Air conditioners (AC) or air conditioning systems are necessities in every business today. They prevent electronics from overheating, improve personnel work performance, and can also reduce the risk of dehydration.
In today’s market, there are numerous types of Air Conditioners available to purchase. With so many brands, capacities, and cost-saving claims – do you know which type you should use for your company and which factors need to be considered when purchasing AC?
Key Takeaways
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- What factors to consider when purchasing AC?
btu
The amount of energy your air conditioner puts out is measured in BTUs or British Thermal Units. When purchasing AC, in order to decide on how many BTUs your air conditioner should have, you need to figure out how much space (in square meters / square feet) you’ll be trying to cool.
Business Type
Even with the same floor area, different types of businesses require different ACs or AC systems. For instance; heat gain from office equipment is an important contributing factor to the overall heat gain of space and consequently, to the overall heating/cooling load. For retailers, extra capacity is often required to compensate for heat loss through doors and windows. The larger the opening or the area exposed to outdoor air, the more heat that is lost.
Controls
Deciding on the controls you want before deciding to buy ACs. There are automatic units that are connected to the thermostat, once you’ve set your ideal temperature, you’ll be able to leave it alone, and the system will do all the work for you. Others do not respond automatically which means you need to monitor manually by using digital keypads or remote controls.
Plug type
Because of the amount of power many air conditioners use, a lot of them will not be compatible with standard wall sockets. Many of the smaller portable and window units will use standard 120-volt plugs, but many larger units will use 240 or 250-volt plugs, which require special outlets.
EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) / SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) Ratings
EER gives you a sense of your air conditioner’s efficiency during the summertime when people use their systems the most while SEER is based on an average of temperatures from different times of the year. The higher the EER/SEER rating is, the more energy-efficient your air conditioner will be. In turn, units with higher EER ratings will usually be more expensive.
Cost
After having the answers to all the above factors, compare prices from several different retailers in order to select the most suitable Air Conditioners or Air Conditioner Systems for your organization.
An air conditioner is an investment of a company. That is the reason why you want to make sure that your money will be spent wisely. And your AC or AC systems can serve your business for many years to come. Understanding the life cycle of your air conditioners and implementing the right maintenance strategies are also attributes to increase their life span.
Choosing the right AC or AC systems not only improves the conditions of your working environment but also helps you cut down on energy and operating expenses.
