DEER AC USA, INC.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the basic way to diagnose malfunction of the A/C?
What is a heat pump?
What is dehumidification?
What types of compressors are there?
What does an air conditioning check-up consist of?
Are regular check-ups worthwhile?
Is your air conditioner ready for hot weather?
What some are industry basic terms?
How do I buy a room air conditioner?
What if the A/C unit sucks indoor smell into it?

What is the basic way to diagnose malfunction of the A/C?

Usually, people diagnose the malfunction of the air-conditioner by: Visual, listening, touching, testing or ascertaining.

Visual: Look at every part of the unit, electrical system, cooling system and ventilation system etc. Make sure the fan is not stuck, fuse is no burned, the wire is not broken, connection of the wire is loose or if there is oil stain indicating leak at the cooling system.
Listening: Listen to the sound of the compressor and fan whether there is a collision noise of the fan with the pipe.
Touching: Feel the temperature of the air outlet area and the oscillation of the cover.
Testing: Use meters to test the temperature, the pressure, the power, the current, and the resistance.
Ascertaining: Analyze the entire A/C unity for abnormality phenomenon carefully in order to solve the malfunction. If we cannot diagnose it, you need to consult the specialists.

What is a heat pump?

A heat pump is a machine, which moves heat from a low level of temperature to a higher level of temperature. Heat pumps are realized through several physical effects, but they are classified depending on their applications (driving energy, source and sink of heat, or a heat pump which is basically a refrigeration machine). Refrigerators, air conditioner and heating systems are all common applications of heat pumps.

When comparing the performance of heat pumps, it is best to avoid the word "efficiency", as it has many different meanings. The term coefficient of performance or COP is used to describe the ratio of heat output to electrical power consumption. A typical heat pump has a COP of about three, whereas a typical electric heater has a COP of one. The COP of the heat pump is restricted by the second law of thermodynamics.

What is dehumidification?

Air conditioning equipment usually reduces the humidity of the air processed by the system. Since humans perspire to provide natural cooling by the evaporation of perspiration from the skin, drier air improves the comfort provided. The comfort air conditioner is designed to create a 40% to 60% relative humidity in the occupied space.

What types of compressors are there?

Usually there are 3 types of compressors. Namely, piston type, rotary type, and scroll type. Now we don't use the piston one at all because the noise is much loud and it is easily damaged.

What does an air conditioning check-up consist of?

It consists of the following steps:

Check for proper refrigerant (freon) levels. Low level indicates a leak, if found repair it before adding more freon.
Check all electrical components and controls.
Clean evaporator and condenser coils, as needed.
Oil the motors as needed.
Calibrate thermostat.
Check condenser.
Check filters.

Are regular check-ups worthwhile?

We do recommend annual air conditioning check-ups in the spring and furnace check-ups every fall. Although regular checkups will not absolutely guarantee that a unit will continue to work perfectly throughout the season, it will reveal most of the small problems that can lead to major ones, far more expensive if left unattended.

Is your air conditioner ready for hot weather?

Here are seven tips to prepare your air conditioner ready for summer. Remember, all central air conditioners should be periodically checked by an air conditioning professional.

Before turning on your central air conditioner, make sure the condensing unit, located outside, is not covered up. The process of pulling air into the system is hindered if the condenser cannot pull in enough outside air. Some people intentionally cover their condenser to protect it from the elements during the winter. The unit does not require any protection.
Run your air conditioner for a few minutes before the weather gets hot. If you wait until the first hot day to discover your system isn’t working, you’ll find yourself on a waiting list, sweltering for days before an air conditioning specialist can come to fix it.
Change filters regularly. Dirty filters restrict airflow and reduce efficiency it can cause the evaporator to ice up. Disposable fiberglass filters should be replaced. Electrostatic or electronic filters should be washed regularly.
Make sure all access panels are secure, with all the screws in place.
Clean obvious obstructions such as newspaper and leaves from around the exterior of the unit.
Make sure the thermostat is set in its cooling mode. Just setting the dial below room temperature will not activate the air conditioning if it is set on heat mode.
A thoroughly cleaned air conditioning unit will operate at top efficiency. But don’t use a hose and water to try to clean it. If you do, you risk serious electrical shock and shorting out the unit’s electrical components.

What some are industry basic terms?

A British thermal unit (Btu) is a standard measure of heat energy. One Btu is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. Its metric thermal equivalent is 252 calories per hour. As a unit of power, one Btu/h equals 0.2929 watts (W). Manufacturers classify the size, or capacity, of an air-conditioning unit in terms of Btu/h.
Cooling capacity, measured in British thermal units per hour (Btu/h), indicates the quantity of heat a room air conditioner can remove in one hour.
Cooling load, also expressed in Btu/h, refers to the maximum amount of heat that can build up in a space without a cooling system.
A watt (W) is the standard unit of power; one kilowatt (kW) equals 1000 watts. You purchase electricity from your utility by the kilowatt per hour (kWh), equivalent to the amount of power required to operate one 100-W light bulb for 10 hours. To estimate how much electricity an appliance uses, multiply the wattage of the machine by the number of hours it will run.
Energy efficiency ratio (EER) is a comparative measure of how much cooling an air conditioner provides for each unit of electrical energy that it consumes under standard operating conditions. A unit's EER is calculated by dividing its cooling capacity by its electrical power input at a specific temperature. In most cases the higher the EER, the more efficient the unit.

How do I buy a room air conditioner?

Whether replacing an older, less efficient unit or buying a new unit for a previously un-air conditioned room, you should be impressed with the performance of newer models. The major attributes to consider includes:

Cooling Capacity: The ability of a unit to cool an area is measured in BTU/hour. The higher the BTU the more cooling power the unit has. However, don't choose a model with too much cooling capacity, it will cycle on and off too often, wearing on the machine and not staying on long enough to remove humidity from the air. Make sure you have a rough estimate of the sizes of the rooms you want to cool (in square feet) before you start shopping.
Energy Efficiency: Look for high efficiency units. Efficiency is measured by the EER (energy efficiency rating). All new units sold in the US must clearly display the EER. Higher The EER the more efficient the model and the lower your energy bill. A model with an EER of 10 should use about 20% less energy than one with an EER of 8.
Installation Requirements: Make sure that the unit is the right size for the window you plan to mount it in. Also, make sure you have enough help in installing the unit (most are awkward and very heavy). Some require installation of a metal shell, while other require special electrical wiring (220 volts)

Cooling capacity reference to area:

Area to be cooled (sq. ft.)	Capacity needed (BTU/hour)
100 to 150	5,000
150 to 250	6,000
250 to 300	7,000
300 to 350	8,000
350 to 400	9,000
400 to 450	10,000
450 to 550	12,000
550 to 700	14,000
700 to 1,000	18,000
1,000 to 1,200	21,000
1,200 to 1,400	23,000
1,400 to 1,500	24,000
1,500 to 2,000	30,000
2,000 to 2,500	34,000

What if the A/C unit sucks indoor smell into it?

The odor of the decoration is absorbed in the air-conditioner.
The other peculiar smell of the room is absorbed in the unit.
The new unit is with the odor of plastic. It will disappear with time.
The filter hasn’t been washed for a long time.
When smoking in the room.