Air conditioning is necessary for comfort at the home or office, irrespective of weather conditions.

Various studies have proved people working indoors need comfortable conditions and give their peak performance when the atmosphere around is pleasant. Usually, 22 degree centigrade (or 72° F) is the recommended temperature level. People performing physically or mentally challenging tasks give their best performance if the room temperatures are right.

Air conditioning for total comfort is now a practical cooling option in the following areas where it was impossible in past years:

•    Industrial Estates
•    Low-Rise Residential buildings (single-family houses and smaller apartments)
•    Commercial buildings (offices, restaurants and shopping centres)
•    Institutional buildings (hospitals and government offices)

Air conditioning systems are also now used in cars, trains, aircraft, ships and other modes of transportation.
Apart from purchasing a branded system, it is important to maintain it well. The servicing of your air conditioner usually comprises cleaning the fans, oiling the fans and motors, checking the compressor, checking the temperature level, cleaning the blowers and checking the operating pressure of the system.

With a regular and systematic maintenance cycle, your air conditioning system will generally not suffer major breakdowns and last a long time. Your air conditioner unit will lose roughly 5 percent of its efficiency every year if you do not maintain it well.

If your air conditioning system is not giving the desired level of cooling, it is necessary to deal with the problem at the earliest opportunity, to avoid future hassles. You can check for the probable causes of the malfunction and get them fixed with the help of professionals.

Here are some problems faced by your air conditioning system and ways to deal with them.

The first step is to check if air filters have become dirty. If that is the case, the filters well might be restricting airflow. If air filters are regularly cleaned, the evaporator coil will not face any obstacles.

Freeze up is also a possibility if the unit is low on refrigerant or there is a refrigerant leakage. An air conditioning technician can locate and fix the leak, then recharge the refrigerant

Here are some steps to keep your air conditioner running:

•    Make sure the fan v-belt has not become loose or cracked.
•    If the condenser is not working to its optimum level, get it cleaned thoroughly.
•    When cleaning the condenser, switch off the power first.
•    Sometimes because of a broken fuse, the system may simply not switch on. The manual includes instructions to replace it.

You may overlook the importance of air conditioner covers, but they are one of the key air conditioner accessories, which a user must provide for the safety of the unit.

Remember, it is very important that your air conditioning unit is kept far away from sources of extreme heat in order to ensure its efficiency. The outdoor component or outside portion of the air conditioning unit must be properly protected from the sun. Air conditioner covers are important because they play a major role in protecting the air conditioner from the excessive heat of the sun, which would have a negative impact on their operating cycle.

The covers also protect the unit from dust, leaves and other harmful intruding objects, which may be sucked in by the blower or fan. An air conditioner cover protects the unit even during winter. It is advisable that the unit is safely stored during the cold season, but if you do not have the necessary storage area - since it would occupy a lot of precious space in your office or home - having them covered helps.

The air conditioner covers are vital accessories to keep them safe and to ensure their long life.

Demand for air conditioners has only increased over the years. This can be attributed to changing weather patterns, including increasing heat and humidity, as well as stressful working conditions.

People cannot afford to get distracted when at work. If the office ambience is not pleasant, employees are bound to make errors, resulting in poor productivity and cramped margins. Also, once you are back at home from a hectic day, you want to unwind and relax. Whichever way you look at them, air conditioners are now a necessity for many people.

What has increased the popularity of the air conditioning systems is the fact that they have become extremely cost-effective, energy efficient and thus affordable, bringing them within reach of all buyers. There are air conditioners suitable for both home and office.

Traditional air conditioning devices, which are used in homes and offices, are the fixed type. They can be installed on walls. Its condensers are generally located outside of the room where the units are installed. There is another type of air conditioner, which is fast gaining in popularity - the portable air conditioner. The portable air conditioner is very convenient as it can be moved anywhere it is needed.

The importance of the role played by modern-day air conditioning in delivering cool air and comfort to the occupants cannot be understated. People often work in stressful conditions and do not need heat to add to their problems. If workers are not comfortable, they tend not to be as productive.

Indeed, if the office air is not comfortable, employees are unable to give their one hundred per cent effort, making them less efficient. So air conditioners and office performance share a close connection. The better the efficiency of an air conditioner, the better the output of the employees will be. The same can be said of the situation in the home.

If the home environment is not comfortable, you will not be able to experience that soothing feeling when you get home from work and want to relax. This is exactly the reason why invariably every commercial establishment, office and even many homes have an air conditioning system.

