that you change your air conditioning filters on a regular schedule that fits your home’s environment. This seemingly small task can have a huge impact on your family’s overall health and wellness.

Now that ‘green’ building has become so popular, the heating and cooling industry has begun to offer an array of widely available, environmentally friendly air conditioners for both residential and commercial use. By replacing the old-fashioned cooling systems of yesterday with the innovative air conditioning and air cleaning systems of today, we can substantially reduce the amount of damage done by our desire for indoor climate control.  

Many well known and respected heating and cooling companies offer high-efficiency air conditioning models for the public consumer. Choose a manufacturer that you trust and check out the range of SEER ratings on their available air conditioning units.

While a highly efficient air conditioner may mean more cost up front, a consumer will save even more in the long term with reduced monthly energy costs. In addition to air conditioners with a high SEER rating that are still powered by the local electric company, there are other alternatives, such as solar powered air conditioners and even newer technologies are still in the works and being developed and tested everyday using a wide array of environmentally friendly, natural and non toxic materials.

Another way to keep the immediate environment friendly is through the use of air cleaners and purifiers, which remove toxic gases, allergens and harmful molds and bacteria from the air by implementing powerful filters and air exchange systems to reduce negative effects on the body and the surrounding physical environment.

For more info, get in touch with our friendly team at Airconco today.

Central Air Conditioners – this is made up of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. You can wash or change the air filter in the indoor unit according to its type. Wire filters can be washed, glass fibre filters have to be replaced. You should do this monthly during the hot season in order to maintain maximum performance and air quality.

You should also clean any dust or grease from the fan blades. Lightly oil the fan shaft and any bearings too. If your unit is belt driven make sure that the belt is not worn and that it is neither too tight nor too loose, which means that there should be some give, but that it should not be so free as to slip. Similar to a car’s fan belt. Degrease and cleanse the coil of tubing.

The outside system should be treated in the same way as the inside box, but you ought to also clear any undergrowth or rubbish from around it to permit an unobstructed airflow. If it is in direct sunlight while in operation, put up a lean-to to give it shade and shelter from rain and snow in the winter.

Split Air Conditioning Systems – the outdoor component should be serviced as above, but the indoor air handler is different as there is no fan pushing air through a structure of ducts. At least once a year, take out the internal filter and wash it or clean it according to the manufacturer’s handbook. If you do this often enough, you will not have to clean the coil.

If you miss a few maintenance sessions, wash the coil as above. Service the outside box as above as well.

Room Air Conditioners – take out the grille and clean or replace the filter at least once every summer. Filters can usually be washed three times and then should be replaced. If you fail to do this, you will have to clean the coil, as above. In the winter, cover the grille with cling film or a tarp, to prevent cold drafts.

The air conditioning assumption is true, to a point. Early air conditioners were power-guzzlers, and in many respects some modern models still are. Low-cost air conditioning equipment and ageing air equipment in apartment buildings can really push a power bill to the extremes, especially when used in effectively.

These three low-cost green solutions help you cut down on costs and protect the planet at the same time. No longer does cooling your bedroom have to heat the planet and bloat your power bill.

1. Use solar-powered air conditioning

For some office buildings, it’s already a reality. Solar air conditioning is currently in the works as a mass-marketed system, but some innovative homeowners have experienced it already. If you can’t wait until it hits the market, consider building your own solar power system.

2. Build your own air conditioner

While it’s unlikely that a home-made air conditioner will be particularly slick and polished, it can be a great way to save money. With some cold water, a fan, and some tubing, you can turn cooling the home into an environmentally friendly DIY project.

3. Always use the timer setting

Every minute that your air conditioner is left on is another wasted cent, mini-watt, or carbon micro-unit. When you’re outside the room, turn the cool air off. When you’re sleeping, switch it onto the timer setting. When you want to come home from work to cool air, configure your air conditioner to switch on five minutes before you arrive.

