How to Keep Your Automobile Air Conditioning System in Great Condition

No one wants to suffer through a hot day without air conditioning. It's uncomfortable in your home, but it can be even worse in your car. Traffic seems worse. The people almost crashing into you seem to be driving extra egregiously. The sun is shining directly through your windshield just to spite you. To avoid all of this, follow these tips for keeping the a/c in your car working in top condition.

Maintain Your Drive Belt

- The drive belt is what makes the air conditioning compressor turn. This keeps cooling refrigerant circulating.

- If your belt is cracked, stretched or worn the belt can slip or break. This makes the compressor stop which causes circulation and your cooling to also stop.

- The drive belt can be hard to find on your car so ask a technician to show you where it is located.

Air Conditioning Condenser

- This part is found in front of your car's radiator. It looks like the radiator as well.

- How this part works is that the refrigerant runs through it, air flows across the cooling fins and the heat from the refrigerant is removed.

- Heat won't be removed properly if the fins are damaged or clogged with debris. This can cause your vehicle to overheat.

- To keep fins in good condition, make sure they are clean.

Use Your Senses

- Touch: If the carpet is wet on hot, humid days the air conditioner's drain may be clogged. The water should be dripping to the pavement under the vehicle after it is parked. Also, check if the amount of air coming out of the vents feels the same. If not, especially if you've been driving for awhile, the evaporator could be freezing up.

- Hearing: If you hear an abnormal noise or if there is vibration, there may be debris in the blower fan.

- Smell: You may smell a musty or mildew smell when the fan is turned on (or it may even be apparent all the time). This may mean that mold or mildew is growing in the evaporator. To prevent this you should turn you're a/c switch away from max air when turning your car off. You should also turn the a/c recirculation switch off when parked. If mold or mildew has already built up on the evaporator, you can get it cleaned at a service center.

Additional Tips

- If your car has been sitting in the sun while parked, roll your windows down and leave the recirculation button off. When the hot air is gone, turn the recirculation button back on and roll the windows back up for more efficient cooling.

- During winter you can use your air conditioning on the windshield to get rid of internal fogging. This also keeps the oil that your drive shaft uses as a shield from drying out and releasing refrigerant.

- An important reason to keep your air conditioner in good condition is that if the compressor fails, the belt could break which can take your alternator and water pump out of commission as well.

The Connection Between Obesity and Portable or Central Air Conditioners

Air conditioning is what most people turn to when the weather is hot and steamy to keep them cool and comfortable. But even though it is usually a comfort, could it be a cause of obesity? Some studies say yes.

While some studies agree that portable or central air conditioning can be a cause of obesity, they differ on the exact reason that a person exposed to air conditioning gains weight. One theory is that air conditioning keeps people in the thermoneutral zone. This is a temperature range in which the body does not have to regulate its temperature. If the temperature of the body is above or below this zone, the amount of energy the body expends is increased and energy stores like fat are decreased. Since the widespread use of heaters and portable or central air conditioners, homes and offices remain at relatively the same temperature for the whole year. The body does not have to spend as much energy because there is no warming up or cooling down. This leads to increased fat stores. A slightly different theory is that air conditioning makes you hungry because the body burns calories to warm you up. You'll feel more compelled to eat to make up those burned calories.

When these air conditioning/obesity studies came out there were a lot of dissenting opinions. Some experts did not believe there was enough evidence to tie air conditioning to obesity causally. They pointed out the fact that there are thin people in different climates. They also turned to the usual suspects when it comes to the causes of obesity: an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise.

Surprisingly there are some sneakier factors that might be causing obesity. One is sleep deprivation. Tired people most likely to do have the energy to exercise. This lack of energy also leads them to temptation when it comes to eating or overeating in an attempt to gain energy. Quitting smoking was another sneaky factor. Some people replace the habit of lighting up with snacking. Some ethnic groups have a higher prevalence for obesity as well. There is also a theory that since people marrying might be more likely to pick a partner that is similarly sized; two obese people will give birth to obese offspring. Another theory gaining speed is that the older a woman is when she gives birth, the higher the risk is of her child being obese.

Are Air Conditioners Detrimental to Aspiring Singers?

You are at a concert. It's one of your favorite bands or singers and they are really rocking the house. The whole crowd is swaying to the music. But you just cannot get into it. It is too hot in there to concentrate.

