Air conditioners are devices that help us to live a comfortable life. However, air conditioners are expensive and cannot be bought once every two years. Anybody who buys an air conditioner expects that the air conditioner shall last for a number of years.

In order to extend the life of the air conditioner, it is essential to keep it in perfect working condition which is possible only with proper maintenance. Air conditioners must be maintained properly for a number of reasons.

Firstly, proper maintenance of an air conditioner is a must to keep the air conditioner in a proper state of functioning. This ensures that the air conditioner consumes less energy and keeps working for years without malfunctioning.

Air conditioner maintenance is a must if you and your family want to have a healthy life. Air conditioners that are not maintained properly become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria that can cause illness especially to elderly people and young children. Therefore, it is extremely important to keep a regular check on the pipes and hoses for leaks and ensure they are in proper condition.

Changing the air filter every month is equally important as dirty air filters can let in dusty and dirty air that is very harmful for people who are allergy prone or suffer from asthma. You can maintain your air conditioner yourself or obtain professional year long servicing to avoid the above mentioned unfavourable circumstances and enjoy the comforts that an air conditioner provides.

Global warming could have harmful and widespread effects on the temperature of earth. These changes could affect future generations in ways more than one. If sufficient measures to control the process of global warming are not taken, the damage caused by it will be irreparable. One of the biggest causes of global warming is the depletion of the ozone layer. This depletion is being caused by various pollutants that are being released into the air.

The ozone layer is instrumental in protecting everyone who lives on this planet from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Some of the biggest emitters of ozone depleting gases are the refrigerants used in air conditioning units and refrigerators. These are called CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs (hydrocholofluorocarbons).

These substances were widely used in refrigerants before their ozone depleting potential came to light. The CFCs deplete the ozone layer at a much faster rate when compared to HCFCs. There is an increased need to phase out these substances from being used for refrigeration purposes, to protect the environment.

It is imperative that we find cleaner and environmentally safer alternatives to make sure the world is a safe place for future generations. Consumers need to be aware of the ozone depleting potential of the air conditioner that they are just about to purchase. Keeping this in mind will help them pick a model that does not pollute the environment with harmful substances and hence will play a big role in slowing down the process of global warming.

Air conditioners are prized possessions that help you to live a comfortable life even in hot weather. However, like every other object, air conditioners need proper maintenance too. With little effort you can easily keep your air conditioner in perfect working condition.

The most important point about air conditioner maintenance is to keep the air conditioner clean and dust free. The compressor of the air conditioner that is located outside must be cleaned occasionally and covered fully during the period of time when it is not functioning.

Changing the air filter every month is a must to keep the air conditioner in good condition. Air filters filter the external air before cooling it and letting it in your room. If you do not change the air filter for a long time then it will harm the air conditioner as well as affect the health of the people living in your home adversely.

Checking the hoses, ducts and pipes for possible leaks at regular intervals is essential. Make sure that the air conditioner is not installed anywhere near a source of heat. When these few steps are followed the air conditioner is expected to function properly and energy efficiently.

To make the maintenance programme foolproof, you must get the air conditioner checked and serviced by professional experts annually. This helps in early detection and correction of defects in the air conditioner and lets you enjoy a comfortable summer.

An air conditioning unit today has become a must have in every home, office and other places. Air conditioning helps to keep the warm air away during the summer days and lets you sit comfortably in your room. However, for proper working of an air conditioner, you need to maintain and service it on a regular basis.

You need to ensure that the condensing unit is free and not covered by anything. For the air conditioning system to circulate cool air inside, it needs to draw air into the system. If the unit is unable to pull in enough outside air, the entire process gets hindered. There are many people who cover the condenser in order to protect it from outdoor elements. However, these units are specially designed to remain outside and thus they do not require any protection.

When your air conditioner is not in regular use, you should at least run it for a few minutes to keep it in good working condition. If you wait for summer to come and then switch it on, there is a possibility that the unit may not function properly. Dirty air filters restrict the air flow and reduce the efficiency of the unit. In worst cases, it can also cause the evaporator to ice up. If there are any disposable fibreglass filters, they should be replaced. Electronic or electrostatic filters also need to be washed regularly which will eventually help your air conditioner unit to last longer.

An air conditioner can help to provide you with comfort on hot summer days. An air conditioner can be very easily purchased from retail outlets and online stores. There are a whole lot of big brands manufacturing air conditioners and they offer a range of models to suit your needs. Choosing an air conditioner is the first part of getting one. The next step then is its installation.

Installation plays a very big role in deciding how efficiently your air conditioner cools your room. An improperly installed air conditioner will not be able to cool your room well. Moreover, it will also increase your electricity consumption. The main thing to keep in mind when installing an air conditioner is the circulation of air. Research has shown that installing an air conditioner well can help you save about 20 percent on your electricity bills.

Here are a few things that should be kept in mind when installing an air conditioner.

• Ensure that the refrigerant charge is at the right level
• Keep the air supply unit, which is placed outside, in a shaded and appropriate corner
• The thermostat and the control system should always be located in a place which is easily accessible. This will help you have greater control over the working of your air conditioner

As every model has its own specifications and pointers to installation, hiring a professional to install your air conditioner will make sure it is done the right way.

