Green

Myths about Air-Conditioners

Misinformation can lead to wastage and air-conditioning is one such subject that you can be better educated on.

· Set it lower, it will cool faster – This is entirely false. Setting your thermostat to a lower temperature than the one you want, just because you want it to cool faster, will achieve nothing. Depending on the size of the room, your air-conditioner will take a certain amount of time to achieve whatever temperature you set. This only varies due to the size of the room, ambient temperature, heat sources, etc. The only instance where this is not true is with air-conditioners that do not possess a thermostat and instead have a Low-High setting. With those types, you can achieve faster cooling by setting it to high.

· Keep it running all day – This is a complete waste on several levels. First of all you are a unnecessarily cooling a space that you are not occupying for around 8 to 10 hours. Next, you are consuming electricity to do this. Finally, the compressor unit in the air-conditioner is being run for extended hours which wear down the unit. Fix this by switching off the air-conditioner when you leave home and set it to come on about an hour before expect to get back.

· Get the biggest one – Every air-conditioner is capable of optimally cooling a room provided that it is the correct size for that room. Getting one that is too small or too big will only result in you paying higher electricity bills.

· Put it wherever you like – Picking the right spot to install you air-conditioner is very important. Heat sources like lights or TV’s in proximity to the thermostat will only affect it’s readings in the wrong way. The outdoor unit should also be installed in the shade and out of direct sunlight. Ensure that the airflow around it is not blocked in anyway by shrubs or other obstacles.