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SOME REASONS TO INSTALL AN AIR CONDITIONER

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SOME REASONS TO INSTALL AN AIR CONDITIONER

A few years ago, air-conditioning units were installed mainly in commercial facilities, such as banks, offices, and shopping malls. Today, air-conditioning units are affordable for individual users. So, isn’t it worth installing it in your house or apartment, and having in mind energy-efficient cooling during the summer and heating during the transition period?

Meteorological data are an undeniable source of information on global warming, while average air temperatures are rising each year. The prevailing trends in building architecture are leading to the use of more and more glazing to brighten the interiors of apartments. All of this is leading to the indoor air temperature’s often exceeding 30°C during the summer, which makes this time of the year a burden to the normal functioning of our body. So, why not try a bit of luxury by installing an air conditioner, which will put an end to the nightmare of hot summer nights? The cost  of air-conditioning equipment has relatively fallen in recent years, and their operation has become inexpensive, thanks to modern energy-saving technologies. One of the arguments in favour of buying an air conditioner is probably the fact that it can be an economical way of heating and dehumidifying rooms during the spring and autumn.

It is worth adding that more and more manufacturers of air-conditioning systems  are introducing multifunctional solutions at ever-lower prices. Air conditioners are often equipped with a wireless remote control, by means of which you can set a convenient mode of operation, speed, and direction of airflow, and program the time of switching the unit on and off.

Some of the interesting novelties on the Polish market include units featuring a WiFi function, thanks to which you can operate an air-conditioning system with
a smartphone or a tablet, which further increases the comfort of using an air-conditioning system at home.

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TYPES OF AIR-CONDITIONING UNITS

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TYPES OF AIR-CONDITIONING UNITS

The categorisation of air-conditioning units is governed by criteria we have identified. Air-conditioning systems can be divided in terms of the mode of consuming energy, the number of outdoor units, portability, and the mode of operation.

 

As far as the classification based on the MODE OF ENERGY CONSUMPTION goes, the following can be cited.

  • Direct evaporative air-conditioning systems, in which the cooling of a room results from absorbing the energy from the room directly by the evaporating refrigerant. The units used in such a system are small, quiet, and inexpensive, but they cannot be installed everywhere.
  • Ice-water systems, in which heat from rooms is collected by water,
    which transfers heat to the evaporating refrigerant. The units used in these systems are larger and more expensive, but they can be used in virtually
    any conditions, e.g. in tall buildings.
 

Another criterion for the division of air-conditioning systems is the NUMBER OF OUTDOOR UNITS. Direct evaporative air-conditioning systems feature the following types.

  • Mono units – devices consisting of a single module, mounted in a window,
    on a wall, or on wheeled equipment with a special pipe going out of the window. Mono units are low-power devices designed for small rooms.
  • Split-type air conditioners – these are units comprised of two modules:
    an outdoor unit and an internal unit connected by a copper pipework
    and an electrical system. SPLIT units are low- and medium-power units designed for providing air conditioning in small and medium-sized rooms.
  • MULTI-Split-type air conditioners – units consisting of several indoor elements (up to 5), connected to a single outdoor unit through copper pipework
    and an electrical system. MULTI-SPLIT units are medium-power systems designed for providing air conditioning in large rooms or in a number of small rooms.
  • VRF systems – the most-extensive direct evaporative air-conditioning system, with which up to 3 units can be connected to a several-dozen outdoor units
    (up to 64). VRF systems are medium- and high-power air conditioning systems designed for providing air conditioning in entire buildings.
 

Depending on their PORTABILITY, we distinguish the following types of device.

  • Stationary air conditioners – a typical solution used in most buildings, where it is possible to install air conditioning permanently.
  • Portable air conditioners – these are usually fitted with castors, which makes them ideal for rooms under low- and medium-heat loads, especially if there is
    a need to relocate the air conditioner, or when stationary air conditioning cannot be used.
 

Taking into account the MODE OF OPERATION, we distinguish the following types of air conditioner.

  • Inverter air conditioners – these constitute a state-of-the-art unit designed
    for rooms with variable heat loads, and an extremely energy-efficient solution.
  • ON-OFF air conditioners – these are characterised by simple design and uncomplicated control. It is an efficient solution suitable for rooms which require high and constant cooling or heating capacity.
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THE R290 REFRIGERANT

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THE R290 REFRIGERANT

The R290 refrigerant is known under the common name of propane. It is a colourless, odourless, organic, compound, which belongs to the group of saturated hydrocarbons naturally occurring in natural-gas deposits. Propane is an agent distinguishable by its minimum impact on the environment and safety of use, thanks to its high flammability limit.

