Rules for using the air conditioner. How to use air conditioning in an apartment and office

11.06.2021 | Hobbies and entertainment

In many teams working in the same room, there will definitely be a person who against a running air conditioner: either he’s cold, or he gets sick from it, or in general, air conditioners are evil. This usually leads to tension within the team. But often problems can be solved if you know the rules for working with an air conditioner.

Optimal air conditioning performance

The main mistake of air conditioner users is to turn it on when it gets stuffy and turn it off when it gets cool. Firstly: by constantly turning the device on and off, you use it at maximum settings, and secondly: you do not get a comfortable environment: you are either stuffy or cold. Adjust the air conditioner so that it runs constantly, maintaining the desired temperature in the room. Turn it on in advance using a timer so that when you arrive the room is no longer stuffy.

When to start using conditioner

A comfortable temperature for a person is considered to be 22-24 C. This means that the air can be cooled already at a temperature of 23 C in the room. The most important and simple rule is to turn on the air conditioner in advance. Don't wait until the room becomes hot and stuffy, because you will have to turn the air conditioner on maximum cooling and high mode. This means that cold air flows in a heated room will become a source of discomfort.

Adjust the air flow direction

You can often hear that running an air conditioner can make you sick. And although this is not entirely true, try to install the air conditioner higher and away from your work area so that the air flow does not blow into your back or neck. And remember: you can set the air conditioner to the minimum temperature and maximum power to quickly cool the room only in the absence of people. As we all remember, in a draft, and even sweating, it’s easy to catch a cold. And yet, there are modern air conditioners with human presence sensors that automatically direct the air flow to that part of the room where there are no people.

Be aware of other air conditioner functions

For example, DRY air drying (usually indicated by a droplet on the remote control) allows you to remove humidity, and in dry air the heat is more easily tolerated. Or regular ventilation F A N (acts like a regular fan) helps to quickly ventilate the room without cooling it down. But don’t get carried away - excessive dry air provokes various sores, since the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract dry out, and ventilation only helps if the windows are open and it’s not hot outside

Prevention and Maintenance

Be sure to read the instructions - this will not only help you learn about all the capabilities of the device, but will also tell you when to clean and refill the air conditioner. Some parts, such as antimicrobial filters or mesh, can (and should) be cleaned yourself, but for the rest you need a specialist.

Remember: only a properly configured, timely cleaned and refilled air conditioner will save you from the heat, prevent you from getting sick and maintain a friendly atmosphere in the team.

Alexey Denisov

A correctly selected air conditioner model will create the greatest possible comfort only if it is used correctly. Following our tips, you will enjoy the coolness, maintain your health and save on electricity.

General requirements

The recommended difference between the temperature outside and that set on the air conditioner should not exceed 7-10C 0 . 5-7C 0 is considered acceptable for your health. It is not recommended to cool the room below 24-23C 0 - this range is the most comfortable. The lower the cooling temperature, the higher the load on the compressor and the greater its energy consumption;
At high temperature outside, the temperature should be lowered gradually, by 2-3C per hour;
Every 1-2 hours you should ventilate the room for 10-15 minutes. Without a supply of fresh air, poisonous carbon dioxide quickly accumulates, which can lead to headaches and loss of consciousness.

Do not forget about monthly cleaning of the air filters of the indoor unit - how this procedure is performed should be described in the instructions for the air conditioner. The radiators of both units should be flushed at the beginning and end of the season. Before the start of the summer period it is necessary to carry out annual maintenance.

A dirty air filter increases energy consumption due to the fact that settled dust interferes with the free passage of air. Bacteria and fungi multiply in dust - which are carried with the air flow

There should be no open windows or vents in the room. To prevent heat from entering from outside or loss of cooled air. You should also close the entrance and interior doors.