Almost everyone today is aware of the phenomenon called global warming. Most of us do not care much about it as we think it is not affecting us directly.

Most people think that the effort of a single person would have no effect and so they cease taking interest in the matter. However, the fact is that by doing only a little, each person can contribute enormously in slowing down the process of global warming. For example you can make our earth a better place by replacing your cooling unit with a new cooling machine.

The refrigerant gas R-22, which is used in all cooling machines like air conditioners, refrigerators, etc. is a harmful greenhouse gas. Therefore R-22 phase out has been planned which should be in effect from 2010. This, however, will not be possible without mass participation.

R-22 phase out will require every person to use a cooling unit to replace it with, if not a new unit, then at least with an environmentally friendly refrigerant like R-410a. R-22 phase out will contribute to a great extent in the reduction of greenhouse gases. So, contribute in making your planet a better place by helping in R-22 phase out and fulfil your duty as a responsible person.

Air conditioners and heaters should always be able to deliver what we need. Many times it is observed that air conditioner units do not function properly when they are required the most. The reason for this inefficiency is because they are not maintained properly on a regular basis.

If the air conditioning unit is maintained regularly, it can ideally last for 12-15 years. In a few cases it does last more than that. Central air conditioners and window units need regular maintenance to perform properly and efficiently. Initially, you need to make sure that your air conditioner is draining properly as it should be and is not leaking.

If too much water is allowed to escape or too much water is allowed to remain in the system, the air conditioning unit will never function efficiently. You need to check the hose connections regularly and make sure that there are no leaks or cracks in it. Also, you need to ensure that the condensation tube should be able to drain without any obstruction.

The filters also need to be changed every 4-6 weeks. If anyone at your home suffers from any type of allergy, having the filters cleaned regularly can surely help them. Also the outside air compressor should be cleaned with water on a regular basis. A garden hose can do the trick. To let the air flow freely, all things should be kept away from the compressor. By ensuring these things, you can increase the life of your air conditioning unit.

Air conditioning is a common feature in every large building, be it an office, a shopping centre or anything else. It is necessary to keep the centralised air conditioning system in perfect working condition 24/7.

At home your personal air conditioner can be maintained by you and your family members, but in the above mentioned buildings, the required care of the air conditioning system can only be taken by opting for a year-long professional servicing contract.

Since the professional servicing is done by trained experts they are better able to take care of the air conditioning system, ensuring its efficient working without any malfunctioning. Another benefit of opting for a year-long servicing contract is that since the air conditioner remains well maintained it also works more efficiently consuming less energy.

Further, when an air conditioning system is maintained properly and its every problem is detected at an early stage and corrected immediately, the longevity of the air conditioning system is increased considerably.

Negligence in proper maintenance of the air conditioning unit can result in chaos due to malfunctioning of the machine. To ensure that nothing of this nature occurs, it is therefore essential to obtain the services of trained professionals through the year long servicing contract. So, sign a year long servicing contract and ensure better air conditioning and a longer life of the air conditioning unit.

It is more of a necessity than a luxury to use air conditioning units during the warm summer months. Thanks to research and development, there are now different models of air conditioning units available to suit everyone’s requirements.

Choosing from a wide array of air conditioning units can be quite difficult. After choosing the right air conditioning unit, it is necessary to get it installed in the right way. Installing air conditioners is no mean feat. Improper installation can impact on the performance of your unit and damage it in the long run. It can also affect your electricity bills and restrict cooling air flow, leaving hot spots, thereby inviting a host of serious maintenance issues. Improper installation of your air conditioning unit can also impact its efficiency levels.

The job of installing one of these technical units is difficult and so you should always get an air conditioning expert to complete the task. There are some important points that installation technicians keep in mind when installing air conditioning units.

The air flow should pass through the air duct system in the air handler easily. The refrigerant unit should be placed at the right level. The air supply unit should also be positioned in the right place. The control system, especially the thermostat should be easily accessible.

R22 refrigerants contain hydrochlorofluorocarbons. These gases damage the ozone layer. This is why companies are now implementing and adhering to refrigerant use laws. More and more countries are now adopting environmentally friendly alternatives.

R22 refrigerants harm the environment. In the event of a refrigerant leak, harmful gases are released in the atmosphere. This further aggravates the problem of global warming. R22 refrigerants are mainly responsible for depleting the ozone layer which protects us from harmful UV rays; hence, it makes sense to use environmentally friendly refrigerants.

R22 refrigerants are currently being phased out. They have been banned by various countries that have come to realise its ozone damaging potential. R 22 cannot now be used in household equipment, some areas of production and certain vehicles. New air conditioning units and refrigeration systems do not use R22 refrigerants. Following the R22 phase out, more and more environmentally friendly alternatives are being identified. These include R404A, R407c and ammonia. These gases are energy efficient and they are not detrimental to the ozone layer.

R22 refrigerants heavily contribute to environmental pollution. The above mentioned alternatives not only lower global warming, they are also ozone friendly.

If we do not take care of the environment we live in, the environment will not take care of us. Merely hoping for a healthy living environment is not enough. We all can do our bit by switching to environmentally friendly ‘green’ gases.