Air-conditioning units take advantage of the physical properties of refrigerants to transfer heat, and, consequently, to cool down or heat up rooms. The portable air conditioners from KAISAI use the modern and environmentally-friendly R290 refrigerant – propane. Propane-based devices have been successfully distributed in many countries of the European Union for many years. The popularity of the R290 refrigerant is constantly increasing, due to its low environmental impact, while maintaining very-good thermodynamic properties. R290 has a zero ODP value, which means that there is no negative impact on the ozone layer, and an extremely low GWP value, which indicates a minimal impact on the global-warming effect. This makes propane is an environmentally friendly agent, at the same time maintaining good working parameters in air-conditioning units.

It is worth noting that R290 is not the popular propane-butane mixture used in LPG systems, and the agent itself is a lot safer to use. Propane is a combustible gas, and its flammability limit is 2.1% by volume in the air. Compared to a propane-butane mixture, it is up to 40% higher, which makes R290 much safer to use. This also means that propane is safe to use even in confined spaces, thanks to the fact that Kaisai units use only 230g of the R290 agent, and their special fireproof protection. It is not possible to obtain a sufficient propane concentration in the air to ignite in rooms with an area of more than 4m², assuming an average air density of 1.2kg/m³ and a room height of 3m. However, it is recommended to increase this safety margin – so do not use mobile air conditioning in rooms with a total area below 12m², in accordance with EU requirements.

R290 has a low sensitivity to moisture, and does not cause corrosion, so it can work in refrigeration systems equipped with both hermetic and semi-hermetic compressor units. This prolongs the service life of the equipment and allows it to be used indoors, throughout the year.

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SMART AC – WIFI

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SMART AC – WIFI

Smart AC is a WiFi module added as standard to all models of wall-mounted air conditioners from KAISAI. Thanks to its application, the user is able to control the device through the app installed on a tablet or a smartphone, even when away from home or office.

By using the WiFi function, the user has the facility to turn the device on or off, and change the temperature and selected operating functions, from virtually any place in the world where the Internet is available. Control via WiFi allows you to save electricity and increase the comfort of use. When coming back from work, you can activate the air conditioner a moment before arriving at the door, to reach the right temperature; this way, the unit does not have to work during your absence.

With wall-mounted air conditioners from KAISAI, the WIFI module is included in the price, and no additional costs are incurred. Installing the module is simple, and requires no special tools.

The WIFI module is located in a special port located under the front panel of the air conditioner’s indoor unit. The next step is downloading and installing the app on your mobile device, and then configuring it to work with the air conditioner. The app dedicated to the module is available for free downloading from the Internet, for both Android and iOS. It is described in detail in the manual attached to the air conditioner, in the section discussing the Smart AC module.

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SPLIT A/C UNITS

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SPLIT A/C UNITS

Home air conditioning is no longer a luxury available only to the richest! It’s a solution which anyone can afford, and it’s a big advantage. Air conditioning provides comfort not only on hot days. It allows you to freely control the temperature in your home, apartment, office, or small retail outlet, replacing or supplementing the heating system. However, the advantages of an air-conditioning system do not stop there, because its installation proves to be a great way to take care of your health, and that of all users. Modern air conditioners eliminate diseases caused by bacteria and fungi in the air.

In addition, the comfort of staying in an air-conditioned room is further increased by the facility to lower the humidity level in the air, and clean the air. This is particularly useful in winter, when the temperature outside does not encourage you to open windows. If you want to fully enjoy the comfort of the air, it is worth choosing your air conditioner carefully, by finding the one suitable for your apartment, house, office, small shop, or other small retail outlet. You can choose between two primary solutions – a portable air conditioner and a split-type air conditioner. The first model is lower priced, and easier to install, but the daily operation of a mobile air conditioner can have its limitations. In this situation, it is worth considering split air conditioning, which provides a high level of air comfort.

The split-type air conditioner

Split-type air conditioning is quiet, efficient, and has low power consumption. It is also the best solution for those who cherish aesthetic values. The variety of the available models means that you can easily find an air conditioner to suit virtually any interior. What is worth knowing about this solution? How do you choose the right air conditioner of this type?

How does it work?