How to turn on the air conditioner for heat or cold - instructions for various remote controls

ON/OFF(on/off) – turns the air conditioner on and off;
MODE(Mode) – setting, switching the main operating modes. Sets the system operation to the following modes:
- AUTO (automatic mode) – set a temperature that is comfortable for you and the air conditioner itself will select the required operating mode – heating or cooling (similar to climate control in a car);
- COOL (cooling) – switch with the “1 – MODE” key to the “COOL” mode and set the “5-TEMP” arrows to a comfortable temperature;
- DRY (dehumidification) – dehumidification of air. Use the “1 – MODE” key to switch to the “DRY” mode. In this mode, moisture settles on the radiator of the indoor unit and is discharged through the drainage to the street. Note that the air also cools slightly;
- HEAT (heating) - switch with the “1 – MODE” key to the “HEAT” mode and set the “5-TEMP” arrows to a comfortable temperature;
- FAN (ventilation) - switch with the “1 – MODE” key to the “FAN” mode. When this function is activated, the outdoor unit does not turn on, only the indoor unit operates, acting like a fan.
FAN(fan speed) – adjust the fan rotation speed. The higher the speed, the faster the room will cool - the cold flow will spread much further. As the rotation speed increases, the noise level increases;
TIMER(timer) – delayed start or start;
TEMP(temperature) – consists of two arrow buttons. Reduces or increases the temperature output by the air conditioner. It depends on the set temperature whether the split system will operate for heat or cold;
SLEEP(sleep mode) - will automatically increase (heating) or decrease (cooling) the temperature by 1C per hour in the first 2 hours, and turn off after 5 hours. The sleep mode function helps maintain the most comfortable temperature and saves energy;
TURBO(increased fan speed) - when the turbo mode is operating, the cooling or heating power is maximum, which allows you to quickly heat or cool the room;
SWING(turn on/off the swing of the blinds) – when this menu is activated, the movable blinds begin to distribute the air flow more evenly throughout the room;
CLOCK(clock) – after pressing this key, the current time is set, which is constantly displayed on the remote control display;
LIGHT(backlight) – turns on the screen backlight.

And now it has come, that happy day when you got an air conditioner installed. All you have to do is turn it on, and the device will surround you with its coolness. But don't think that using an air conditioner is easy.

Operating Basics

We approach this matter with all responsibility, and the first thing we do after installing the device is study the operating instructions. Each air conditioner needs its own manual, and the LG brand will never fit the instructions from Ballu.

User Guide

In this small book you can find all the information you need: how to turn the device on and off, how to set the desired operating mode, how to properly care for your new assistant in the house.

Turn the device on and off using the remote control or without

In order to operate the device, manufacturers strongly recommend using only the remote control. As for window air conditioners, it all depends on the model and location in the window. If the device is located at the bottom of the window, you can control it using the buttons on the panel. Is the block assigned a place at the top of the frame? Then to configure its operation you need a remote control.

Attention! You cannot turn the air conditioner on/off by inserting/unplugging the plug from the socket.

On the remote control we find the power button, it is designated “On/Off”, after pressing which the device will start or stop working. But there are situations when the remote control is broken, lost, or the battery is dead and there is no spare. Then we find a control panel on our air conditioner, almost always hidden from view. It is located on the indoor unit under the curtains. There is always a button for such an emergency activation; it is often illuminated in green or red. Depending on the manufacturer, it may be designated as “on/off” or “operation”. You need to press on it and hold it in this state for a few seconds, after which the air conditioner will turn on with a characteristic sound and begin to cool the room. If you need to set the device to heating mode, press the power button again. To complete the work, we proceed in the same order - press and hold for a couple of seconds. This completes the functionality of the control panel; changes can only be made using the remote control.

We set the operating mode of the air conditioner (heating/cooling). Explanation of icons

You can set the air conditioner to the desired operating mode, of which there are quite a few, using the control panel. For example, for heating the algorithm is as follows:

Find the button on the remote control labeled “HEAT” and press it.
If there is no such inscription, then we find the “MODE” icon; using it, the modes indicated by a snowflake, sun, fan and droplet are switched. We scroll through until we find what we are looking for - the sun, because we need heating.
You can set the desired temperature using the “+” and “–” buttons.
The device will not start heating the air immediately, it should take about 5–10 minutes.