You try to figure out the reason why. Maybe all the body heat in the room is overpowering the air conditioning. Maybe you are just really excited and your body is reacting by overheating. Maybe the air conditioning is broken. Would you ever believe that the swampy misery you are suffering through is at the request of the band or singer you love so much?

It's shocking but true. There is an alarming trend among singers. They are afraid of air conditioning. Madonna requests minimal to no air conditioning in the venues she performs at. If the air conditioning is too cool for her taste, she will call out for management to turn it off. It has been known to get up to 87 degrees inside the venue by the end of the concert.

Other singers have followed suit. Aretha Franklin is also scared of cooling. She gets quite upset and leaves if air conditioning is on. She thinks coolant will destroy her voice. Celine Dion had a highly controlled temperature/humidity performance bubble built for her at Caesar's Palace. At the front of the stage there is enhanced ventilation and humidity, which are great conditions for singers. Alanis Morisette will not even walk into a room that has air conditioning. She believes that they are the cause of illness.

Mariah Carey has a twist onto her fears of air conditions affecting her voice. To protect her precious vocals, she sleeps in a steam room. She has twenty humidifiers surrounding her bed. Her bed is covered with terry cloth and the ceiling is angled so that water won't fall on her. Her television is behind glass to prevent water damage.

Are these singers just being fussy, or is there validity to their fears? Air conditioning can cause vocal problems. It can aggravate dust allergies and alter the humidity level of a room. Cold dry air can dry out your throat, causing you to be hoarse. Also, you can become more sensitive to temperature difference when entering or departing the cold air, making chills and colds easier to be caught and also potentially upsetting your system including your skin.

Some ways to preserve your voice in the face of air conditioning are:

-Drink extra filtered or spring water during the hours of exposure.

-Moisten vocal cords with steam or an atomizer.

-Don't use cough drops, tea with lemon and honey is better.

-Keep your throat warm with a high-necked sweater, shirt, coat or scarf.

-Keep your immune system strong with vitamin supplements.

So the next time your concert is sweltering, you shouldn't complain. It may be the thing that keeps your favorite act sounding great. Maybe you should avoid air conditioning is you are striving to be a singer too. If you do, you could be the next one selling out arenas. Or at least the next contestant on American Idol.

Too Much Air Conditioning at Work?

Are you always bundling up at work or shivering while the co-worker next to you seems perfectly comfortable in the air-conditioned air? This is because people experience temperature differently. Even when your office is in the "comfort range", only 80 percent of people are comfortable. You are experiencing thermal discomfort, which is a condition that can be felt even if there is only a small chance of developing a medical condition like hypothermia, heat stroke, heat exhaustion or heat stress.

To solve the problem of thermal discomfort you should identify the external sources of coldness.

Air temperature: How hot or cold the surrounding air is.

Humidity: How much moisture is in the air.

Air movement: This includes air speed (or wind speed), and air circulation.

Radiant heat: This is the heat that radiates from the sun, or emitted by plants, buildings, fixtures or processes.

You can also look for internal factors that may be causing your thermal discomfort. The hypothalamus at the base of your brain is the thermostat center in your body. The thyroid gland in your body is the way that the metabolism is regulated. Everyone has a unique ideal temperature and here are the reasons why:

Weight: The more body fat you have, the more insulation and you probably won't feel as cold.

Fitness: If you have a higher amount of dense muscle, your body will regulate temperature more efficiently. Also, exercise helps to enhance the overall regulation of your body's system.

Diet: Your body needs nutrients to work efficiently. If it does not get them, you could feel tired and cold.

Gender: Women tend to suffer from hypothyroidism more. This is a condition where the thyroid does not work enough and causes you to feel cold. Women are also affected by menstrual cycles and menopause which can affect body temperature. Less muscle mass is apparent in women which lowers average body temperature and causes temperature irregularity in some women.

Age: As people get older they do not produce as many hormones. This makes you feel colder. Hormonal surges during menopause can also cause hot flashes.

Stress: Being too tense or uptight can reduce circulation and make you feel colder.

The main thing is to listen to your body. You may just be the sort of person who has to wear more layers to feel comfortable. If you find yourself suddenly needing four more layers it may be time to see a doctor.

