Hello!

25 Comments

Global warming is bringing a constant increase in temperature, as well as extended spells of scorching, dry weather.

This affects not only the wildlife, but also the most urban parts of the planet. Consequently, the demand for air-conditioning systems has been on the constant rise and the requirements have been increasingly demanding. The reasons for this is the well-known link between indoor air quality and our health and our wish to be as environment-friendly as possible by using as little energy as possible.

As the technology involved continues to develop, so have various ways for the healthiest and most efficient use of these devices.

These tips and tricks that should help you and your family enjoy better quality air.

Make sure you use it only when necessary

If your windows provide no or little protection from sunlight, it’s going to take much more time, power and resources to cool down the temperature.

Install proper shades, shutters or thermal backed curtains and keep all your windows and doors closed during the hottest period of the day. This should help your AC reach the optimal temperature more easily and efficiently.

Also, you need to inspect the insulation of your windows and doors and possibly consider weather stripping to prevent air leaks and further improve the efficiency of your air-conditioner. You should also check to see whether or not you have insulation in your roof – being such a huge part of your home, this can trap the heat from the day long into the evening making it very difficult to cool your home.

Selection is the key

Many people feel overwhelmed by the choices available today. The ranges are wide, both in terms of price and functionality, and it’s vital you make an informed decision when buying a unit.

The first selection criterion is your need, i.e. the capacity of the room. Getting a device which is either too weak or too strong for the amount of air it’s supposed to cool is equally bad.

Next, you need to think about energy consumption. A system such as Energy Star should help you choose your new unit, but it’s also good to consult an expert on this matter.

Finally, often overlooked, but possibly the most important element, is the impact on the health of those spending time in the room. You don’t want your family, especially children to be exposed to poor indoor air quality, since it’s been proven to cause various health problems. The quality of filters and cooling agents is another subject you should raise with an expert and/or shop assistant.

Indoor air quality

Most AC systems just recirculate the indoor air, thus improving energy-efficiency, but also making the air a bit stale. Such air has a very negative effect on the respiratory system and with the number of children suffering from pulmonary diseases and allergies, this is a matter that should be taken seriously.

To prevent unwanted side-effects, we need to air the house out regularly throughout the day, especially right before and after sleep. On the other hand, those allergic to various types of pollen should be aware that early mornings are the times of the day when the pollen count is the highest.

Maintenance

Another important issue, since it’s only with regular and proper maintenance that the devices run efficiently. The entire systems needs to be cleaned regularly, not just the filters,we learn from Sydney-based specialists for aircon repairs.

It is also worth noting that no repair work should be delayed, since we need to have a perfectly functional unit to enjoy all the benefits. From cleaning and replacing air filters, to regular inspections of the whole system, no step should be missed.

As it turns out, ACs are irreplaceable devices at offices and homes, which means we have to make sure that they operate properly in order to maximise energy efficiency and prevent health issues among our loved ones.

Do you have AC in your home? Did you find the tips above helpful? Share with us below.

Image source Shutterstock.

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.
  • Ive never had AC but I would love to have one in my bedroom for night time in Summer

    Reply

  • I agree, consider looking for other things to bring the costs down like external awnings, planting trees / climbers etc.

    Reply

  • I do try and hold off for as long as possible before turning the air con on and am mindful to keep all blinds downs and the house as dark and cool as possible. My husband services ours each year to make sure it’s working at its best and most efficient.

    Reply

  • We have an aircon and have had it serviced recently. We were told it is working perfectly and just to keep getting it serviced yearly and clean the filters regularly.

    Reply

  • We rent our house. It’s a pity we can’t do anything to improve proper shades, shutters, insulation and or thermal backed curtains

    Reply

  • An informative article, thanks for that.

    Reply

  • Great tips. I must admit even though I have one, we hardly ever use it.

    Reply

  • Good tips. We have Evaporative Cooling and my husband’s not a fan. He’s prefer refrigerated but, evap works well enough. It circulates the outside air which I like, so it’s not artificial air. My hubby cleans and disinfects it every year. We’ve not yet turned it on this year, but we’re hoping to soon.

    Reply

  • We only have a portable AC in our bedroom and put it on on hot summer nights for half a hour or so before we go to bed.


    • We moved houses and now rent a property which has 2 AC systems downstairs. . It’s certainly needed as this house gets very very hot. A pity that there’s no AC upstairs as the bedrooms get even hotter ! This week the temperature in the bedrooms reached the 40 C and the kids struggled to sleep, some of them sleeping on the bare floor and not on their mattresses !! I found it also very hard to get rid of the heat in the rooms. Even when the temperature has gone down, the heat keeps on hanging in the rooms.

    Reply

  • People over cool things in summer. Shopping centres are especially guilty of this, setting it to temperatures that you’d put the heater on for in winter.

    Reply

  • We have the split system in the master bedroom and the living room, but I must admit we never put it on. I don’t see much need for air-conditioning. I suffer much more from cold. And we bought a gas heater to try to keep the expenses down.

    Reply

  • We have ducted air-conditioning and I love it …after having a regular air -con then up grading when it got too old to an Actron ducted air-con we haven’t looked back.

    Reply

  • I worry about using the air con so much now my son is born. I had been thinking of using a fan in his room with a muslin wrap draped over the front that has been dipped in iced water, but I’m not sure if it’s safe or going to be effective.. That way I don’t mind sweating it out a bit to keep the aircon off but atleast his room is cooler to sleep in. Will see how it goes!

    Reply

  • great article – I have shared with my work mates

    Reply

  • we try to use our sparingly, but when you have a two storey townhouse, and the heat rises, we need to put it on before bedtime otherwise my girls wouldn’t be able to sleep.

    Good tips in this article though and a great timely reminder for us with summer just around the corner, hopefully!

    Reply

Post a comment
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your comment and join MoM:

You May Like

Loading…

Looks like this may be blocked by your browser or content filtering.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join