The cooling temperature can be adjusted in the same way.

Controlling the air conditioner using the remote control

In addition to the buttons described, there are many others on the remote control. For some, even after several years of operation, they remain a mystery, but we will decipher them now.

HEAT (or “sun” icon) – heating mode,
COOL (or “snowflake” icon) – cooling mode,
DRY (or “drop” icon) is an air dehumidification mode when the air conditioner removes excess moisture from the room.
FAN (or “fan” icon) is a ventilation mode that determines the blowing speed. An air conditioner distributes air throughout a room without heating or cooling it.
TURBO - increased fan operation mode,
SLEEP (or “star” icon) is a sleep mode during which the fan begins to rotate more slowly, which ensures the absence of noise. The device also regulates the temperature itself, making it comfortable for sleeping.
SWING - using this button you can change the direction of the curtains,
TIMER (or “clock” icon) – a timer that allows you to set the temperature parameters in advance and configure the unit to turn on/off independently.
CLOCK - time setting,
LOCK - lock the remote control,
LED - remote control backlight.

Operating conditions: at what temperatures does it work, how to prepare for winter

Almost all modern air conditioners are capable of not only cooling the air in the room, but also operating in heating mode, which is very convenient between seasons when the heating is turned off. However, there are certain conditions under which the device can operate.

So, the temperature outside should not be higher than +40°C and lower than -10°C. Experts insist that it is impossible to use air conditioners in winter at all, since the oil that is added to the refrigerant thickens.

But there are some device models that can operate even at a temperature of -25°C (outdoors). These are the Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin brands. How do you know if your air conditioner can work in winter? To do this, you need to carefully study the manual, and especially pay attention to the operating temperature range. The maximum numbers at which the device can be turned on will be indicated there.

The operating temperature of inverter air conditioners in the “cooling” mode is from -10 to +45, in the “heating” mode - from -15 to +24.

Non-inverter units will operate for “cooling” - from +21 to +43, for “heating” - from -5 to +24. As for window models, the permissible temperature for “cooling” is from +18 to +45, “heating” is from -3 to +24 (outdoor temperature is indicated). It is recommended to turn on the “drying” mode at temperatures from +11 to + 43.

What other problems may arise when using the air conditioner in heating mode at temperatures below 0°C? This is glaciation of the outer block. This occurs due to the release of condensation, which begins to freeze directly on the device outside.

If, at similar low temperatures, you turn on the device for cooling, then you can expect a decrease in the performance of the device, complete freezing of the external part and breakdown of the compressor.

Icing of the external block of the split system

Experts also advise that in hot weather, set the cooling mode within 21–23°C. This will help protect the compressor and your health due to the small temperature difference between indoors and outdoors. Prevention and Maintenance

Air conditioner maintenance involves regular cleaning of the indoor and outdoor units, disinfection and refilling/refilling with refrigerant if necessary. Experts advise doing this at least once a year.

In addition, a preventive inspection is carried out in order to notice malfunctions in time, replace parts, lubricate the mechanism, check the equipment for leaks, and more.

You can read more about this in the article “Do-it-yourself air conditioner maintenance.”
If the device is not planned to be used in winter, then it needs to be “mothballed” and prepared for cold weather:
Turn on the air conditioner to the “Ventilation” mode and leave it running for at least 2 hours. This will remove all moisture from the radiator.

For window air conditioners, it will be enough to cover the part located on the street with film or other material designed to shelter things from external influences. But sometimes, even after the manipulations have been done, cold air still enters the room through the device, then the unit is removed for the winter.

Do you plan to operate a split system in winter? In this case, we purchase an additional “winter kit”. It consists of three important elements: fan speed controller, drain tube heaters and compressor. They prevent the blocks and the system from freezing, and also regulate the pressure in it. But it’s worth warning - under these conditions the device will only operate in cooling mode! This is true in stores and catering establishments.

