When looking for a new air conditioning unit, it can often be daunting having to talk to someone about an area you aren’t particularly sure of. It can also be confusing if a contractor is talking to you and reeling of lists of technical terms and not being 100 per cent sure on what the actual problem is or what needs to be fixed. With this in mind we have put together a summary of some of the key phrases that will be useful to you when the time comes to buy a new unit or when you need one repaired.
Condensing Unit: This is the part of the air conditioning unit that is outside the building which ensures that the hot air is released outside to the room you are trying to cool.
Compressor: This is located within the condensing unit and is the main culprit for the noise you hear coming from it. Its job is to increase the temperature of the refrigerant and create its pressure as it moves around the unit.
Refrigerant: This is the liquid that is passed through the system which makes cooling the air possible. In air conditioning units that are older, the refrigerant that is used is R-22 but this is being phased out of use since 2010. If and when you are looking for a new unit check that the refrigerant being used is R-410A as it is more environmentally friendly.
Refrigerant Charge: When you have your unit maintained or serviced you are likely to hear the phrase refrigerant charge. This is because in order for the unit to run efficiently it needs to have the correct charge. If the system has a leak or has the incorrect charge, it will not run to its best level of efficiency.
Expansion Device: This is found before the evaporator coil. When the compressor has sent the refrigerant around the unit this is where the pressure that is caused from this process is released.
Evaporator Coil: This is located inside the part of the system that is found inside the building. This is where the heat from the room you are trying to cool is sent to the outdoor unit.
Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER): This is the rating that is given to the air conditioning units and geo-thermal heat pumps. It measures the rate of efficiency of the unit at certain temperatures. The efficiency level that you should be looking for is 11.6 or higher.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER): This is the ratio that is given to the central air conditioning unit and measures the average efficiency of the unit over the season. The greatest efficiency level will be 14 SEER or higher.
When looking for a new air conditioning unit, it can often be daunting having to talk to someone about an area you aren’t particularly sure of. It can also be confusing if a contractor is talking to you and reeling of lists of technical terms and not being 100 per cent sure on what the actual problem is or what needs to be fixed. With this in mind we have put together a summary of some of the key phrases that will be useful to you when the time comes to buy a new unit or when you need one repaired.
Condensing Unit: This is the part of the air conditioning unit that is outside the building which ensures that the hot air is released outside to the room you are trying to cool.
Compressor: This is located within the condensing unit and is the main culprit for the noise you hear coming from it. Its job is to increase the temperature of the refrigerant and create its pressure as it moves around the unit.
Refrigerant: This is the liquid that is passed through the system which makes cooling the air possible. In air conditioning units that are older, the refrigerant that is used is R-22 but this is being phased out of use since 2010. If and when you are looking for a new unit check that the refrigerant being used is R-410A as it is more environmentally friendly.
Refrigerant Charge: When you have your unit maintained or serviced you are likely to hear the phrase refrigerant charge. This is because in order for the unit to run efficiently it needs to have the correct charge. If the system has a leak or has the incorrect charge, it will not run to its best level of efficiency.
Expansion Device: This is found before the evaporator coil. When the compressor has sent the refrigerant around the unit this is where the pressure that is caused from this process is released.
Evaporator Coil: This is located inside the part of the system that is found inside the building. This is where the heat from the room you are trying to cool is sent to the outdoor unit.
Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER): This is the rating that is given to the air conditioning units and geo-thermal heat pumps. It measures the rate of efficiency of the unit at certain temperatures. The efficiency level that you should be looking for is 11.6 or higher.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER): This is the ratio that is given to the central air conditioning unit and measures the average efficiency of the unit over the season. The greatest efficiency level will be 14 SEER or higher.