However, for many of the world’s more sun-friendly destinations, air conditioning is less of an option and much more of a necessity. Tropical night-time temperatures can regularly extend into the high 30s, making a sound night’s sleep almost impossible without help. These three air conditioning tips can make your night more comfortable, sound, and healthy, no matter where you are.

1. Keep temperatures consistent

If you’re coming towards the end of a hot day, keep the inside temperature relatively constant as you drift off to sleep. Dropping the temperature at night may help you get to sleep faster, but it can also lead to illness due to the sudden change in temperature. When in doubt, change the heat gradually.

2. Use a timer to save money

If you only need a moment’s air conditioning to help you drift off to sleep, set a timer so that the air conditioning unit isn’t on all night. A simple 30-minute window of cool air is often enough to fall asleep, and can end up saving you hundreds of dollars a year.

3. Clean your air conditioning filters

Air conditioners are designed to eliminate dust particles, but when unclean they can end up doing the exact opposite. Always keep your air conditioning filters clean and fresh, else you could end up with itchy skin or breathing issues.

The rationale behind the hotels is simple: consumers are smarter than ever, and few want to pay for things that aren’t used. Air conditioning may be an absolute requirements in ultra-hot countries such as Singapore or Mexico, but in Britain many travellers and homeowners consider it similarly to Tune Hotels, as an added extra.

With London’s residents and visitors experiencing a rather extreme cool dip this year, it’s clear that the lack of air conditioning may not be such a bad thing. However, summer temperatures regularly hover in the mid 20s, and London’s July weather has touched on 35 degrees in extreme conditions. Many travellers opting for ultra-cheap accommodation may find themselves blowing the budget when air conditioning becomes less of an option, and more of a necessity.

Nevertheless, it’s interesting to see businesses experimenting with “necessities” such as air conditioning as an optional extra. With the success of Tune Hotels in other countries – many of which experience extreme temperatures such as Malaysia – these air conditioning free rooms could end up being a smash hit amongst budget travellers and cost-cautious consumers.

Utilizing a number of advanced technologies, the system is designed to recreate the refreshing climate, fragrance and natural breezes of relaxing forest settings. It was developed based on the results of a joint research study with the Tokyo University of Science on the effects of aroma on human mental activity.

Along with the air-cleaning and temperature control effect of conventional car air conditioners, the new Forest AC system offers ‘additional control of air flow, humidity, aroma and other ambient factors that can influence the physiological state and senses of the driver and passengers.’ Wowzers.

Nissan say we’ll see Forest AC on the new Fuga scheduled to go on sale in the UK this year.

Spotify users were frustrated to discover that they couldn’t listen to music like normal, with constant ‘offline’ messages displayed despite users being clearly online. The company has now explained just what was going on at their London data centre to cause the fault.

“On Saturday evening there was a power outage at a large data site in London where we host some of our servers. The backup power kicked in as planned, however, one of the big air conditioners in the data centre did not start properly. Heat is a major issue in large data centres and without this cooling unit the temperature rose very quickly and our servers shut down to protect themselves from over heating.”

This is far from the first time that air conditioning faults have brought down web services (a similar problem affected Last.fm last year, for example). However, it’s a reminder of just how fragile the web services we rely on truly are.

Having windows open can cost you fuel, which pretty much everyone knows by now – but so can air conditioning, which can increase fuel consumption by 8-10%.

If it comes to decision of air con vs open window, it is more economical to open your windows up to speeds of around 55mph as running the a/c at low engine speed creates extra stress and demand resulting in increased fuel consumption. Above 55mph, it’s better to run the air con as opposed to the extra drag caused by open windows.

Every accessory that you use, even the rear screen demister or the radio drains power from the battery, which is charged by the fuel in your engine. Try to only use accessories for the minimum amount of time that you need.

Don’t forget that your car’s air con should be run for at least five minutes every fortnight (even if it’s not needed) to keep the system lubricated and free of leaks.