Split system service life

Air conditioning in the house

How long a split system will last depends not on luck, but on certain factors. The average lifespan is 5–10 years, but this may vary due to:

Quality and reliability of the air conditioner. Of course, an ultra-high reliability device from the MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC brand (made in Japan) will last much longer than a device from the Delonghi brand (China).
Installation quality. In the summer season, when the issue of cooling is very pressing, many fly-by-night companies open, offering inexpensive installation of air conditioning. Very often it turns out that the installation was carried out poorly, and this leads to premature failure of the device itself.
Operating conditions. If your air conditioner is running at full capacity 24/7, this can shorten its lifespan.
High-quality and timely service. Regular cleaning of the device and replacement of the refrigerant will extend the life of the device.

If you follow the basics of operation, the air conditioner will definitely meet the owner’s expectations and will work flawlessly throughout its entire service life.

City residents use air conditioning to heat their apartments in the fall, while utilities have not yet turned on the heating. Country houses it is used as an alternative heat source. Is it safe to use this device in heating mode in autumn and winter and how can it be configured for this?

Alternative methods of heating the home are relevant for many of us. Changes in energy prices make you think about ways to save. Heating appliances sometimes break down and require repair. Emergency shutdowns from the gas or electricity network also happen. A prudent owner should take care of the possibility of alternative heating.

Of course, a “warm floor” system or a wood-burning fireplace in the living room will not solve the problem of heating the house in the winter cold, but on a damp and cold autumn day they will be very useful. A fan heater or air conditioner turned on for heating is a good solution. And the simplest thing. Therefore, you need to remember that you have an air conditioner and switch it to heating mode.

Warmth or clean air?

Foggy windows in cold weather are a sign that the apartment is not ventilated. People close up their double-glazed windows and literally breathe in their own fumes. The air is saturated not only with water vapor and carbon dioxide, but also with odors, particles of that same food in the form of steam, carbon dioxide and other waste products, respiration and emissions from furniture made of chipboards and non-ecological coatings.

People feel unwell at home and at work not at all from a lack of oxygen, but from an oversaturation of the home atmosphere with carbon dioxide and other harmful substances. All you need to do is open the window and wait until the air in the room is completely replaced by fresh air. Many will say: what about in winter? It's cold and drafty! Turn on any device that quickly heats the air!

Air conditioning or regular electric heater?

The heater works due to the active conversion and consumption of electricity and it noticeably loses to the functions of the air conditioner in the following terms:

consumes a lot of energy;
unevenly heats the room, as a result of which it is necessary to turn it on at high power in order to heat distant corners;
It takes a long time to heat the air in the room to a comfortable level.

An air conditioner for heating works differently than an electric heater. When the air cools, it transfers heat from indoors to outdoors through the outdoor unit's exchanger. When operating in heating mode, the functions of the air conditioner change in the exact opposite way: the device heats the room by cooling the air outside.

This is due to the fact that the air conditioner uses electricity exclusively to operate the fans and compressor, which transfer heat into the room.

How does the air conditioner work in heating mode?

Based on this, the main function of an air conditioner is that it transfers heat in heat pump mode and consumes much less electricity than it releases heat into the room. In this regard, an inverter air conditioner can cope with the task much better, because it has adjustable power: after the temperature in your home has reached the required level. This air conditioner does not turn off, and by reducing the speed of the compressor it can maintain heat in the desired mode, helping to save a considerable amount of electricity.

To transfer heat, the device uses the necessary substances called refrigerants, which come into contact with the surrounding air through heat exchangers in the following stages:

heat from one air niche is absorbed by the refrigerant through a heat exchanger;
the compressor pumps the refrigerant to another heat exchanger;
The heat concentrated by the refrigerant is transferred to the air.

Is it possible to use the air conditioner in heating mode in winter at very low temperatures?

It is best to use an air conditioner for heating in cool weather. summer months and during the off-season, i.e. before the start of the heating season and immediately after it. As a rule, the instructions for a household air conditioner indicate the range of outdoor temperatures at which it can operate.

