Today, we can find a lot of options to cool the air during summer months, from the familiar option like by using air conditioner to the newest technology and eco-friendly technology such as solar cooling unit, geothermal heat pump, swamp cooler, etc. But in this article does not discuss all those types, here are more focused on analyzing and talking about the air conditioner working principle, especially central air conditioning units. As well we know, they can be claimed as the most familiar cooling appliance at this time, particularly for residential use. Central AC is so powerful and noiseless when working. We can use it to cool medium and large rooms.

The working principle of central AC

Whatever the type of air conditioner, all of them have the same principle when cooling the air with one purpose that is converting and changing heat into cool air. The compressor cycle is the key of the converting process. This cycle is closely similar to refrigerator system but is more purposed to cool large space. Although there are now available AC units that use eco-friendly R410a refrigerant but most of conventional air conditioners still use Freon for the refrigerant to provide cooling. The system will transfer the heat from inside to outside of the house. There are some chemicals that have important function to change a liquid to a gas or vice versa. The change process from gas to liquid or back again is important on cooling process which the heat is pushed outdoor and the fresh cool air is transferred into the room.

The primer components of air conditioner

We can find a lot of mechanical machines but basically there are always available three primer parts that are; evaporator, compressor and condenser. In fact, central air conditioners always work more quietly than other types like window AC units or portable AC units. The key of the better noiseless performance is condenser and compressor that are housed in outdoor unit. On the other hand, evaporator is usually installed on the inside of the room. Depending on the model, the evaporator can be as component of a furnace that also can be used for heating.

Well, compressor has the primer function to compress cool Freon gas! The product of this process is high pressure and high temperature of Freon gas. Then the high pressure gas will be directed into coils of the condenser. In this step, the gas is condensed into a liquid. In a condenser is usually also available the metal fins. These fins have primer function to dissipate the heat; this function is same to the principle of car’s radiator. After going through the thermodynamically process in condenser, the liquid is much cooler and then will be directed into evaporator by going through narrow hole and finally the liquid is not only cooler but also has lower pressure and thus at the same time the process of producing cold gas is also started!

Via evaporator, the cold gas will be pushed out from the AC unit to be distributed to all space of the room. The hot air in the room will be extracted and also will be used as medium to distribute the molecules of the liquid that is produced from liquid-gas process. As additional information, hot air is relatively lighter than cold air. This situation is helpful for the extraction process.

The others nice posts: Advantages of wall mounted air conditioner and how to make mini split AC unit last longer!

The Working Principle of Central Air Conditioner is a post from: PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER

More tags:

Well… Having an air conditioner is so helpful for you to through hottest days during summer season more comfortably. But if your unit is too old, this advantage may be converted to be a lot of disadvantages. Your outdated A/C unit cannot work powerfully anymore and even with inefficiently performance. Therefore, perhaps you have to replace it with new one that promises better of efficiency performance (higher in BTU size, higher value of SEER rating and also with Energy Star approval). Having new central air conditioning system that is friendlier to the environment is also helpful for the tax bill that you have to pay!

Well…, today, in order to encourage anyone, particularly homeowners, to use & invest in eco-friendly technology and energy saving products; the government has offered a good value of positive tax credit project. And in this case, this program (tax credits) is beneficial either for your finance or the environment of your local area in the future. You should take the advantage of this as well. Below are pieces of helpful information on how to get tax credit from a new central air conditioner!

1. The first thing that you should take a look at is the values of energy-efficiency tax credit that are currently available! Analyze and review them carefully! As additional information, the energy efficiency tax credits are offered around 30 % (with $1,500 as the upper limit) by the Reinvestment Act & American Recovery of 2009! This means, if you buy an A/C unit that is priced $4,000.00 then around $1,200.00 will be credited back to you with your federal tax return! For units that are priced $5,000.00 or more than $5,000.00 will get $1,500.00 for the maximum eligible credit.

2. Then consider the specifically energy-efficiency of the unit that you are purchasing! Not all types of air conditioners that are currently available at the marketplaces are qualified with the tax credit agreement of U.S government (Check on this site “Federal tax credits”). Generally, for package A/C units must be qualified with higher than 14 for SEER and higher than 12 for EER. And for split A/C units must be qualified with greater than 16 for SEER and higher than 13 for EER. In addition, SEER is Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and EER is Energy Efficiency Ratio!

3. Don’t miss to ask all receipts after purchasing and installing your new central air conditioning system! Save those receipts as well.

4. Don’t also forget to check the certification statement of the manufacture. It is usually already included one package with the unit. What is the function of the manufacture’s certification statement? Well, it has function to prove that your unit is qualified and meets to the energy efficiency tax credit qualifications! Mostly, that certification is not needed by the Internal Revenue Service for filling the taxes. But it is better to keep the tax records with the certificate.

5. With the federal tax return and proper forms, put forward for the right tax credit!

6. The last, other idea is by contacting a tax professional in your local area for getting more completely information.

Image source: Amazon.Com

Other posts: Portable air conditioners vs. evaporative coolers!

New Central Air Conditioner and Tax Credit! is a post from: PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER

More tags:

Do you want to install and use air conditioner to pass through this summer? As well we know that there are three types of air conditioners to choose from that are (1) central models (CACs), (2) portable units and (3) window A/C units! Portable and window units are relatively cheaper either for the price tags or installation (free installation cost because both can be installed much practically and easily without needing to pay or hire a qualified technician). Both are nice idea to complement your powerful CAC! Perhaps the first question at this time when you want to purchase and install CAC is about the tax credits! Is there any tax credit for central air conditioners? The answer is yes, CACs are qualified for a tax credit!