To manage your personal thermal discomfort at work so that you can focus on the jobs or tasked assigned to you, try these solutions:

-Blankets: can provide extra warmth

-Do physical activities, like walk around the office while completing a task

-Hats: 50% of your body heat is lost through your head

-Be Flexible: During the colder months change your schedule so that you are there during warmer hours, or try to work from home if possible. You can also rotate tasks in cooler and warmer workspaces.

Split Air Conditioners- The New Frontier

Central air conditioners are the standard solutions for cooling used in most American homes. Sometimes they seem like they are hurting more than helping, though. They use large amounts of electricity, deplete the ozone with their refrigerants and produce a bunch of noise with their condensers. What if there was another way?

Split air conditioners are the new way to cool your home without the gripes of a central air conditioner. They only produce 1/20th of the noise because of the improvements in fan blade shape and compressor technology. The new R410A refrigerant is free of chlorine (which eats away at the ozone layer). They also use way less energy at only 1,710 watts per hour of electricity to cool an average home.

A split air (or ductless) air conditioner have an indoor air handling unit and an outdoor compressor/condenser. A small hole is drilled through the wall of the building it is cooling to connect the two components with a conduit housing the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing and condensate drain. This closed loop between the evaporator and condenser/compressor circulates refrigerant. Heat is captured from the building being cooled and carried outside to a fan that blows it away.

One important factor to consider when purchasing a split air conditioner is the seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER). The higher this ratio is, the better the system efficiency and the lower your electricity bills. The minimum SEER by law is ten, but it will be thirteen by next year. You should also look for units with a low decibel rating. The quieter units have a rating of 68 dB. A great feature is a diagnostics port that helps a technician quickly find problems electronically.

A two-stage compressor is also useful on a split air conditioner. This kind of compressor only uses full power when it's needed on the hottest days. The rest of the time the refrigerant isn't compressed and cooled as much. This means the air handler is on for a longer amount of time and it has enough to take the humidity out of the air.

The size of the condenser is also an important consideration. Picking the right size gives you the maximum comfort and minimum energy expense. Consider these things when picking the condenser size:

-Your home's layout

-The insulation levels

-Air leakage

-Sun exposure

-General climate

You may need to call on a professional to help you choose the correct unit. If the condenser is undersized, it will overwork and clog with frost. This means the system will shut down without having properly cooled your home. If the condenser is oversized, your home will be cooled down too quickly. This doesn't seem like much of a problem, but it will once you realize that the thermostat has shut down the air handler before it has had a chance to circulate and dehumidify the air completely, leaving your home cold and clammy.

Some last suggestions when choosing a split air conditioner are to make sure you are saving more than you are spending. Also, don't mix new and old components because if one breaks down you will be left without a solution for beating the heat.

6 Crucial Things to Know About Central and Portable Air Conditioners

Some people would be lost without air conditioning. They'd certainly be a lot hotter after a hard day's work without it. In order to make sure you always have air conditioning when you need it, you'll need to know these six crucial things about your air conditioning, whether it is central or portable.

1. Change the Filter

Filters are so important. They improve the efficiency when they are clean so you should be sure to install a new one or wash a reusable one every month during the cooling season. An important value to look for regarding filters is the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV). This number will range from 1-12 and a higher number means better filtration is being provided. Higher numbers also mean that more energy is being used to pull the air through the filter so the energy cost may increase as well.

2. Use a Timer

The energy conscious consumer knows that there is no need to have air conditioning on at full blast when no one is home. A smart move is to install a programmable thermostat that allows you to set higher temperatures when you are gone and lower ones when you are at home. For portable air conditioners, a timer and adjustable thermostat might already be built in. Just set your ideal temperature and the amount of time you want your unit to operate and the comfort begins.

3. Keep Blinds/Shades Down During the Day

Direct sunlight is not your friend when you are trying to cool a room. In fact, direct sunlight can raise the temperature of a room by ten to twenty degrees. So, be sure to cover the windows with curtains or drapes. Exterior shading is also very effective such as trees and bushes from outside.

4. Run Your Air Conditioner And Ceiling Fan Together

Doing this creates more air movement which can result in a four degree drop in the overall temperature of the area you are trying to cool. Also, ceiling fans cost about as much to run as a standard light bulb so your energy bill won't go up.