Typically, the lowest temperature when operating for heating is -5 degrees. Although some inverter models cope well with these functions even at -15 degrees.

The climatic conditions of most of our country do not allow the owners of the device to fully use the air conditioner in winter due to the possibility of its breakdown.

According to the recommendations of most manufacturers, the optimal use of an air conditioner in winter is its preservation, because at very low temperatures serious problems with the operation of the air conditioner can occur. The lower the temperature, the worse the performance of the air conditioner and its systems:

the heat exchanger becomes covered with frost and loses power;
the system constantly turns on, which maintains defrosting of the outdoor unit, leading to the formation of ice build-up inside the compressor and destruction of the fan blades;
the refrigerant, which did not have time to evaporate in a poorly functioning heat exchanger, flows through the drainage systems into the compressor, causing water hammer;
The compressor first overheats and then freezes, failing.

Portable air conditioner as a heat source

What to do if you cannot do without heating with such a device? It is quite appropriate to use a mobile floor unit designed for heating a room. Moreover, it can be placed almost anywhere in the apartment. The monoblock used for cooling uses freon and is equipped with a powerful pump and a long corrugated pipe thrown out the window to remove hot air.

A monoblock heating system can work on the same principle, using in this case not a freon loop system, but a ceramic heater. The biggest stumbling block here is that the outlet hose needs to be routed somewhere. Considering that you have to use such a device in winter, this is not an easy task. Whenever possible, the easiest way is to route the hose into a vent or other similar outlet system.

In any case, this option is quite convenient in winter and heating this way does not cause any special problems. The mobility of the air conditioner allows you to roll it from one room to another, uniformly heating the entire room.

How to turn on heating mode

If you want to set your air conditioner to warm, but have lost the instructions and don't know how to do it, don't worry. All such devices work approximately the same, and therefore you can turn on the heat if you use our tips. But first, make sure that your air conditioner can still be set to heat: not all models allow this. You can find out about the characteristics of your device on the Internet by typing the brand and model of the split system into a search engine.

To turn on the air conditioner for heating, you need to use the remote control:

press the power button (“On/Off”);
find the “HEAT” button and press it;
if there is no “HEAT” on the remote control, there must be a “MODE” button (switching modes) or any other button, above which a droplet, a snowflake, a sun and a fan are drawn;

If there is no sun or “NEAT” sign on the remote control, but other modes are present and displayed, this means that your split system cannot heat the room.

switch modes until the sun or the word “HEAT” appears on the screen;
Using “+” and “-” (or up and down arrows) you need to set the desired temperature. It should be higher than the one currently in the room;
first, the fan usually turns on and only then the air begins to heat up;
After 5 (maximum 10) minutes, the air conditioner should start working for heat.

On some models, first configure the data on the remote control and only then press the “On/Off” button. Remember that the split system must respond to your pressing: (beep, blink, turn on and off).

Even if you have the sun or the sign “HEAT”, this does not guarantee that the air conditioner will help heat the room. Sometimes manufacturers use standard remote controls for all of their devices. It’s better to clarify the characteristics of your particular model.

The unprecedented heat that prevailed in Russia this summer caused significant damage to the owners of old Vehicle, whose engines are water cooled. Every now and then you can see a used VAZ “troika” or “five” standing on the outskirts of the road with an open hood, from under which white steam is pouring out. The growing heat every year causes no less problems for those whose cars are not equipped with climate control systems - air conditioning and climate control. You definitely won’t envy them: driving with the windows open doesn’t really save you from the heat, but it brings other troubles: noise, the stench of exhaust gases, and, worst of all, increased fuel consumption.

Of course, driving with the air conditioning or climate control on also affects the car’s fuel “appetite,” which is in many ways comparable to the increased engine consumption of a car with all the windows open while driving. But an air-conditioned car has its own undeniable advantages - the same climatic comfort in the cabin. True, you need to create this very comfort wisely, because improper use of the climate system can lead to its breakdown and to health problems for car passengers. Today we will give some tips on how to properly use the air conditioner in your car.

