Perfect for cooling down a single room or studio. Window kit supplied for left and right side of unit - ideal for vertical opening windows. User-friendly controls and remote. Easy to remove washable air filter with helpful reminder. Modes: dry, auto, energy saver, sleep Remote control and window installation kit included Up to 24 hours timer setting Fresh air vent for air circulation and odor removal Thermostat controlled energy saver Electronic controls with digital display Easy out and washable air filter a free copy from the Adobe Web site.When you hold your hand up to a vent or feel the intake of air at your air conditioner's filter, you can feel how rapidly it circulates air through your home. Another substance, coolant, also flows through its own closed system within your air conditioner. That hidden system holds the key to how your AC unit cools your home. Air conditioners and refrigerators rely on a fundamental property of gases to cool the surrounding air.

As pressure on a gas decreases, the gas expands and cools; increasing pressure makes the temperature rise. You could also express these phase changes as evaporation and condensation, which is how evaporator coils and condenser coils get their names. how do ac units workRefrigerants, including Freon and Puron, may never need recharging throughout the life of your AC.how to determine what size ac unit The coolant in the system travels through four components:best window ac unit 2013 The blower moves warm indoor air over the chilled evaporator apparatus as the exterior exhaust fan moves hot air away from the heated condenser coils. All air conditioning systems, including window units, heat pumps and ductless units, operate on the same principle.

They differ only in the size and configuration of the coils. You might think of your air conditioner as adding cool air to your home, but it's more accurate to say that your AC unit subtracts heat from indoor air and transfers it outside. That transfer takes place in the evaporator coils on the interior half of your air conditioning system. As the coolant inside the metal coils evaporates, it acts as a heat sink for the air that moves across it from the blower. Copper conducts heat readily, so the coils that contain the coolant are usually made of this metal. To maximize surface area and provide more cooling power, the copper coils have metal fins or vanes surrounding them. In a dual or hybrid heat pump system, the same coils that act as evaporation sites in the summer to cool your home become condensation sites in the winter to provide warmth. Keeping the coils clean is vital to proper heat exchange. When dust and debris collect on coils, the particles form an insulating layer that prevents warm household air from the blower from reaching the chilled metal.

If you smoke or cook frequently, you may need additional cleaning power for dirty coils. Investing in quality air filters may save you challenging cleaning jobs in the future. Just as a glass of iced lemonade develops beads of condensation on a hot, humid day, evaporation coils can collect droplets of water. Cooled, conditioned air can hold less water vapor, so the remaining water condenses on the coil's surfaces. Drain pans normally collect the condensation and move it outside your home, but a clogged drain can cause water leaks. Interior coils can also freeze up if they become too cold; it may seem strange that ice makes your air conditioner less efficient, but iced coils cannot transfer heat effectively and should be allowed to thaw before turning the unit on again. During routine seasonal maintenance, your AC service cleans the interior coils for you, but if you notice reduced cooling capacity, check the coils for signs of dirt or ice. A brush and a commercial coil cleaning spray can remove the worst of the soil, but turn off the power to the unit before attempting to clean the coils.

If you feel unsure about working with your AC unit's coils, call a professional instead of trying to do the work yourself and risking damage to delicate metal vanes. Your air conditioner's condenser apparatus is outside where waste heat can dissipate to the outdoor air as the heated gas inside it returns to its liquid state under pressure. Like the interior coils, the exterior coils are a heat transfer site; in this case, though, the heat moves in the opposite direction, going from the coolant into the surrounding air with the help of exhaust fans. Like evaporator arrays, condenser arrays typically contain copper or other metals that easily transfer heat. Their vanes are built into the exterior unit to facilitate cooling. Your air conditioner runs more efficiently when excess heat leaves the system quickly, so keeping the coils clean can lower your utility bills and lengthen the lifespan of your system. Outside units are susceptible to collecting dust, pollen and other debris, but they are easier to clean than interior coils.

A stiff nylon brush, a can of commercial cleaning solution and a hose are usually sufficient to remove any build-up of dirt. As with interior unit cleaning jobs, turn off power to the unit before cleaning the vanes, coils and grill. If the unit has not been cleaned in some time, it's best to call a professional AC service to clean the coils thoroughly. For the first time cleaning interior or exterior coils, calling HVAC specialists such as the certified technicians at Air Conditioning Southeast is a good idea. Your technician can give you tips on keeping coils clean and free of debris and help you devise a maintenance schedule to make your AC run at peak efficiency.A window air conditioning unit provides a convenient way to cool a room—and is an economical alternative to retrofitting a house with central air. Labor costs commonly range from $70 to $150 to install a typical window unit, but if preparation requirements or the size or location of the air conditioner call for extra time, skill, or manpower, the cost of the could reach $300 or more.