Split-type air conditioners are comprised of two units – an outdoor module, which is mounted on the façade of a building, and an indoor element installed in the air-conditioned room.

The advantage afforded by this solution is that all noise-generating components are installed in the outdoor unit. Indoor units contain only silent devices, which significantly improves the comfort of those present in the room.

Types of unit

Split-type air conditioners can be easily adapted to the interior design in various rooms. See below for a selection of units sold by KAISAI.

  • Wall-mounted – as the name itself suggests, they are fixed to walls. These units feature discreet and minimalistic designs, and will work well both in modern interiors and in apartments decorated with respect for the traditions of interior design. Their advantage is a relatively simple assembly, which does not require modifying the interior in any way.
  • Cassette – this is a solution for owners of apartments and offices with suspended ceilings. The advantage they give is virtually zero interference with the room’s interior design, with the only visible element being a grille with a decorative casing placed between the ceiling tiles.
  • Convertible (or general purpose) – their design allows them to be fixed to the ceiling, on the floor, or in one of two positions, in the case of the general-purpose units.
  • Duct – these indoor units are concealed in suspended ceilings, and the user will only see the inlet and outlet grilles.


 In terms of performance and functionality, both the above solutions are fairly similar. The differences lie in their aesthetics and assembly technology, and these are issues which should determine your choice of the type of indoor unit. It is more common for houses and apartments to choose wall-mounted air conditioners. However, if you are looking for an efficient system for your office, shop, service outlet, or warehouse, then choosing from cassette, general-purpose, or duct air-conditioning systems would be a better solution.

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AIR CONDITIONING FOR HOME AND APARTMENT – WHAT KIND OF HOME AIR CONDITIONER SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

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AIR CONDITIONING FOR HOME AND APARTMENT – WHAT KIND OF HOME AIR CONDITIONER SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

From March to September, the days are longer, and temperatures get higher.  There are periods of several weeks of heat, especially from June to August, which makes it difficult for us to function normally, whether at your house or in an apartment. It is worth thinking about this beforehand, and providing yourself with an ideal  and  comfortable temperature, whatever of the season and time of day.

 

Nowadays, home air conditioning is a one-hundred-percent-efficient solution to prepare for the hot season. This solution, which until recently was still a luxury available only to the few, today is actually accessible to everyone.  A growing number of people are taking advantage of the benefits of home air conditioning; for example those who are having detached houses built. There are many types of air conditioner on the market, but two of them are particularly suitable for home use. Find out more about these, and opt for the solution which works best for your apartment.

 

Split-type A/C units

In Poland, air conditioners of this type are becoming more and more frequent enhancement`s in apartments and detached houses. They stand out for their high efficiency and rather-simple design. They are comprised of two units: external (where all the noise-generating components are installed), and internal. The first is installed outside the building, the second inside the room, where it can comfortably fit in with the interior design of the particular space. This is facilitated by the variety of air conditioners available:

  • Wall-mounted – this is the most-popular and lowest-priced solution. Units of this type are small in size and ideal for small interiors. 
  • Ceiling, floor-standing, or convertible (also referred to as general purpose) – their designs allow them to be mounted on the ceiling, on the floor, or in one of two positions, in the case of the general purpose units. 
  • Cassette – a solution dedicated to rooms with a suspended ceiling. They feature virtually zero interference with the room’s interior design, as the indoor unit is discreetly integrated into the ceiling tiles.
  • Duct – these indoor units are concealed inside a suspended ceiling, and the user will only see the inlet and outlet grilles. 


 
Home air conditioning based on the split-type system will be a good choice, primarily for:

  • Quiet work – the sound-pressure level of the wall-mounted indoor unit ranges from 25 to 43 decibels, which means that a working home air conditioner does not distract or make people in the room stressed.
  • Ease of use – air-conditioning systems are controlled by a remote control; if you select the correct outdoor unit, you can use it to connect 2-5 indoor units
    with different capacities, matching the system to the number and volume
    of rooms.

When installing split-type home air conditioners, you must take into account the need to obtain the appropriate permit and installation method. What’s worth knowing:

  • Installation – this requires the involvement of a professional team, which has an impact on the budget and expenditures related to the investment, which can go up by as much as 1,000 PLN.
  • Permits – this applies only to the owners of apartments in multi-family buildings. When making a decision to install such a system, you have to obtain a permit from the building’s manager or administrator, and that can prove to be impossible in certain situations.