In the photo: air conditioner on/off button

Every self-respecting car enthusiast who cares about the good condition of his “iron horse”, on the eve of the seasons, carries out diagnostics of all systems – including the climate control system. In the fall we check the operation, in the spring we check the air conditioner. It’s not for nothing that in April-May the Internet is full of advertisements for discounts on air conditioner diagnostics - it is recommended to carry it out twice a year, in spring and autumn.

What does air conditioner diagnostics include? First of all, check the level of freon - the substance responsible for cooling the air entering the cabin from the air conditioner. If this level is less than normal, then this is fraught with both poor air cooling and failure of parts of the cooling unit - compressor, condenser (air conditioning radiator) and pressure line. The reason for such troubles is depressurization of the air conditioning system, which can occur as a result of the formation of microcracks in the condenser body or tubes through which freon flows mixed with a special oil that performs a lubricating function for the rubbing parts of the system.

The specialist checks the entire system, and if areas of depressurization are detected, he makes a decision to replace the failed parts. This - serious consequences, the diagnosis of which is a drop in freon levels. But there are other reasons. Freon is a gas, and like all similar substances, it evaporates naturally. So a drop in freon levels can be dictated by the service life of a car air conditioner without refilling it. In addition to checking the freon level, you need to ensure that fungi do not form on the evaporator. This problem is revealed by an unpleasant odor when the air conditioner is turned on - it smells like a wet dog. In service centers, this problem is eliminated by disinfecting the evaporator and changing air conditioner filters.

You can carry out such operations yourself. In any case, we advise you not to ignore the car manufacturer’s recommendations for servicing car air conditioners and regularly diagnose their condition.

Let’s say your car’s climate system is working properly and you’re heading into summer fully armed. But it is not enough to have a working car air conditioner - it is important to use it correctly. Especially in extreme heat. Here are a few simple rules, which will make traveling in an air-conditioned car as comfortable as possible.

We ventilate the car. You should not turn on the air conditioning immediately as soon as you start the engine, especially if the car was parked in the sun and “Tashkent” formed in the cabin. First of all, open all the windows in the car and ventilate the interior for 10 minutes. After this, close the windows and turn on the air conditioner fan first to “one”, setting the temperature indicator to the middle position, and after a few minutes – to “two”, turning the temperature sensor toggle switch to maximum. It is better to cool the interior not while parked, but while moving - the air entering the cabin from outside at speed will facilitate the task of the air conditioner in creating a comfortable temperature. It is also important when cooling the interior, especially if the temperature outside is above +25 degrees, not to direct cold air onto the glass - due to a sharp temperature change, microcracks may form in the glass, which over time will develop into large cracks.

2. Setting the correct cooling mode. Not recommended for a long time Driving in a car with the air conditioning on maximum means you'll get a sore throat in just a short time. Therefore, after sufficient cooling of the air in the cabin, it is better to set the fan speed to “two” or “one”, and also increase the temperature.

3 . Install optimal temperature in the cabin. Doctors say that the most comfortable temperature inside the car – 20-22 degrees. Therefore, in order to avoid colds, after the interior has sufficiently cooled, it is better to set the temperature indicated above (if the air conditioner is not digital, but mechanical, then set the temperature indicator to the middle divisions), and direct the airflow to your feet.

4 . Correctly adjusting the air flow into the cabin. If you need to cool the air in the car quickly, then turn on the internal air circulation mode.

Thus, a closed space is formed in the interior, the access of hot air from the outside is limited, and the interior cools faster. This method is often used when the car is parked or if the air temperature outside the car is above 25 degrees.

5 . We monitor the direction of cold air. It’s not for nothing that car manufacturers have equipped air ducts with “curtain” deflectors, with the help of which you can regulate the direction of air flow and its intensity. When air conditioning, it is important to adjust all deflectors so that the cooled air is evenly distributed throughout the cabin.

The recommendations given are mostly suitable for owners of cars equipped with mechanical air conditioning. Automatic climate systems are trained to regulate all parameters autonomously, without driver intervention.