Installing a window air conditioning unit is usually a pretty straightforward process, making it a good project for a handyman or a competent do-it-yourselfer. If a window can easily accept the unit without modifications or extra support and there is a power supply available at the site, a handyman can probably secure, connect, and test an air conditioner within an hour. If there isn’t an appropriate power supply nearby, you’ll need to call in an electrician to install an outlet prior to the installation. Most installation work is priced according to the time involved, and some pros charge flat rates for straightforward jobs. It’s common for a handyman or installer to charge a minimum fee of $50 to $100 for this kind of work, or between $25 and $60 per hour. If there is some site preparation or other work required, such as the installation of a support bracket or drainage line, the cost of installation will reflect the added time and any materials used for the job. Installing a window air conditioner is an economical way to cool a single room or area, and installing one is much simpler than setting up a central or ductless system.

If you’re able to install the unit on your own you can pocket the cost of labor, but even if you bring in a pro it’s still an affordable job. Most window air conditioner installations involve placing the unit in an open window, adding support on the exterior wall if needed, sealing the space around the unit, and connecting it to a power source. The ease of installation makes this a quick project for a handyman or other pro. Hiring a pro to install a window AC unit can help ensure it operates correctly and efficiently. A pro will take steps to ensure you have the right power source for your model and that it is installed correctly to prevent damage to your window and keep condensate water from leaking inside your home. The height and accessibility of a window can affect the cost of installing an AC unit. Though most air conditioners are set in place from the inside, some require brackets on the outside of the wall to support their weight. If your air conditioner is going in an upper level window and your pro needs to install brackets from a ladder, the cost of the job will go up.

The ease with which your installer can access the window from inside is important, too. If the AC unit needs to be carried upstairs or placed in a high window, the job could be more challenging than working from the floor at the ground level of the home. Some window styles accommodate air conditioners better than others, and if yours needs some modifications to fit the unit securely, the extra time and materials used will add to the bottom line. Double-hung windows are typically the simplest to work with, and require little or no modification. In order to get a secure installation in a sliding or casement window, removing a sash and/or installing a solid panel may be necessary to seal the opening around the unit. The cost of an air conditioner typically goes up with its size or capacity, but the size and weight of the appliance can affect the cost of installation as well. If your installer needs a second person to carry and maneuver the unit into position, labor could cost twice as much than if a pro can handle the job alone.

Also, larger units are more likely to require the installation of support brackets, which could add $50 to $100 to the cost of the job. The capacity of air conditioners is measured in BTUs, and units are generally labeled for their ability to cool a room up to a certain size. In order to get the most effective and efficient operation from your air conditioner, be sure to choose one that is suited for the place you’ll install it. Also check to see if the unit requires support brackets to prevent damage to the air conditioner or the window. An air conditioner should be plugged directly into a receptacle, not used with an extension cord. Many modern units plug into a standard grounded 110 outlet, but some larger units require 220 or 230 volt connections. If there is not an appropriate outlet near your installation site, an electrician will need to install one before the AC can be connected. This job can cost between $100 and $250 in most cases, depending on the accessibility of the wiring and the distance to the electrical panel.

While the installation of a window air conditioner is usually a straightforward job, the process can be simpler when the installation site is ready to go. Simple steps like removing the window screen and moving furniture out of the way can make the job go faster and smoother for your pro. If you’ve determined that you need a new electrical outlet to suit your air conditioner, be sure to have that job complete before scheduling the AC installation.Since your installer will need to work from the inside of your house, you’ll need to be home at the time of the job. If you are supplying the AC unit for the installation, be sure to have it ready for your pro; if you’re buying a new unit, make sure it’s on site in time for the appointment and if you’re installing one you already own, be sure to have it out of storage or at least accessible. Check ahead of time to determine if your air conditioner requires support brackets and whether your installer will supply them. Installing a window air conditioner is a fairly straightforward project, but the type and location of a window and any special preparation involved can affect the price of the job.