Air Conditioning - Ten Tips to Improve Reliability

1. AIR CONDITIONING 1 0   T I P S   T O   I M P R O V E   R E L I A B I L I T Y 2 0 1 5

2. I N T R O D U C T I O N How does air conditioning enhance workplace productivity? Air conditioners do, on occasion, perform sub-optimally. Sometimes they even outright break and need to be replaced. All this downtime can have a severe impact on the work or home environment the AC unit was tasked with cooling (or warming). This is particularly so when you consider the times at which these units are most likely to break, namely at the height of summer, when they are being taxed most arduously. With that in mind, let's take a look at ten tips which will help you to get more reliability from your AC unit.

3. M A N U F A C T U R E 1 Choose a good design of AC Air conditioners are highly sophisticated units which rely on a lot of clever internal mechanisms. Some brands will invest heavily in testing and research and development, in order to ensure that their products are as reliable and effective as possible. Others, however, will not. Go for a reputable brand in order to ensure the best possible levels of reliability. Buying an ISO-accredited system will help to ensure quality. 2 Manufacturer support Another considerable advantage of opting for a reputable manufacturer is the support they can provide after they have sold you the machine. Whatever precautions are taken, it is almost inevitable that, from time to time, faults will develop. It is extremely helpful to be able to consult the manufacturer during such occurrences, as it will enable you to get the fault fixed as quickly as possible.

4. I N S T A L L A T I O N 3 Choose an AC unit appropriate for the environment AC units come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, each designed to cater to a specific sort of indoor environment. Larger spaces will require more complicated, centralised systems; smaller ones may only require tiny window-mounted units. The longevity of a unit can be influenced by its suitability for its task. If a smaller unit is being overly stressed trying to heat an environment too large for it, it will tend to break down more often. 4 Ensure that the unit is properly installed An inexpertly-installed air conditioner can result in large costs further down the line. In order to avoid this risk, it is important that an air conditioning unit is installed properly by qualified professionals.

5. M A I N T E N A N C E 5 Ensure that the unit is properly commissioned Just as correct installation is important, so too is correct commissioning. Ensuring that the pipes are properly vacuumed and that the refrigerant is properly charged. Failure to do this will result in mechanical failure later on. If in doubt, enlist a qualified professional to commission the system. 6 Ensure that the unit is properly maintained An air conditioner is a complicated piece of machinery. In order to avoid the stress of sizeable bills further down the line, it is advisable that air conditioning units receive regular maintenance. This will help to address any faults which might have developed with the unit before they have a chance to inflict appreciable damage on it.

6. W O R K L O A D 7 Use automation to reduce the unit's workload The more the air conditioner has to work, the more wear-and- tear it will accrue. There are certain times of day when the conditioner will be used less often – perhaps during the evening when fewer people will be around and the temperatures are not quite so extreme. By setting the system to switch off during off- peak times, a great deal of energy and money can be saved. Using an air conditioner less will thereby increase its lifespan and ensure that it will be there when you need it. 8 Keep doors and windows closed Opening doors and windows will adversely affect the air- conditioner's ability to control the temperature. It will allow warm air indoors, which the unit will then be forced to cool or vice versa. This will further stress the unit and diminish its lifespan with no gain in temperature whatsoever. If you must open a window, then do so sparingly and ensure that the AC unit is switched off first.

7. S P A R E S 9 Avoid extreme temperature settings when the unit is first switched on. When we first turn on our air-conditioners, we are often tempted to dial in temperatures a little cooler than we really need. We then later have to come back and pull them back in the other direction, since the unit may overshoot its intended temperature. In order to avoid this, try to avoid extremes in temperature and keep the air conditioner set to a happy medium. 10 Keep a stock of spares If you want to reduce downtime to an absolute minimum, then you should consult the manufacturer to see which components are the more likely to break. This way, when repairs are needed, there will be no need to wait for these spares to arrive, as they will already be there on the premises and will be ready to go when needed.

8. CONTACT US ADDRESS All Seasons Climate Control Ltd Unit 5 Prospect Business Park Loughton Essex IG10 3TR CONTACT info@allseasonscc.co.uk Telephone: 020 8502 4540