According to Energy Star (energystar.gov), the following is the specification of tax credit for central air conditioners in 2011:

1. How much? The answer is $300! This is different if we compare in 2009 and 2010 which the tax credit is thirty percent of the cost & up to $1500!

2. How about for timing? The unit is installed between first day of January 2011 and the last day of December 2011, in the house where you live most of time (in the United States). And if you get a temporary absence because of unordinary circumstances, it will not revise the principle residence.

3. And for details and qualification of the unit: (a) For split CACs: EER must be equivalent and more than 13 ( >=13 ), SEER must be equivalent and more than 16 ( >=16), (b) for package CACs: EER must be equivalent and more than 12 ( >=12 ), SEER must be equivalent and more than 14 ( >=14)! Split models usually have three major components: outdoor cabinet (housed compressor & condenser), indoor cabinet (house evaporator coil), and air handles. And package models usually have one cabinet (installed on a concrete slab or on a roof) to house compressor, condenser and evaporator coil

4. Next question, do we must to replace our heating & air conditioning unit to qualify for a tax credit? Well, the law doesn’t need that we replace & change our heating & air conditioning, but practically speaking we will maybe must to replace both in order to make the air conditioner to qualify! Nowadays, most of CACs on the market are only able to qualify for tax credit if we also change and replace the blower motor (or air moving device which is usually also part of furnace or the air handler) that that has important function to push the cool air via the duct system! Today’s air conditioning units require the added better efficiency performance from a better efficiency performance of blower motor ( such as advanced-main air circulating fan and ECM) to achieve adequate efficiency performance of tax credit qualification. So consider the kind of the blower motor as well! Don’t forget also to consider the equipment either for furnace or A/C which shall need to be from the one or same manufacture, because blower motor, condenser, and evaporator coil must be tested jointly at the same time & currently manufactures are only certifying and testing their own equipments.

5. In addition, it is better to ask and discuss to a local HVAC contractor to find and understand any qualified models clearly! Ask to them about manufacture’s certification statement or you can also get more information about this issue by searching the manufacture’s online site. The last; how to apply the tax credit? Visit this site!

Image source: Amazon.Com

Read also about HSPF, SEER and EER and Top 2 EdgeStar portable air conditioners!

2011 Tax Credits of New Central Air Conditioners (CACs) is a post from: PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER

More tags:

In many cases, older homes usually don’t have the installation of the return-air registers, especially on the second floor of a two-story home! On other hand, it is so important and closely associated to the comfort of cooling system. Therefore consider it carefully because the system cannot cool the second story without the right location of the return-air ductwork! Then don’t forget to look at a floor drain, particularly below the furnace level. As well we know that natural air cooling process of all air conditioning systems will produce water condensate (byproduct of removing moisture from air). It must be drained well with the right design of a floor drain. But we can choose to use a small-practical condensate pump set if we cannot provide & install the right floor drain below the level of our furnace. The condensate pump can be installed with approximately $65 and will be effective idea to pump the condensate to the right disposal site.

What else to look for to add central air conditioner to an older house or an existing heating system:

Choose the right design!

Installing central air conditioner system in homes that are 60 years old or more requires several special requirements that you should consider as well. Balloon-construction is one of popular methods to fit vents in thick walls by fire breaks! Another option is radiator-heated houses that are so recommended if you want to reduce costs from the efficient installation without tearing into walls (old walls).

Then ductless or mini-ductless air conditioning system is great idea if there is important to keep the walls intact. Other options, you can choose to use more efficient systems but requires more costs such as by pumping the cooling liquid in each room with an air box system that has a central circulator fan in every room of the house, or by using high speed of forced air system or an effective small ductwork system.

For the more detailed information about the right system for your older home, you can contact and discuss to a local HVAC contractor. Make sure you choose one that has a qualified training program and NATE certification from ACCA (the Air Conditioning Contractors of America)!

Working with more efficient system!

Cooling activities during summer require a huge amount of energy that will spend a lot of money on paying the energy bill for each month. So consider other alternatives that can save more energy and will make the air conditioning system work more efficient (consume less energy). Make sure and ask to your HVAC contractor that the system uses the new efficient technology. The cooling capacity (size) of the system must be equivalent to the large space that will be cooled (the size must be based & considered on usage, any changes in ductwork, and efficiency ratings).

If the budget permits, it is better to consult to your HVAC contractor for adding & installing heat pump. Analyzes the air movement in your old home and you can install fans if necessary for better ventilation so thus the new HVAC system will work much more efficient, because most of older homes were usually constructed and designed not for air condition but to ventilate. And make sure all alternatives to support the performance of the new HVAC system are based and qualified on the local codes in your area. In addition, you also use additional units such as window air conditioning units or windowless units (portable air conditioners) to complement the new HVAC system during summer.

Efficiency is priority!

There are some energy-saving strategies to look for in installing & adding air conditioner to an older home:

1. When installing insulation, consider higher R-factor layer to make sure you get the high quality of insulation.
2. Like mentioned before, old building usually is built not for air condition but to easily ventilate. By applying insulation & retrofitting projects will be useful to pay off for the winter as well as the summer on paying the utility bills.
3. It is better to install ducts via walls that are shaded during the day. Duct lines that get directly sunlight are not too good to the energy efficiency performance of the system when cooling the air, especially during the hottest times of the day.
4. It is also more advisable to choose the east or north of the older home to locate & install the main unit.
5. You can also involve and invite many professional as possible if the budget permits, especially such as medical suggestions.
6. In addition, make sure that the air flow across the cooling coils is adequate enough otherwise can lead to the poor performance of the system (less efficient when consuming energy). Your local HVAC contractor that you choose has to completely understand about it.

Read also why your older air conditioning fails to work?

Central Air Conditioner: What to Look For to Add It to Older Home? is a post from: PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER

More tags: