Most people think that an air conditioner is only something that is needed in hot countries. Of course, it is beneficial when the weather is hot but it can serve a much greater purpose.
In fact, air conditioning units are very effective at removing pollutants from the air and reducing the appearance and impact of mold in your home
The great thing about air conditioners is that they can also be easily converted into heaters, allowing you to benefit from the right temperature in your home regardless of what time of year it is.
The problem is that there are so many different air conditioning units available, choosing the right one is a difficult process. Just take a look at the offerings from Axiflow to see how many products are available.
Sizing Your Air Conditioner
The size of your air conditioner is directly related to the size of the space you are attempting to cool. If you don’t purchase a large enough unit then you’ll never be able to cool the room effectively or efficiently.
Of course, if you purchase one that is too big this won’t be an issue but you are wasting money when purchasing it and are likely to find it is less efficient than it could be.
Moisture can also be a problem. A large air conditioner will lower the temperature of your room quickly. However, in this process, it will not remove the humidity that goes with it. Your room will be left feeling cool but clammy and it will attract mould and other bacteria.
To calculate the right size air conditioner you need to calculate the space you have available in your room.
Multiply the length of the room by the width and then by the height. This will give you a measurement in cubed feet. You can then compare it to this chart:
|
Size in Cubed Feet |
Capacity – BTU per hour |
|
100 – 150 |
5,000 |
|
150 – 250 |
6,000 |
| 250 – 300 |
7,000 |
|
300 – 350 |
8,000 |
|
350 – 400 |
9,000 |
| 400 – 450 |
10,000 |
| 450 – 550 |
12,000 |
| 550 – 700 |
14,000 |
Other Factors
While this is a great starting point you will need to consider several other factors before deciding on the right air conditioner:
- Sunlight
The amount of sun entering a room can seriously affect the temperature of the room. If your room is likely to receive a lot of sunlight then it is best to use the cubed feet size of the one above yours in the chart.
- Usage
You should also consider how much a room is used. If you are just cooling one room and people are walking in and out all day then it will be very difficult for the air conditioner to keep the temperature where you want it. This is mess of a problem if you have air conditioning units around the home or a central unit with ducting into each room.
Don’t forget that if you are cooling just one room you’ll need to keep the doors shut to allow your air conditioner to work properly. Think carefully before you commit to a specific air conditioner.
