Small Air Conditioner – How to install
Hot weather makes many people uncomfortable. It gives an uneasy feeling so people could not work properly, study well or sleep soundly. In short many people are negatively affected by hot weather. To answer this problem people rely on air conditioners. An air conditioner is a machine that cools down air. Many people think that air conditioner brings in cool air. No, they do not. What they do is just cool down the available air in the room and cycle them back. Air conditioners come in different shapes and sizes. But whatever form they come in, they basically do just the same.
Choosing, buying, installing and cleaning an air conditioner is not a simple matter. But it is also not difficult to do. Here are some tips that can guide you from the selection process to maintenance.
Choosing and buying the air conditioner
1. Measure the square footage of the room. You do this by multiplying the length of the room by its width. For example the length of the room is 15 feet and the width is 8 feet, the floor area of the room is 120 square feet.
2. Match the square footage of the room with the recommended cooling capacity measure in British Thermal Units per hour or BTUs per hour. Look at the ratio below for your guidance.
100 to 150 square feet - 5,000 BTUs per hour
150 to 250 square feet - 6,000 BTUs per hour
250 to 300 square feet - 7,000 BTUs per hour
300 to 350 square feet - 8,000 BTUs per hour
350 to 400 square feet - 9,000 BTUs per hour
400 to 450 square feet - 10,000 BTUs per hour
450 to 550 square feet - 12,000 BTUs per hour
550 to 700 square feet - 14,000 BTUs per hour
700 to 1,000 square feet - 18,000 BTUs per hour
1,000 to 1,200 square feet - 21,000 BTUs per hour
1,200 to 1,400 square feet - 23,000 BTUs per hour
1,400 to 1,500 square feet - 24,000 BTUs per hour
1,500 to 2,000 square feet - 30,000 BTUs per hour
2,000 to 2,500 square feet - 34,000 BTUs per hour
3. A small room usually requires just a small air conditioner. A small air conditioner is more than enough to give a small room enough cooling.
4. Consider also the number of people who will be using the room during a single time. A small air conditioner may be enough for a room used by a few people but not for a room used by many.
Installing an air conditioner
1. Determine where you want to install your air conditioner. Generally, it is easier to find a place where you can install a small air conditioner because they occupy less space. A small air conditioner does not usually break a good room layout since it is just small and not so obtrusive.
2. Measure the window opening where you will have your unit installed. The air conditioning unit fit the window opening pretty tightly. Again finding a window for a small air conditioner is not really very difficult because most windows are large enough to accommodate its size. There is really no need to have windows and panes adjusted for a small air conditioner to fit.
3. Install the mounting bracket found with the unit. When you do this make sure that you carefully understand and follow the procedure provided by the manufacturer.
4. Put the air conditioner into the opening and attach it to the mounting brackets you have just installed. This portion of the procedure is easier done with a small air conditioner because it is light weight. In fact when you install a small air conditioner you can do it on your own unlike when you install a big one where you need help from others.
5. Safely attach the unit into the window frame.
6. Put foam in spaces between the air conditioner and the window frames to prevent cool air from flowing out.
7. Install drainage hose.
Cleaning the air conditioner
1. Turn off the air conditioner before you start cleaning it.
2. Pull it out of the window opening. Again this should be easy if what you have is a small air conditioner.
3. Remove the cover and clean it with a vacuum cleaner.
4. Remove the filter and clean it with water. Make sure you let it dry before reinstalling it.
5. Hose down the unit but make sure that water does not run off to the electrical parts.
6. Clean the drain holes.
7. Reinstall the air conditioner. Make sure that all parts are completely dry before you do this step.
Follow this guide to help you choose, buy, install and clean your air conditioner to make it effective and to make it last long.