How many times on hot days have you regretted not having an air conditioner? And after the summer heat, they wanted to get into the cool, and not into a stuffy room. And finally, the selected product at home is already installed. A new purchase will change your life, make it more comfortable.
Nevertheless, the air conditioner is not the simplest climatic equipment, it still needs to be dealt with. We will try to explain in a simple and accessible way how it works, how to set the air conditioner for cold air, and much more.
Here you will find detailed step-by-step instructions for transferring the operation of the climate system from one operating mode to another. Our tips will help you create the ideal microclimate in the treated room. By adhering to our recommendations, you will prevent breakdowns and premature wear of equipment.
The content of the article:
- Functional capabilities of air conditioners
- The principle of operation of the system for cooling
- Remote Control Keys and Functions
- Cold air switching process
- Temperature range tips
- Recommendations for the operation of a split system
- Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Functional capabilities of air conditioners
Air conditioners have long been included in our daily life and have become the same everyday attributes as an iron, refrigerator or washing machine.
Being one of the most popular and demanded types of climatic technology, which is designed to create more comfortable and favorable living conditions, the device is widely used in private houses and city apartments, in offices and cars.
Depending on the functionality, professionals distinguish between split systems performing:
- cooling only;
- lowering the temperature and heating;
- service at low and high temperatures;
- special abilities.
The last point combines aromatization and humidification, ionization, additional air purification and other functions. In addition to the coarse filter, which is located in all units without exception, additional filters are produced that provide fine cleaning.
On bio and carbon filters, ultraviolet and electrostatic, depending on the filter element, not only microscopic particles of dirt and pollen are destroyed, but also viruses, bacteria and spores fungi.
Air conditioners with ionization, saturating the air with ions, make it look like a natural composition that forms after a thunderstorm or near a waterfall
However, in addition to medical advice, the use of ionized air mass for allergies or asthma, there are also categorical prohibitions for patients prone to oncology, pneumonia or heart attack. Therefore, this function should be used carefully, especially in dirty rooms.
Also, the ionization process can be considered by additional filtration of fine purification. The ionizer is placed in the body of the indoor unit, where negative ions are formed after the decay of water vapor.
Spreading around the room, they have an antibacterial effect, eliminate tobacco smoke and other unpleasant odors (purification from tobacco smoke will take 5-10 minutes, from bacteria - about three hours).
The process of humidifying air in a room can be carried out either by simple use of a steam generator or by placing a humidifying component in an outdoor unit, or by using ultrasound.
The principle of operation of the system for cooling
Everything air conditioners and split systems differ in power, design and installation principle, price and manufacturer. However, each operates according to the same scheme and consists of two radiators, an evaporator and a condenser, a compressor and a valve.
Between them, moving through copper pipes, freon with compressor oil circulates in a circle. The principle by which all existing air conditioners operate is based on the property of liquids: during evaporation - heat absorption, during condensation - its release.
Freon is used as a liquid with a low boiling point.
It is a mistake to consider refrigerant and freon synonyms, freon is used in different industries, and not only freons are refrigerants. The amount of freon in the air conditioner depends on the length of the track, 15-30 grams are laid for each meter, depending on the type of substance
The main signs of a leak are: a decrease in efficiency, freezing of the valves of the outdoor unit and oily smudges.
From the evaporator indoor unit gaseous freon through copper pipes enters the external compressor, which raises the pressure and temperature (from 15 to 80 degrees). Then it enters the condenser, where it is cooled. Then, releasing heat absorbed in the room, it turns into a liquid state.
Freon moves to the evaporator through a thermoregulating capillary and, returning to the gaseous stage, removes heat. Thus, the air passing through the evaporator cools down, and the room receives the long-awaited coolness.
In cold-heat air conditioners, the reverse process takes place, freon (due to the presence of a special valve) moves in the opposite direction. In such a situation, the indoor unit heats the airwhile the outer one cools.
Remote Control Keys and Functions
The mode of cooling the air in the room is a key task, usually because of it, the air conditioner is purchased. The split-system is controlled by commands sent from the microcircuit unit in the remote control. Various manufacturers produce a large number of all kinds of remote controls, but despite the design, the buttons and functions remain unchanged.
As practice shows, the majority of consumers use only a few necessary keys to change:
- operating mode (Mode);
- temperature (Temp);
- fan speed (Fan);
- the position of the blinds (Swing).
Nevertheless, well-known manufacturers are trying to bypass competitors and add new features, some of which have already won their audience. For example, in the event of a malfunction, the air conditioner signals with an inscription (“self-diagnosis” function), in case of an empty room the device includes a sleep mode ("motion sensor"), as well as ionization, anti-allergic air purification and the function Wi-fi.
The remote controls are wired and infrared, the former are used to control semi-industrial and industrial units, the latter are used for ordinary household air conditioners.
One wired remote control can configure from 4 to 8 settings via a microcable. A simple DPU is produced according to commercial samples, but if necessary, you can purchase a universal remote control, using a code to activate and control any model.
The developers strive to simplify the labeling on the buttons so that any user can understand the functions air conditioner: a snowflake indicates a decrease in temperature, the sun is heating, an asterisk is a sleep mode, a clock is a timer and etc.
The panel controls the parameters and modes of the air conditioner, corrects the direction of the air masses. Replace both batteries if brightness and responsiveness decrease. The distance between the remote control and the indoor unit of the device should not exceed 8 meters.
Cold air switching process
All household devices, including climatic ones, are continuously being improved and modernized. Even the most ordinary average air conditioner has a considerable set of various modes, but the main one is cooling.
