The Different Types of Air ConditionersPart 1: The Three Types of Air Filters HVAC's Impact on IAQ and Energy Efficiency IAQ   Article Use Policy The air-filtration industry has seen its share of changes over the last decade. Manufacturers have created new products that not only have improved indoor air quality (IAQ) but also have reduced the cost of installing and operating air-filtration equipment in commercial and institutional facilities. Besides technology improvements, industry organizations are adopting standards, guidelines and requirements that promote healthy IAQ. Debate continues on the impact IAQ can have on building occupants, including whether productivity and overall occupant health improves as air quality improves. As maintenance and engineering managers continue to focus on IAQ and its impact on their facilities and occupants, manufacturers are providing them with more efficient HVAC systems and components, including air filters. These technology advances include reduced pressure drops and improved filter efficiency, as well as smaller fans and motors, due to the reduced pressure drop across the filters.

When the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) introduced IAQ standards, it signaled an important change in the air-filtration industry. ASHRAE has been promoting the adoption of the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) system to standardize definitions of efficiencies. MERV measures a filter's arrestance — a filter's ability to remove large airborne particles from the air — and dust-spot efficiency — its ability to remove small airborne particles — and assigns a number based on the filter's ability to remove the particles. Several types of air filters are common in commercial HVAC systems:This throwaway air filter is the most common type. Layered fiberglass fibers are laid over each other to form the filter media and typically are reinforced with a metal grating that supports the fiberglass to prevent failure and collapse. Polyester and pleated filters. These filters are similar to fiberglass filters but typically have a higher resistance to airflow and a superior dust-stopping ability.

High efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filters. These units filter the air passing through them at a very fine scale. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its contractors use HEPA filters that meet DOE standard STD-3020-97, Specification for HEPA Filters Used by DOE Contractors, to filter 99.97 percent of all particles 0.3 microns or larger.These products are not as common and rely on the build-up of dust along the cloth to improve the efficiency of the filter. replace inside ac unitIndustrial processes involving high volumes of coarse dust are typical applications.how stuff works ac dc Because filters are fairly simple — they essentially are porous membranes that allow air to flow through them — little change has occurred to improve problems associated with air pressure drop and its impact on energy efficiency.ac unit at home depot

Part 1: The Three Types of Air Filters Part 2: HVAC's Impact on IAQ and Energy EfficiencyWhat are DX units? DX units are types of air conditioning systems that directly cool the air supplied to a building. They come as split or packaged systems. What are the types of LG air conditioning systems? Do Trane air conditioning systems receive favorable reviews? Direct expansion, or DX, air conditioning units feature evaporators that are in direct contact with the supplying air. The evaporator absorbs heat from the air supply by expanding the refrigerant, which then flows to a compressor. The compressed refrigerant moves to a condenser, releasing the heat absorbed from the air supply. The final stage of the cycle is the flow of the condensed refrigerant back to the evaporator.DX units take up less space than centralized cooling systems and can be less costly to install. They come in two types: split or packaged.Split DX unitsSplit DX units generally have the evaporator and fans inside the building, with the remaining components situated outside, making the unit more flexible to install.

As parts of the system are located away from the cooling area, the noise levels are lower.Packaged DX unitsPackaged DX units contain all the components in one system, as well as the internal ducting and fans. The units are easier to install than split units for local zones in buildings. They generally occupy less space and require less ventilation. Do portable air conditioners consume less electricity than regular air conditioners? Portable air conditioners generally consume less electricity than regular air conditioners, since they do not cool an entire building. By restricting air c... How does an air conditioner work? Air conditioners work by using a chemical refrigerant to chill the air inside of a building. The chemical is alternately compressed and cooled as it is con... What are the disadvantages of Rheem air conditioning units? What is a space heater? Where can you buy Trane XR13 air conditioners? Where can you buy whirlybird roof vents?

What are some HVAC components in addition to air conditioners? What qualifications should a licensed boiler inspector have? How do I choose an air conditioner? An AJ Madison appliance expert describes the different types of room air conditioners. Watch and learn which air conditioner type is right for your space. Will an air conditioner with higher BTU cool my room faster? BTUs determine how much cold air comes out of the unit, but problems can occur if the air conditioner is oversized for the space. The more cold air that comes out � the more area it needs to circulate to avoid giving the thermostat a false reading. If the unit is oversized, the cold air bounces off the wall back onto itself giving the thermostat a false reading � causing the compressor to shut off because the thermostat reads that the set temperature has been achieved. While the unit is off � the thermostat is able to read the room�s actual temperature, which kicks the compressor back on.

This process will continue, causing the compressor to cycle off and on every two to three minutes, but never staying on long enough to effectively cool the room or remove uncomfortable humidity. Use AJ Madison�s BTU calculator to find the correct amount of BTUs for the area you would like to cool. This chart can also be used as a general guide. When cooling rooms with poor insulation, great rooms, or southern or western sun exposures, step up to the next BTU size. Manual controls will have a knob where you set the temperature to low, medium, or high. Electronic controls have a touchpad and a digital display which allows you to set the unit to a specific temperature. The unit has to have electronic controls for use of a remote control. Shop Room Air Conditioners When a unit says that there is electric heat there is a heat strip in the unit that uses the fan to distribute the heat. Electric heat is meant to subsidize an existing heat source. A heat pump function is similar to an air conditioner, however, instead of cooling the air like it would in the summer it heats the air and redistributes it into the room.

It often will not work when it is colder than 40 degrees (except some PTAC and Ductless Splits) outside, but some units have electric heat backup. If heat is very important to you a PTAC or Ductless Split unit could be your best choice. Please look at the air conditioner description or call us at 1-800-570-3355 to talk with an air conditioning expert. Shop all Air Conditioners with Heat/Cool Energy star is a government backed program that tests products energy efficiency. Products that meet strict energy efficiency requirements determined by the EPA and the US Department of Energy are labeled as Energy Star. Shop all Energy Star Air Conditioners The higher the Energy Efficiently Rating (EER), the more efficient the air conditioner. The EER of an air conditioner is determined by how many BTUs per hour are used for each watt of power. Air conditioners with a higher EER usually are accompanied by a higher price tag but cost less to run. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) is commonly used to measure central and ductless air conditioning.

All air conditioners must have a SEER rating of at least 10 to be sold in the United States. Air conditioners that are Energy Star have higher EERs and SEERs. What is a chassis? What is the difference between a fixed chassis and slide-out chassis? A chassis is the frame that supports the guts of an air conditioner. When the air conditioner is described as a fixed chassis, the chassis does not slide out � these air conditioners are for window installation only. Air conditioners with slide-out chassis can be installed into a window or a wall. They are easier to repair because the inside of the machine is easily accessed by sliding out the chassis. All air conditioners will make some sort of noise however the air conditioners on the market have been engineered to be quieter than older units. Friedrich air conditioners are known to be the quietest room air conditioners in the industry. Ductless split air conditioning systems are quietest type of air conditioner since the compressor is outside the home.