Airconditioner

• When buying a new air conditioner, look for the Energy Guide (yellow label) attached to the unit and check the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). As a general rule for units with the same cooling capacity, a higher EER mean s more efficient unit and a lower operating cost.

• Choosing the right size of air conditioning unit for your room size can help you save on electricity. Oversized air conditioners are not energy efficient. With the right unit size, your air conditioner will operate properly for peak efficiency and would require low maintenance only. Follow the steps below and know the right size of air conditioner for your room.

 1. Determine the floor are (in square meters) of the room or space you want to install an 

air conditioner in. For example, the floor area of a room with a length of 5 meters and a width of 4 meters is 20 square meters.

 2. Use the formula below to estimate the required cooling capacity.

    Cooling capacity = size of the room (m2) x 500 kJ/hr – m2

    Substitute the computed floor area as the size of the room and 

then multiply this value by the constant 500kJ/hr – m2. The resulting value is the estimated cooling capacity of the

air conditioner that you need to install.

 3. Look for a unit with matching cooling capacity as 

shown on the Energy Guide. If the matching cooling capacity is not available,

choose the one with the next higher value.

 4. Get the highest Energy Efficiency Ration (EER) 

rating that your budget can afford. Remeber that the higher the EER,

the more savings you get from operating the unit.

• Install the aircon in a cool area. A unit operating in the shade uses 10 percent less electricity than the same unit operating in direct sunlight. Plant trees or construct coverings to provide shade for your aircon but be sure not to block the airflow.

• Check the insulation of your room. Spaces from windows, doors and the airconditioner installation point may cause cold air to leak or heat to enter the room, making the unit work harder to provide the needed cooling.

• Don't place lamps, televesion and other items, which can be a source of heat near your unit. The thermostat senses the heat given off by these items, causing your unit to run longer than necessary.

• Support your aircon's cooling performance by draping windows with curtains, blinds and other similar accesories to block the sun's rays. Consider also using an interior fan in conjunction with your airconditioner to help spread cool air more effectively consumption.

• Make sure that the thermostat is functioning correctly. Set your thermostat at the highest comfortable temperature as possible. A comfortable temperature setting is about 24 degrees Celsuis. Setting your thermostat at a colder setting han normal when turning your unit on will not help cool your room any faster. Rather, it could result in excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense.

• Set the fan speed on high, except on very humid days. When humidity is high, set the fan speed on humid days will cool your room better and will help remove moisture from the air because of slower air movement through the cooling equipment.

• Check the filter once a month by holding it up against the light. If you can't see through it, it's time to clean or replace the filter.

• Straighten any bent fins. Straightening the fins increases the efficiency of the air flow through the coils and adds to the overall cooling effect produced by the air conditioner.

• Regularly clean the condenser for your unit to eficiently expel the heat load of your airconditioned room.