To choose the right air conditioner system for your home, and to ensure that it's always in good repair and functioning properly, it's good to know a few basics about how those systems work and operate. This will ensure you choose the right type and size for your home, and know how to keep it working properly over the years. Consider a few common misconceptions many homeowners have about these systems and their inner workings, and you'll be able to find the right one for your home and will know how to keep it maintained.
Refrigerant is not the unit's "fuel"
Some people assume that an air conditioner that has shut down simply needs more refrigerant. However, this fluid is fully contained in the unit and doesn't burn off or otherwise evaporate, so if the unit shuts down, this is usually a mechanical or electrical issue. If the refrigerant levels do get low, this is often caused by a leak in the lines, and it can reduce the cooling power of the unit, but the air conditioner shouldn't outright stop working.
Lowering the thermostat's temperature doesn't make the air conditioner work faster
Your home's central air conditioner and furnace both have a fan that pushes air through the home's ductwork. Unlike floor fans you might have in different rooms around the home, fans in those heating and air conditioning units only work at one speed. Your home will not cool off any faster if you "crank" the thermostat or set it very low; this will simply make the air conditioner work longer, until it reaches that temperature. It's good to avoid doing this, as running the unit longer than necessary causes undue wear and tear on the system.
Split systems provide the same amount of actual cooling as central units
A split system air conditioner isn't attached to the home's ductwork, but blows cool air out a front panel; these systems are installed in hotel rooms, where they cool each room individually. You might assume that split systems are simply large fans, but this isn't the case; they can provide just as much actual cooling as a central unit, but don't blow that cool air through all the home's vents. Split system units are good for smaller homes, for use in just one room, and for outbuildings like garages or guard shacks. The cool air they produce is just as cold as any other unit, but it will be contained in those smaller areas.
Talk to a professional from a place like ACSIS Airconditioning Warehouse for more information.
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