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Which is the best room for placement of an air conditioner?

It should be installed wherever it will give you and your family the most comfort.

If you only have one air conditioner then we usually suggest the bedroom. This is because most people find that if they can sleep comfortably during a hot summer night then their next day’s work will be a lot easier.

Consequently, getting through your regular workday routine becomes a lot easier knowing there is an air conditioner at home. You know you will be able to go home after work and relax and unwind in the comfort of a room of cool air. It certainly becomes something to look forward to, all day long.

Not everyone will want to install the air conditioner in the bedroom. Some people do not like a cool sleeping environment. Therefore these types will tend to place it in a living room or family room.

The elderly in particular seem to prefer the living room for their air conditioners. This is because since many of them are retired, they spend most of their time in the living room. During the hottest days of summer they may not leave their homes for days. Therefore being able to enjoy the day in a cool environment becomes more important to them than being cool at night.

Some people will place the air conditioner in the family room. They install it there because it is larger than any single bedroom. For this reason the whole family can sleep there without feeling confined. Consider getting out the sleeping bags and turn it into an adventure for the young ones. Beats installing it into the master bedroom and then waking up in the morning to find a dog, cat, and four kids in the bed with you.

A window air conditioner can be noisy, which may disturb sleep. If you are a light sleeper the bedroom might not be the best placement. Others find the drone of the fan actually promotes sleep. Once most people become used to the sound of the air conditioner they begin to find it soothing. This is because all the neighbourhood noises are drowned out. Some people say the air conditioner works as well as a sleeping pill.

…Air conditioners will not cool other rooms…

Whichever room you eventually pick don’t expect the impossible from you’re A/C. It is not meant to cool more than one room or one open area.

This is because the blower in a window air conditioner is not very powerful. It is sized to cool one open area, not a number of interconnected rooms. Therefore a couple of smaller units may be better for your home than one large unit.

If more than one air conditioner is to be installed it is generally most efficient to place them at opposite end of the home, but on the same floor. Placing one on each floor will only give localized cooling. Instead, try cooling one floor with the multiple units.

Generally the upper floors need more cooling because the warm air within the home will rise.

Another method to try is to run the air conditioners while operating the furnace fan. Set furnace thermostat to ‘fan only’ setting. Start air conditioners and allow to operate as per normal. This method works well if an air conditioner is operating near the cold air return. Furnace fan will pick up cold air and circulate through other rooms. Normally suggested to close all unnecessary room vents, such as in basement, hallways, and bathrooms.

…Avoid extension cords…

Wherever the air conditioner is placed it will need direct access to an electric wall receptacle. Install the air conditioner so that it is very close to the electric supply.

Do not be tempted to use an extension cord. Do not use a power bar.

If an extension is the only option a proper appliance extension cord must be purchased. An average household extension cord will not work. The air conditioner may initially operate on a household cord but it will damage the compressor. The voltage drop within an average cord is too high. This will force the air conditioner to start at a reduced voltage.

Running an air conditioner on a household extension cord can cause it to overheat. When this happens it can become a fire hazard.

…Don’t forget Security…

Lastly, remember to place and install to allow proper security of the air conditioner into the window. Once installed a piece of wood to stop the window from being lifted up is a good idea. If you have wooden windows the simple addition of a wood screw into the stile at the top of the raised window will only take a minute.

Otherwise an intruder could gain access to the house by lifting the window and letting the A/C fall out. This could result in the loss of both your valuables and the air conditioner.
Mounting on a lower floor gives less security since an intruder would have easier access than on an upper level.

If your home has a security system you may need to contact your security provider. You may need to obtain a special security cable that stops alarm from going off because the window is in a raised position. Others attach a special security cable to the air conditioner body and then to the alarm sensors. In this way if either the air conditioner or window is tampered with the alarm will sound.

If installing in an apartment building window consider a model that comes with a mounting bracket. This is a flat metal bracket that sits on the window sill, under the air conditioner. It supports the air conditioner from beneath. It makes it less likely to fall out of the window, plus the extra support it provides makes it is easier to install. It is not uncommon for people to forget the window holds the air conditioner in place. It only takes a few seconds to lift the window, and have it fall out of window to the ground below.

Copyright 2006 by Donald Grummett. All right reserved.
His website gives you access to Stain Removal tips, Industry News, and FAQuestions about household appliances. Plus a Recycling guide, and his always informative Newsletters. Let him help you via his always informative website at http://www.mgservices.ca

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An air conditioners primary job is to remove moisture from the room to give us a feeling of comfort. During this process they create a lot of water. How much, is dependent upon humidity in the air, size of the air conditioner, its operating efficiency, and whether it was properly installed.

Water removed from the air during operation falls down the cooling coil and drops into the base. From here it follows channels or passages to the rear of air conditioner. Some of the water is lifted up by the fan blade and used to cool the heating coil, while most proceeds to the rear. Once at the rear it drops out of the base and onto the ground. That is, if everything is working perfectly.

