During the cold winter months, your house gets very cold, very quickly. An Air Source Heat Pump can provide heating extremely quickly (5-10 minutes) to just selected rooms rather than having to heat the whole house.

During the hot summer months, it’s common for your house to resemble an oven. Home air conditioning can provide you with some much needed relief during these overwhelming times. In this guide, we go over what home air conditioning actually is and explore its many benefits.

What is home air conditioning and how does it work? (The technical bit)

A home air conditioning system will actively remove heat and humidity from the indoor air while providing you with cooled air.

 A standard air conditioner or cooling system uses a specialised chemical called refrigerant - this has three main mechanical components:

● a compressor

● a condenser coil

● an evaporator coil

These components work together to quickly convert the refrigerant from gas to liquid and back again. The compressor raises the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant gas and sends it to the condenser coil where it is converted to a liquid. The refrigerant then travels back indoors and enters the evaporator coil. Here the liquid refrigerant evaporates, and cools the indoor coil. A fan blows indoor air across the cold evaporator coil where the heat inside the home is absorbed into the refrigerant.

The cooled air is then circulated throughout the home while the heated evaporated gas is sent back outside to the compressor. The heat is then released into the outdoor air as the refrigerant returns to a liquid state - this cycle will continue until your home has reached the desired temperature.

What types of air conditioners are available?

Air conditioners come in many different shapes and sizes. Here are some popular options:

Styles of indoor unit

Indoor units come in all variants: Wall mounted (Standard or Designer Style), Low Wall Mounted, Consealed Ducted, Ceiling Ducted. For Commercial applications there are other options available such as Ceiling Cassette and Under Ceiling units.

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Multi Split Ac Systems

Multi Split systems are ideal if you have a large home and wish to heat or cool multiple rooms at once. This kind of system operates multiple indoor units connected to one outdoor unit installed in your home - also known as a Multi system. The outdoor unit packs in the condenser and compressor, while the indoor unit comprises the evaporator coils and air handler. Like any typical air conditioner, air conditioning systems use refrigerant in removing heat from the indoor air (or provides heat from the outdoor in Heating mode). This heat is pulled outdoors and cool air is blown out from the indoor unit/s.

Single split systems

These are exactly the same as a Multi system however there is one indoor unit connected to one outdoor unit. If you only have one room you wish to fit heating and cooling to, then this is the option for you.

What are the benefits of home air conditioning?

Home air conditioning has numerous benefits to offer regarding both health and comfort. Here’s just a few of them:

A Rated Energy Efficient Systems

With an Air Source Heat Pump, you are getting an extremely efficient system (this is why the Government are encouraging Air Source Installations as they use less electricity and is classed as a Renewable Heating Source). For example, a 4 kW Air Source Heat Pump would require just 1 kW of electricty to provide 4 kW of heat! (Thats 4:1 ratio). In comparison, if you were to use a 4 kW electric heater for heat then you would need to put in 4 kW of electricty. Less electrical input = Lower running costs = Lower Carbon Footprint. An example of running costs for a 3.5 kW system would be (dependant on your personal Energy Costs At home): system running all night then the system would use 2-3 kW of electricty, 2.5 kW x 26p per kWh = 65p per night.

Improved indoor air quality

The quality of the air we breathe is incredibly important to our health, particularly for those that suffer from allergies or respiratory conditions. The filtration system of an AC unit works to remove pollutants from the air, vastly improving its quality and limiting the damaging effects of airborne particulates. 

Reduced possibility of asthma attacks

Home air conditioning can help reduce the possibility of suffering an asthma attack. Running an A/C not only reduces humidity in your home, but can also lower the amount of pollen, mould, mildew and other airborne outdoor allergens that can potentially lead to asthma symptoms. Air conditioners can also lower your exposure to indoor allergens, like dust mites. It’s good to keep in mind that another important component of avoiding asthma triggers is routinely changing the air filter in heaters and air conditioners.

Humidity control

High humidity can lead to substantial problems for both your property and the health of its inhabitants. When the water vapour content in the air continually exceeds a certain threshold, it encourages the growth of mould and causes rot. In worst case scenarios, this can lead to costly damages to the fabric of your building, as well as damaging your belongings. Humidity is also highly damaging to your health. Damp and mould caused by high humidity can induce asthma attacks, cause allergic reactions, and introduce harmful bacteria into your home. This is something to be avoided at all costs and is why home air conditioning is an investment you should seriously consider.

Better quality sleep

Quality sleep is incredibly beneficial to our overall health. It gives the body time to relax and repair itself from the rigours of daily life, and allows our mind to process our experiences.

One of the biggest disturbances to sleep in the summer months of course is heat. Fans may bring some relief, but really all they are doing is circulating warm, stale air and creating noise. The same goes for windows - if it’s stuffy outside, having them open is of little use. An air conditioning system on the other hand works quietly in the background to create comfortable sleeping conditions that help your body get the rest it needs.

Improved home security

Keeping doors and windows open during the warmer weather can pose a home security risk. Typically when we air condition our homes we keep our windows and doors closed. This leads to added security as it is much harder for someone to break in your home with your doors and windows closed and locked than having them open to cool your home.

Reduces the risk of dehydration and heatstroke

Lower temperatures mean less sweating. A lot of people don’t realise that when we sweat we are actually losing a large percentage of our water intake. It is important to keep hydrated when out in extreme conditions, but this can all be avoided by enjoying the indoors with some air conditioning.

A winter heat source

Many people do not realise that most modern air conditioners are actually air source heat pumps, meaning they’re able to generate heat in the colder months. Heat pumps are a low carbon alternative to traditional heating systems, as well as being more energy efficient, bringing cost savings and fewer carbon emissions.

Increased productivity

A hot, stuffy environment with poor ventilation does not contribute well to productivity. It makes it difficult to concentrate, as well as sapping our energy. A constant supply of fresh air from outdoors, however, brings the oxygen we need to stay alert, so an AC system is a valuable addition to any home office space. It’s not just of benefit to the adults in the household either - fresh air and comfortable conditions will help the children focus on their homework, or study effectively for their exams.

Premium domestic air conditioning from Complete Cooling Services

Complete Cooling Services has been a top provider of household air conditioning for houses in Nottingham, Derby and Leicester for more than 40 years. With our free survey and air conditioning quotation programme, it is also really simple to invest in a home air conditioning system.

Our helpful and professional staff will assist you in deciding which type of house air conditioning would be most suitable for your needs. We kindly offer a minimum 7 year manufacturer's warranty on every purchase, and we also offer air conditioning installation and ongoing maintenance services for each item you purchase - so, contact us today or request a site survey to find out more about our expert services.

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