Why we use air conditioning
We’ve all been there: getting back into the car when it has spent the day parked in the sun, or wanting to go to bed at night during particularly hot or cold temperatures and being denied rest due to an uncomfortable atmosphere. We've also experienced public areas, shops, hotels, and other locations where the temperature is not controlled to our satisfaction. In these situations, the first thought that enters our minds is a desperate need for air conditioning to moderate the temperature.
Air conditioning is an excellent way to control air temperature in small and large spaces and can provide a moderating effect that makes us more comfortable in heated temperatures and increase ventilation to clean the air around us from germs, smells or bacteria.
Efficiency
Although air conditioning can be a marvellously effective way of cleansing and moderating the air immediately around us, it has the potential to be inefficient both in terms of cost and effectiveness - particularly in the case of older models without the help of today’s technology.
Therefore it is vitally important to stop air-conditioned air escaping the area in which it is being applied, so that areas can have temperature moderated quicker and more effectively. Exposure to natural air temperature conditions means that the air conditioning unit must work harder for longer to keep the room at the desired temperature - using a lot of energy and consequently money.
How to insulate your air conditioning “zone”
Restricting air flow in and out of your desired area and improving the effectiveness of air conditioning can be difficult, particularly if you are trying to control the temperature in a larger area. Make sure all doors leading outside and windows are firmly shut to stop air escaping and being recycled by outside temperature conditions; you wouldn’t open windows in winter with the central heating on, and this is no different in the summer.
Shutting inside doors such as bedrooms and living areas is also important to prevent the flow of cooler air too far from the source. Sectioning your home or office space can help to produce different climates for each of a building; saving money on not heating up areas which don’t need attention, and speeding up the process of regulating temperature for parts that do.
Another way that air escapes is through thin, uninsulated walls and lofts. Small cracks in walls can lead to air leakage where air escapes and enters a building, rendering air conditioning ineffective. An uninsulated loft loses a lot of household air - as can be seen in winter where snow on a roof melts and disappears far quicker than an insulated one. Invest in some new and thicker loft insulation to ensure that your loft can act as an effective barrier to escaping air.
Making sure you have adequate insulation when using air conditioning is just a start for getting efficient and effective use out of your system which will save you money. It is also necessary to get your unit regularly serviced by professionals to ensure that it is working properly. Other simple measures include frequently cleaning your unit from dust and dirt to allow it to operate to its full potential.
Remember that air conditioning can only be effective when you allow it to; so isolate the areas you want to control and enjoy your new temperature moderated space!
For more information about the air conditioning services that we offer at Oxford Air Conditioning, get in touch by calling 01235 524411. You can also contact us online.