 

Portable air conditioners

Portable air conditioners are an excellent alternative to split-type air conditioners. They will work well in smaller rooms (up to 30 square metres) and under low heat loads. Their main advantages include:

  • Low price – when compared to the prices of other types of air-conditioning units and the cost of their installation (no specialist required).
  • Easy to install – it all comes down to fitting a hot-air-extraction pipe
    and connecting the air conditioner to the power supply
  • Mobility – although it is possible to move the air conditioner between buildings or different floors of the same building, you mainly take advantage of its mobility to use the same device in the living room, in the evening, and in the bedroom at night, for example.

If used at home, such an air-conditioning system has some limitations when compared to the solution discussed above:

  • Performance – this is significantly lower than with split-type systems,
  • Noise level during operation – portable air conditioners are not as quiet as split-type air conditioners. Therefore, if you are particularly sensitive to noise, it will be harder to concentrate or fall asleep when the unit is working nearby.

Finally, portable devices can also dehumidify the air, and some models also feature  a heating function, for example the KAISAI KPPD.

 
How much power does home air conditioning use?

Home air conditioning usually has a low cooling capacity, which means that power consumption is also not very high. Electric power drawn from the mains by an air conditioner is about 3 times lower than its cooling capacity. Thus, an air conditioner with the lowest capacity of 2.6KW will consume less than 1kW of electricity
per hour of operation.

 

Is the energy-efficiency class important?

The more economical a device is, the higher is its energy class. When purchasing an air conditioner, it is therefore worthwhile to ensure that the energy class of the unit is at least class A. When operating the air conditioner, remember to close the windows in the air-conditioned room, thus contributing to the savings on energy bills. Do not set too low a room temperature on your remote control, as this can increase the operating costs.

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WHAT DOES AN A/C TECHNICAL SERVICE CONSIST OF AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

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WHAT DOES AN A/C TECHNICAL SERVICE CONSIST OF AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

Air conditioning in our house provides unique comfort during hot summer days, but you should remember to clean it on a regular basis, in order to make sure it always works efficiently.

A dirty air conditioner becomes a natural base for all kinds of micro-organisms, fungi and moulds, which has a negative impact on our health. Those suffering from allergies should be particularly vigilant, as pollen and mites, to which they are particularly allergic, can also be found in dirty air conditioning systems, and enter our bodies with the pumped air with no effort at all.

In this respect, disinfection is a particularly important service operation performed on the indoor unit. There is a wide range of products available on the market with cleaning, disinfecting, bactericidal and mould-repellent properties. Some of them require rinsing with water after use, while others allow the air conditioning system to start up after just a few minutes, without any need to rinse it. All chemical preparations must be certified in terms of its chemical composition and impact on the health of users.

Is A/C servicing only necessary for health reasons?

The proper maintenance of an air conditioning system has a major impact on extending its service life, as well. By carrying out regular maintenance, in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, the A/C units can operate for many years, while maintaining their technical parameters, such as performance, noise level and electricity consumption. Thanks to the cyclical inspections, minor defects can also be detected and remedied in good time, thus preventing more serious failures. Therefore, maintenance should be carried out twice a year: in spring and autumn, to ensure its optimum level.

In facilities more exposed to pollution, such as service points, restaurants, or technical rooms, service inspections should be carried out more frequently. It is also advisable to increase the frequency of maintenance activities, throughout the year, when using air conditioning not only for the purpose of cooling but also for heating the air.  

We should also bear in mind that the obligation to maintain the air-conditioning system results not only from the economic calculation and care for our health, but it is also a pre-condition for maintaining a warranty on the air conditioning system.

The basic activities performed during air conditioning maintenance:

  • monitoring air filter contamination in the indoor unit – its changing or washing;
  • washing and disinfecting the inner heat exchanger with a cleaning and disinfecting agent;
  • monitoring and washing the condensate system – unclogging, if required;
  •  cleaning the external heat exchanger.

 

In addition, the following inspections are also carried out during maintenance:

  • the condition of the fans in both the indoor and outdoor units;
  • the air-tightness of the system and the amount of refrigerant in the unit;
  • values of the current consumed by the air conditioning components;
  • status of the batteries in the remote control.

If carried out in this manner, the inspection will reassure us that the quality of the air being blown out is correct and we can enjoy the efficient operation of the air conditioning system. All service operations should be carried out by a qualified service company, which has all the necessary authorisation certificates.