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Archives for November 2016

Repair or Replace Your Air Conditioning?

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Is it worth it to keep putting in more money to fix your AC unit or is it wiser to buy a new one? There are some factors that can help you to determine whether or not to get a new air conditioner or to just maintain and fix your air conditioner. Here are some of them.

1. How old is it?

One sure-fire way to know whether to replace it or not is to take the age of your air conditioner and multiply it by how much it will cost to do repairs after getting a quote from companies like Brisbane Air. If the number is over five thousand, then it’s probably better to get a newer air conditioner. You don’t want to keep wasting your money on something that will keep breaking down over and over again.

2. Is it energy efficient?

If your air conditioner is decades old, it’s probably using a tonne of voltage. Most older units are not equipped with new technology that cuts down electricity usage significantly. If you notice you keep spending too much money on your power bill, it’s time to change to a new unit preferably one with an inverter that reduces power usage. Consider changing your unit maybe after you’ve had it running for 15 years.

3. Is it leaking?

If you continue to need top ups with refrigerant, that might indicate that there is a constant leak. Fixing leaks and buying more refrigerant can add up and may cost just as much as buying a new basic air conditioning unit. It might just be worth it to get a new one that doesn’t leak.

4. Is there anything else wrong with it?

If you’ve had the same AC for years and it has never given you problems, then there is no need to replace it. Why fix or replace something that isn’t broken? Keep it running and maintain it until it’s not maintainable or not fixable or it costs too much to fix.

5. Are you going to be moving?

If you are going to live or work somewhere else and the AC unit is going to be sold along with the home or commercial building, you might not need to buy a new one for your old home or commercial building unless it’s specified in the sale papers that they need to be replaced before the sale. Just get them their regular maintenance and cleaning as usual until the sale is final. If the AC unit is not included in the sale and the unit is newer, it might be worth it to take the AC unit with you to install in your new home or commercial building. It will save you from buying another unit.

6. Can you replace it with a used unit?

If you really need to replace your AC unit but can’t afford it, you might need to think about getting a used unit that’s already proven to be energy efficient. Just make sure it works and has been maintained properly before you buy it. Check out its history and ask why it’s being sold to make sure you’re not getting a lemon.

The Cool History Of Air Conditioning

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Where would we be without air conditioning? Well, to put it bluntly we would be muggy, sweaty and stinky. It doesn’t matter if we are heading into the office or the supermarket for that matter, we always love it when we walk out of 28 degrees and into 20. It’s 8 degrees of difference, but it can have major effects. If we’re at the office, it helps us work more efficiently. We will be able to get more things done. It is, however, something that we at times can take for granted. We’re quickly reminded of how much we need it when the power cuts. So who invented air conditioning? How did it come to be? Let’s see.

It all started with a man by the name of Willis Carrier. He was an engineer from America that has been credited as inventing the modern day air conditioner. The principle of using evaporated water to cool things down has been around for thousands of years.

Air Conditioning In Ancient Times

This idea goes back all the way to ancient Egypt. They would take a mat, soak it in water and hang it in their dwelling above their doorway. The result? The water would evaporate and cut down the temperature inside. Jump ahead in the stream of time and the Romans tried different things to cool things down. They did this by using a series of pipes that would carry fresh water.

Air Conditioning In The 18th And 19th Centuries

In about 1758 Benjamin Franklin and some other scientists started testing the effects of refrigerating different types of liquids. They didn’t stop there. They continued to do research. In one such experiment, he used a bellow and ether to cool mercury to -25 degrees Celsius. With all that on his mind, it’s interesting to note that he wrote in his journal that one day in the future a person could have the possibility of freezing to death.

The year 1820 rolled around and an inventor by the name of Michael Faraday was doing experiments of his own on gases that are used in refrigeration. He found that if he compressed and liquidized ammonia and let it evaporate, the air inside his laboratory cooled down. A physician with the name of John Gorrie created a machine to keep his patients that had yellow fever cool. This machine utilized water and compressed air to make a cooling system. He put a patent on it in 1851. The design looked somewhat like what an air conditioner looks like today.

Air Conditioning Today

This brings us to Willis Carrier. He was confronted with the task of keeping a plant cool without having too much humidity because this could wreck the colour used in multi-colour printing. He was equal to the task at hand. He did this by coming up with an air conditioner that used different amounts of coils. This helped keep their plant cool with a comfortable 55% humidity rate. It’s quite amazing because it would have had the equivalent of 48 988 kg of ice. Thus, the air conditioner as we know it was born.

Back then air conditioners were mainly used in factories. In about 1914 Charles gate had one installed in his mansion. Since then, the cooling industry has been progressing in various ways. Brisbane Air is up to date on all the new technology that is coming out. Feel free to contact them for all your cooling needs.