Almost every consumer, after purchasing the device, faced the problems of setting up the air conditioner and the questions of how to switch from heat to cold and vice versa. Only the correct setting and the correct set temperature will ensure the most efficient operation of the system.
To turn on the air conditioner for cooling, follow several steps:
- we connect the device to the network, plug into the socket;
- click on “on / off”, the blinds open;
- switch the “mode” key several times, until the snowflake appears or the “cool“;
- select the desired temperature value using the up and down arrows “temp”;
- adjust, if necessary, the position of the blinds and the fan speed with the “far” and “swing” keys.
In a conventional air conditioner, after reaching the desired temperature, the outdoor unit stops operating until the air is warmed up again.
Inverter air conditioners outperform conventional split systems not only in terms of the accuracy of the set temperature, but also by significant energy savings (up to 30%), due to the lack of numerous starting loads
V inverter devices the compressor does not turn off, but slows down, thanks to small, imperceptible temperature fluctuations, comfort is created and more accurate temperature parameters are provided.
Temperature range tips
Escaping the heat in summer, you turn on the split system for cooling.
In this case, one must not forget about the elementary rules so as not to make it a source of colds:
- the temperature difference between the room and the street should not exceed 3-5 degrees;
- it is advisable not to set a low temperature of 16-17 degrees;
- lowering the temperature should be carried out gradually;
- avoid a long stay in three-meter risk zones.
It is recommended to cool the room step by step, avoiding contrasting drops and lowering the temperature by 2-3 degrees once every half hour. The maximum difference with external indicators in extreme heat is allowed 7-10 degrees. If possible, set values in the comfortable range of 20-24 degrees.
At night, the temperature should be raised by 1-2 degrees, activating the "sleep mode" or doing it manually. The mode is developed based on the study of human biorhythm fluctuations during sleep, characterized by a decrease in fan speed to a minimum, and, as a result, energy saving
It would be appropriate to use different speeds of the shaft or "pumping", for uniform distribution of cooled air (in any modern model there are at least three options). It should be noted that when the Fan and Turbo modes are turned on, the temperature on the air conditioner is set automatically and is not regulated.
Recommendations for the operation of a split system
Climate technology helps us out in the hot summer months, cools our apartments and houses, and in order to keep the split systems in good condition and for a long time, it is reasonable to heed the following recommendations.
Tip # 1. When choosing an air conditioner, take seriously the calculation of the power of the required equipment.
When calculating, it is necessary to take into account the area of the room, the number of people living, the presence of heat-generating devices and other parameters, but the base value should be taken as a number equal to the area divided by ten.
In practice, the power consumption is three times less than the cooling power; in fact, the air conditioner is a refrigeration device that moves the cold. For this reason, it is economically more profitable to heat the room with an air conditioner, and not with electric heaters.
In any case, for the effective use of a split system, you need to purchase an air conditioner with a capacity corresponding to the specified area of the room.
When installing the air conditioner on the sunny south side, we add the load on the compressor, indoor and outdoor units of the system, without taking into account the sufficiently significant input of solar heat. According to experts, if the inflow on the north side is 100 W, then on the southeast side it will be 400 W per 1 sq. m. window opening
Tip # 2. Do not place the air conditioner units on the sunny side. Under the sun's rays, the temperature sensor on the case will heat up and show values that do not correspond to reality. In addition, the air conditioner loses additional energy by neutralizing excess heat.
The best solution would be to use blackout curtains or blinds in the apartment, and install visor for protection from the sun (from snow in winter) over the outdoor unit of the system.
Tip # 3. Do not turn on the air conditioner for heating at temperatures below freezing.
All modern models have a limiting temperature range, for cooling it is from -5 and +18 degrees (for various systems) to the upper limit of +43. The limitation of use is associated with a change in the physical characteristics of compressor oil and freon at minus indicators, and compressor wear within 2-3 years.
Tip # 4. Be sure to ventilate the room, but with the air conditioner off. It is a mistake to think that an ordinary air conditioner cools the fresh air coming from the street, and pushes the used air out of the room. Only window and duct units have the ability to add fresh air to the total volume (up to 30%).
Based on the value of the main technical parameter of channel air conditioners, the equipment is subdivided into low-, medium- and high-pressure. The former, with short air ducts, are often installed in hotels, the latter - in homes and offices, the powerful latter in halls and supermarkets
The split system can only cool and heat, move the same air masses in a closed room in a circle. Usually, the air conditioner is used with closed windows and doors, so as not to waste electricity, which, on the other hand, entails the accumulation of carbon dioxide.
Therefore, it is necessary to ventilate the room every few hours (with the air conditioner off) for about 15 minutes.
Tip # 5. Clean and change filters regularly. The accumulation of dust on the filters leads to the growth of bacteria and additional stress on the air conditioner. Modern models of devices are equipped with several filters for coarse and fine cleaning.
The main filter is designed to protect the parts of the indoor unit from dirt and prevent clogging of the system; the wear of the air conditioner as a whole depends on its quality. It is a metal or plastic mesh that can be easily cleaned with soapy water.
Fine filters are produced in a large assortment and are changed by maintenance technicians.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
In summer, freshness and chill are important to us, but in winter we want warmth. A split system can help us:
If the air conditioner suddenly stops cooling the air, you may need this video:
As we can see, in order to enjoy the chilled air, it is not enough to press a few buttons. To get cool and comfortable at home, and not a cold and malfunction of the device, you need to perform a whole range of tasks for installing, configuring and maintaining an air conditioner.
If the information in the article was useful to you or gave you an interesting idea, share your ideas in the comments. Tell us about how you personally adjusted the air conditioner to supply cold air. In the block below you can ask a question and post photos.