The reality of window air conditioners is that they can leak water. One that leaks can drive you crazy trying to find the cause of the problem. The following are a few suggestions of the most common reasons why water leakage occurs.

1. Improperly installed.

A window air conditioner must be slightly lower at the rear than the front. This allows the water being removed from the room to drain to the back of the machine. A difference of one inch is sufficient. This is always the first thing to check. Many are improperly installed in the haste to get relief from the heat. If installed too low at front the water will flow into the room rather than outside. If installed too low at rear, water can roll out front edges before has chance to exit towards rear drain.

2. Icing up.

Water being de-humidified can turn to ice if there are problems with the cooling system. There are many reasons for an air conditioner to produce ice. Remove front grille while machine is operating. If ice is present on the cooling coil you will probably need service. For more information see our other article: Why window Air Conditioners Ice up.

3. Air leakage around air conditioner.

If warm air is able to enter around the air conditioner it will encounter cooler, dryer air. When they meet condensation will occur. If water leaking from front of air conditioner inspect to see if dripping from body of machine, or water droplets clinging to front area. To test, operate machine for 30 minutes and then use flashlight to check under front edge of base. Small water droplets here indicate an air leakage problem. Add foam insulation to stop warm air from infiltrating.

4. Drain hole blocked.

Rear of air conditioner base has a drain hole or groove to allow water to escape. If becomes blocked water can back up. To test, operate machine for 30 minutes and then inspect if draining properly. If appears blocked use a small piece of wood to open drain hole at rear of metal base. CAUTION: Never be tempted to drill holes into the air conditioner body to relieve water pooling. Severe damage can result.

5. Internal drains blocked.

There are small passageways that allow water to drain from front of air conditioner to the rear. If they become blocked water will pool at front of machine and overflow onto floor. If this happens the air conditioner will require removal from window and servicing.

6. Outside temperature too cold.
This occurs at end of cooling season. If outside temperatures drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit at night the cooling coil may ice up. If no leakage at bedtime but water in front of machine in morning, suspect this problem. If this problem suspected turn off machine before bedtime and restart as day warms. Alternately, operate machine at night with selector switch in ‘fan only’ position. This will circulate room air during night but not allow cooling.

Copyright 2005 by Donald Grummett. All right reserved.
Donald Grummett is an appliance service manager in Ottawa, Canada.
In the trade over 30 years as a technician, business owner, and technical trainer. Learn more invaluable information about your household appliances by
visiting http://www.mgservices.ca

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If you own an air conditioner, then it is safe to say that at some time in the future you will need air-conditioning repairs. There are a few different things that can go wrong and some are very easily repaired. For example, if your air conditioner is not cooling, but is still running it may just need cleaning. Before you start, find your owner’s manual. If you can’t find it, then you can request one from the manufacturer. Try to pick a fairly warm day for the repair because this will give you a better idea of why it is not working.

Before you start your air-conditioning repairs, make sure the power to the unit is turned off. You should be able to find a shut off panels for this. If you can’t find this panel then shut off the electricity to the house itself. Make sure you rake any debris away from the outside condenser.

Now you can start to find out what the problem is by removing the grill cover off the condenser and clean the fins by using a soft cloth and brush. You have to be careful not to damage the fins as this can be done very easily. Vacuum them out after cleaning. Now unscrew and lift up the cover of the grill, but be careful. The fan is attached to some of them and you don’t want to pull any wires loose. After cleaning, you can hose out the fins, but protect the motor with some kind of waterproof covering. If you think the motor needs lubricating, now is the time to do it. Now put the unit back together. This is the easy part of air-conditioning repairs.

To test your air conditioning repairs, turn the power back on and let your unit run for a few minutes. Place your hand on the pipes that connect to the condenser unit. One of the pipes should feel warm and the other should feel cool. If it’s still not working, then you probably need the refrigerant recharged and this will require a professional.

If your air conditioner doesn’t go on automatically, there are a few steps you can take to check this out. First, make sure that your thermostat is set to cool and below room temperature. You should also check to see if a fuse is blown or the problem may be a tripped breaker on your main panel box. Make sure that the power switch on the furnace is turned on and also the condenser switch on the outside unit. You can also check to make sure the 240-volt disconnect, which is next to the compressor outside, hasn’t been turned off. These are some steps that will help you with air-conditioning repairs.

Any air conditioning repairs you can do on your own will certainly help your budget and can be spent on other problems that may arise where you can’t repair your air conditioning yourself. The repairs above are straightforward and you should have no problem in completing them. If you run into difficulty, contact the manufacturer. They hold a world of knowledge about the products they make and may be able to contribute some useful information for the problems you face while doing the repairs.

#1 Resource

Air conditioner information.

http://www.airconditioninginc.com

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