At cold or hot temperatures, a person's well-being worsens. Fatigue, apathy appear, bronchial asthma or heart failure is more pronounced. Scientists have proven that at temperatures below -12 ° C and above + 24 ° C, a person begins to experience discomfort. The working capacity and overall well-being are reduced. The purpose of the air conditioner is to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room. The functionality, durability and reliability of the device depend on the choice of device.
Air conditioner functions
Air conditioning is needed to maintain temperature balance. Another important function is air purification. With the window open, dust, exhaust fumes and emissions from factories enter the room. Comfort level reduces noise coming from outside.
Acquired for a high price, the air conditioner does not make noise. Less expensive options make sounds, but they are still lower than the street din.
The filters installed in the device do not allow dust and bacteria to enter the house. Polluted air not only provokes the activation of existing diseases, but also causes them to appear.
Expensive brands have additional features:
- humidification of air;
- ionization;
- drainage;
- silent adjustment for work at night;
- reinforced blowing;
- timer - shut down the system at the specified time;
- swing - uniform distribution of air throughout the apartment;
- self-diagnosis.
Advantages and disadvantages
It has been proven that air conditioning makes the air drier. Depending on the situation, this can be both a positive and a negative moment.
Increased air dryness will be a plus for rooms in which high humidity is initially observed. Dampness leads to the formation of mold and fungi. Therefore, drying using an air conditioner has a positive effect on the microclimate.
When the air is initially comfortable or dry, an increase in dryness will irritate the mucous membranes and worsen the condition of the skin in people and pets. A particularly dangerous effect is on the elderly and people suffering from respiratory diseases.
A negative effect on furniture, especially if it is wooden. Household appliances become unusable faster.
Expensive models moisturize the air, which saves the situation in rooms that initially have a dry microclimate.
Common cons that users complain about:
- if you do not clean the filter in time, all the microbes that have accumulated in it will fall into the room;
- frequent occurrence of colds or allergies in people;
- an air conditioner that does not have the function of mixing air reduces the level of oxygen in the room.
It is important to understand that air conditioning in most cases is harmful due to the fault of the consumer. In time, the cleaned filter will not bring dust and germs into the room.
In the passport of each device, a different frequency of filter replacement and cleaning is indicated - it depends on the brand of air conditioner and the quality of the filtration system. In any case, cleaning is carried out at least 2 times a year. When the design of the air conditioner allows, it must be cleaned at least once a month.
A cold occurs if a person, coming from the heat, turns on the air conditioner and sharply reduces the temperature around him. A sudden drop of more than 8 degrees leads to sore throat and other colds. It is not recommended to be under a stream of air during conditioning.
Air conditioning can either only cool the room, or also warm it. Models with dual capabilities are more expensive, but the consumer does not have to purchase a heater separately.
Types of air conditioners
Various models of air conditioners are presented on the market, differing in installation methods and available functions. According to the principle of operation, two types of devices are distinguished:
- An inverter air conditioner inverts alternating current into direct current, and after that the system generates a current of the required frequency, increasing or decreasing the speed of the motor.
- The non-inverter type device controls the temperature by alternately turning the compressor on and off. This system is cheaper, but it’s more difficult to configure.
An example wall type are split systems and multisystems. The noisy main part is mounted outside the building, and the interior remains in the room. She is responsible for supplying air and cooling / heating it before entering the room. It also has filters.
The multisystem differs from the split system in the ability to connect several air conditioners to one outdoor unit at once.
Minus: in the event of a breakdown, all available devices will simultaneously fail.
Scope: offices, apartments.
Window air conditioner It is installed in a window opening: one part is outside, another inside. Consumers like it because of its low price and ease of installation, but older models make a lot of noise. Modern devices are spared this problem.
It is recommended for installation in residential premises.
Air conditioners floor type performed as a monoblock. It is easy to mount the device and move it between rooms. Suitable for home and garden.
The disadvantages are high cost and loud noise during operation.
In industrial and office buildings are often used channel type air conditioners. They are attached to the ceiling, channels go away from them, through which fresh and clean air enters several rooms at once.
Cassette type differs from the channel in increased capacity and ability to serve a larger number of rooms.
Column air conditioning it is intended for trading floors, restaurants, warehouses. Due to its large dimensions, it is installed exclusively on the floor. Convenient in that you do not have to specially prepare the room for installation.
Multizone VRV and VRF systems They are used in large enterprises where exact observance of temperature conditions is required. Appearance fades into the background, the main thing is the usefulness of the device.
Climate device maintenance
In the event of a breakdown, you should contact the service, and not do it yourself. Having a guarantee, the client will receive service for free. On the market, warranty periods are almost never found for more than three years, occasionally - five years.
When the warranty is over, you have to pay a considerable amount.
Approximate prices for services in Moscow:
| Name of service | Minimum price (in rubles) |
| Filter cleaning | 150 |
| Drainage system cleaning | 500 |
| Refrigerant air conditioning up to 3.5 kW (with freon) | 1300 |
| Cleaning the evaporator of the indoor unit with an antibacterial composition | 1500 |
| Compressor replacement from 3.5 kW to 7 kW | 6500 |
Home air conditioner cost
Air conditioning is a convenient device for controlling temperature, but the prices for this pleasure are considerable. The acquisition cost depends on several factors.
Over many years of use experience and thanks to customer reviews, it turned out that it is best to choose a system with a power of 2.5-2.8 kW. With a standard size of rooms in apartments of 12-18 m2, air conditioning of the presented capacity will allow to completely refresh or warm the room.
Prices are changing, so the price list for 2017 will be analyzed. A split system is presented for consideration, as most consumers consider it the best choice.
Luxury - the best air conditioners, combining reliability, quality and a silent type of work. They are produced by Toshiba, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi and Daikin.They cost about 35,000 rubles.
In the middle category, a huge selection of models, as in this price range the largest number of purchases is made. The average cost is 24,000 rubles. Specifications are inferior to the suite, but they are enough to perform the basic functions of an air conditioner.
The low price category is almost not inferior in quality, but has fewer technical devices and functions. However, the main task - airing or heating the room - the air conditioner will fulfill. The approximate price is 15,000 rubles.
The next item of expenses after the purchase is installation. The standard procedure costs about 7000 rubles in the central regions of Russia. Increased complexity equals increased price. The difficulty of installation is affected by:
- work with complex facades (siding, etc.);
- wall chipping;
- drilling additional holes;
- attraction of climbers and special equipment.
It is recommended to install air conditioning before the summer heat. Many companies, taking advantage of the desire of people to quickly install the system due to unbearable weather, overcharge. Exhausted from the heat, customers are willing to overpay for comfort.
Equipment Life
The operating time of the air conditioner depends on the correct installation and settings. If everything was done efficiently, he can serve for a very long time. There are no exact figures, since if a compressor, for example, breaks down, it can be replaced. No need to purchase a new device.
The service life also depends on the frequency of the air conditioner. If it is installed in the server room, where it will be necessary to work non-stop to cool computer devices, the breakdown will occur faster. A home air conditioner that runs 3-4 months a year will last much longer.
Based on the cost of the device and reviews, you can roughly identify the service life depending on the price category:
- from 35,000 to 20 years or more;
- 23,000 - 34,000 - 15-20 years;
- Up to 21,000 - 10-15 years.
Proper installation is the key to long work, and therefore it is recommended not to save, using the installation services in dubious companies.
