For air conditioner unit, it is important to place the correct amount of BTUs into each room. If an air conditioner have the wrong amount of BTUs, it wont be able to function correct within that spesific room. If the BTU capacity of the air conditioner is too low for that room, the air conditioner will struggle to heat the room.
However, if the BTU capacity are too high for that room, the air conditioner will cycle on and off very rapid. Rapid cycling of the air conditioner will allow the air conditioner to heat the air in the room, but it will not remove the humidity from the air in that room, resulting in clammy feeling within the individuals in that room. While square footage is used to calculate the amount of BTUs that a room may require, square footage is not the only factor that people use to determine the required BTU capacity of an air conditioner.
How to Choose the Right Air Conditioner Size and Install It
Other variable that may be used to calculate the required BTU capacity include the amount of sunlight that enters the room, as well as the height of the ceiling within that room. For instance, a room that receive a great deal of sunlight may require more BTUs than a shaded room. Additionally, rooms with vaulted ceiling may require more BTUs than rooms with an even floor to ceiling height.
Finally, the quality of the insulation within the walls and attic may also require adjustments to the required BTU capacity. Air conditioners with slightly more BTU capacity than is required can cool a room to the desired temperature more faster than an air conditioner with the required BTUs alone. The type of hardware that is chosen to deliver air to the rooms is dependent upon the architecture of those rooms.
If the rooms are to be cooled, the hardware may be wall mounted heads, floor consoles, or even concealed ducted units. If the rooms to be cooled are relatively small in size, wall mounted heads are an affordable option. However, if the air conditioner is to be used in a garage, or if the windows cover the walls of the rooms to be cooled, floor consoles is a better option.
For individuals who are concerned with the appearance of air conditioner units in there rooms, concealed ducted units can be placed in ceilings instead of walls. Air conditioner systems that is considered to be “multi-zone” systems use one outdoor compressor to feed several indoor heads. The outdoor compressor must be able to handle the combined load of all of the indoor head.
It is possible to place more indoor heads than the outdoor compressor is rated for. However, you cant load the outdoor compressor with more than the outdoor compressor is physically capable of handling. If the outdoor compressor is overloaded, the efficiency of the entire AC system will decrease in every room within the structure.
The installation of the refrigerant lineset is a crucial aspect of the installation process for the air conditioners. The amount of refrigerant that is pre-charged into the air conditioner is provided for the standard distance between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. However, if the distance between the indoor and outdoor air conditioner units is long, more refrigerant are required to properly maintain the cooling capability of the system.
Additionally, if the refrigerant lineset is too long, the oil that lubricate the outdoor compressor can get trapped in the refrigerant lines. Trapped oil in the refrigerant lines can lead to the outdoor compressor seizing up within the unit. Thus, if such long lines are to be used in the refrigerant lineset, oil traps must be installed into the refrigerant lines to allow the oil to properly reach the outdoor air conditioner compressor.
Air conditioner units require there own dedicated electrical circuit. These air conditioners cant be plugged into an electrical outlet. An electrician must install the appropriate electrical circuit based off the amperage and the voltage specifications that is provided for the air conditioner.
The gauge of the wires cannot be too thin for these air conditioners. Thin wires can overheat and result in a fire hazard. Thus, the electrician should of also read the minimum circuit ampacity specification that is provided on the nameplate for the air conditioner to ensure that the installation of the air conditioner will not create a hazard to the structure.
An appropriately installed and sized air conditioner will maintain a steady indoor temperature and maintain a low electric bill.