5 Useful Tips for Using Your Air Conditioner

An air conditioner runs economically and lasts a long time when it is not set to extreme temperatures, runs on a timer only when needed, has its filters and outdoor unit cleaned regularly, and is not working against your ventilation. These five tips apply to both the cooling and the heating season.

5 useful tips for using your air conditioner

1. Keep the temperature moderate

Set the air conditioner to a comfortable but not extreme value. In summer we recommend not cooling a room below 22 degrees Celsius, and in winter not overheating the home. The greater the difference between the outdoor and indoor temperature, the harder the unit has to work.

2. Use the timer

Many air conditioners have a timer function: you can set in advance when they switch on or off. This way the unit only runs when it is really needed - for example, it starts before you arrive home instead of running all day in an empty house.

3. Clean it regularly

Clean the filters of the indoor unit regularly and keep the outdoor unit clean too. Air flows more easily through a clean filter, which improves efficiency and means less dust and fewer allergens build up in the indoor air.

4. Ventilate smartly

During the cooling season, open a window when it is cooler outside than inside - for example early in the morning or late in the evening - and switch the air conditioner off while you do. With a window open, the unit would be cooling the outside air as well, for no reason.

5. Consider an alternative for heating

An air conditioner is the obvious choice for cooling, but for heating it is not the most comfortable option everywhere, because it warms the air, not the floor. The radiant heat of modern heating film can be an efficient, energy-saving alternative to conventional heating systems. The advantages and limits of heating with an air conditioner are covered in our article on heating with an air conditioner, and a comparison of heating methods is on our electric heating page.

Which output suits which room?

If you do not have an air conditioner yet, the output should be matched to the size of the room; further buying considerations are listed in our article on choosing a cooling-and-heating air conditioner. From the air conditioners in our webshop (Hungarian-language shop, delivery within Hungary):

• Heiko Flexi Brisa cooling-and-heating air conditioner 2.6 kW - for smaller rooms.
• Heiko Flexi Brisa cooling-and-heating air conditioner 3.2 kW - for medium-sized rooms.
• Heiko Flexi Brisa cooling-and-heating air conditioner 5.0 kW - for larger rooms, living rooms and offices.
• Heiko Flexi Brisa cooling-and-heating air conditioner 7.0 kW - for cooling and heating large rooms.
• Heiko portable cooling-and-heating air conditioner 3.4 kW - can be moved from one room to another.

Current prices and availability are on the product pages and in the cooling-and-heating air conditioners category.