5. Insulation is Key

Any air leaks in your home waste your money because you will have to shell out more money for cooling because cold air is escaping. Caulking and weather stripping is always a good idea. You should also ensure that your fireplace is closed and insulate your home if financially feasible. For portable air conditioners, it is important to make sure the window kit is set up correctly. No leaks means better cooling efficiency.

6. M for Maintenance

For central air conditioners, either the dealer who installed your unit, or someone you find yourself should be checking up on your unit yearly. This checkup should include cleaning and inspecting coils, cleaning or replacing filters, adjusting and replacing fan belts, lubricating motors and bearings, cleaning and checking blowers and fans, inspecting controls and safeties, checking refrigerant and pressures and verifying operating temps.

For portable air conditioners, maintenance can be summed up best in four easy parts.

-Venting: You must vented the condensed hot air out of the room via a venting kit.

-Draining: Portable air conditioners remove water from the air. Some of the water is used to cool the air conditioner which increases the cooling efficiency. The rest of the water has to be released from the machine somehow. Sometimes it is collected in a bucket that needs to be emptied. Sometimes the air conditioner has self-evaporating technology so that most of the water is released with the condensed hot air by the venting kit. You may still have to empty a small container with these units. Continuous draining is available on some machines and some have condensate pumps that deliver the water outside or ro a drain pump located indoors.

-Cleaning: Every few weeks or so, the exterior of your portable air conditioner should be cleaned. You can use a soft, damp cloth to clean it while the unit is turned off. Be sure not no use abrasive chemicals or detergents.

Storing: At the end of the cooling season, you may need to store your unit. This promotes the efficiency and prolongs the life of your portable air conditioner. Turn your unit off, unplug it and drain all of the water out. Then plug it back in and turn on the fan mode. Let it dry out for a few hours. Make sure the filter is clean, wrap up the cord and pack the unit in the original packaging if at all possible. Store in a dry location.

How to Buy a Room Air Conditioner

Room air conditioners put the cooling you need directly where you need it. They are a great solution for people who cannot install a central air conditioner in their building because it is not feasible or too expensive. The technology of room air conditioners has come a long way. They are up to thirty percent more energy efficient than they were just one short decade ago. They also have longer warranties so worrying about maintenance and repairs is a thing of the past.

It is a great idea to buy room air conditioners early. Buying them before summer starts certainly saves you money. Companies can get top dollar for these units in the summer, but during the off season they often have sales.

An important thing to consider when purchasing a room air conditioner is matching the unit to the room it is going to be cooling. If the cooler is too small, it won't cool the space. If it is too large, it will cool the space too quickly and the built-in thermostat will shut the unit down before the humidity in the room is lowered. This means the room will feel damp and clammy.

Room air conditioners are sized according to BTUs per hour, also known as the cooling capacity. This number can be found on the packaging of the unit or in literature about the product. BTUs of room air conditioners typically range from 5,000 to 25,000. To figure out which room air conditioner is right for them, most people compare the square footage of the room to BTU capacity. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), a Chicago based industry group has a more complex formula. It includes window area, sun exposure, insulation levels, how the room is used and other variables. For a more complete way to find the right amount of BTUs for you, their formula may be helpful.

Be sure to note that for 115V circuits typical of bedrooms and living rooms, you'll have to stay below 15,000 BTUs. Anything above that will require a 230V circuit. Also, if you are trying to cool an oddly shaped space with corners, it is better to have two smaller room air conditioners instead of one large one. Having two units will prevent cold spots in front of the air conditioner and warm spots around the corners. Mainly, you should try to keep cold air from pooling on the floor.

A very important consideration is Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). This value is the cooling capacity divided by the electrical power required to run the unit. The higher this number is the better. The federal government requires manufacturers to list the energy rating on the unit. An EER of nine or ten is typical on an 115V room air conditioner. If a unit has an EER of ten it is considered extremely energy efficient. You will pay more up front for energy efficiency as well as for a high cooling capacity but you make up the increase in cost with the energy savings.

One last important consideration is the amount of control features. To fine tune the output of your room air conditioner for maximum comfort, look for units with multispeed fans and adjustable thermostats. If you are operating a room air conditioner in a bedroom, you can cool the space and then switch to a lower setting for quieter operation. Digital controls are even a higher step up, offering precise temperature control and sometimes even a timer for turning power on or off on a preset schedule. Also consider where the controls are located and whether it will be comfortable for you to reach them.