In previous years, an air conditioner was thought to be a luxury item only for those who could afford the cost of owning one. Not all families and office owners wanted to get one. But things have rapidly changed. This has become possible because of several innovations in the industry, leading to newer models that cater to every category of buyer. Treat air conditioning as an investment, and enjoy the cool air.

As seasons change so does the weather, and constant weather changes can lead to various ailments and discomfort. However, you can always keep the environment at home under control. All you need is an air conditioning unit.

Air conditioners help maintain a stable temperature and help you deal with changing weather conditions. Indeed, air conditioners keep your home cool in humid weather and can filter the air so it is higher quality as well. Air conditioners are widely used all over the world and the UK is known to have the highest number of air conditioning units. With changing weather conditions it is a must that you maintain the temperature at your home for your health as well as comfort.

If you plan on buying an air conditioning unit it is a must that you do your research beforehand. There are a few things you must keep in mind before you make a purchase:

- The brand: always opt for a renowned brand, this ensures quality products
- The make: check out which make best suits you, a good air conditioning company will be able to help advise you
- The warranty/guarantee: it is always good to have a product backed with a warranty or guarantee for a reasonable period of time

If you do not want to make an outright purchase you could opt for an air conditioning unit on hire. There are many companies offering air conditioning units for hire.

Electronic equipment must be serviced regularly to maintain its efficiency. Your air conditioning unit is no exception. It will start losing about 5% of its efficiency every year if you do not service it regularly. On the other hand, if you maintain it well on a regular basis, the unit will retain its efficiency for a longer period. This will also mean that your unit will consume less electricity, which will ultimately result in lower electricity bills.

Servicing of an air conditioning unit includes checking of the compressor, cleaning of the blowers and fan coils, oiling the fan motors and checking the system operating temperatures and pressures. Your contractor must not use a brush or vacuum to clean the blowers and fan coils because using a brush will release dirt in the air, which can cause breathing problems. The evaporator coil must be checked and cleaned on a regular basis.

Home or office owners who continue to use very old air conditioners can save precious energy and money by opting for a new air conditioning unit. Remember, an air conditioner must have the requisite minimum seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). You must look for an Energy Star sticker that gives the energy efficiency rating.

By following the simple steps below, you can save the energy costs of your air conditioning unit:

Operate the ceiling fan simultaneously or in conjunction with a window air conditioner. This will spread cool air more evenly and more effectively throughout the area and help the smooth operation of the air conditioner.

Ensure that the doors and windows are sealed properly.

 Leave enough space between the walls and your air conditioner to allow better air circulation.

 Set your air conditioner thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer season. The less the difference between the outdoor and indoor temperatures, the lower will be the air conditioner’s energy consumption.

Do not set the thermostat at a colder setting than what is considered normal especially when you switch on your air conditioning system. If you think it will cool your home faster, this is a common misconception

 Do not place electric lamps or television sets near the air-conditioning thermostat. It senses the extreme heat emitted by these appliances. This can cause your air conditioner to exert much more energy than necessary.

You should keep in mind the various factors that go into the selection of an appropriate air conditioner for your home or office. For example, while buying an air conditioner, you need to consider the size of the room in which the unit is going to be installed. The air conditioner capacity should be in proportion to the area to be cooled by it.

If a unit with a lower capacity is installed in a big room, it will have to work extra hard to cool the room, thus increasing the load on it. Even though larger air conditioners cost more, they are beneficial in the long run. There are ways to establish the cooling capacity of an air conditioner.

To keep your air conditioner in proper working condition, it is important to get it serviced and inspected by a professional on a regular basis. Ideally, an annual servicing of the air conditioning unit should be done. Regular maintenance of your air conditioner system will not only ensure a cool, comfortable ambience, but also reduced energy bills.

Remember, it is also necessary to spend more on your air conditioning system’s accessories to guarantee the quality.

The way your air conditioning unit dries your home or office area is by removing moisture present in the air. That must go somewhere! The moisture is flushed out through its condensation on the cold refrigeration coils and then allowing it to run down a drain pan.

Most air conditioning systems make use of a PVC pipe to drain out the water to a floor drain or sink. Often the problem is the accumulation of dirt. It will clog the drain line and also clog the pan. This problem will eventually crop up in your air conditioning system, unless it is taken care of in time. This may make a terrible mess of the whole cooling process and make it seem like your system is losing efficiency. It really is not the case. The problem is rather quite easy to fix.

Just take a wet dry vacuum to clean up the unit’s drain line. In a majority of cases, this will be enough to fix the problem. If the drain pan has become really dirty, you will need to take the covers off the air conditioning unit and then vacuum it out. In some cases you may even have to make use of compressed air, nitrogen or CO2 so as to blow out the drain line to clear the dirt.