Helpful Hints
Before purchasing or renting an air conditioning unit, remember these helpful hints:
Measure the space that the AC unit is to fit into (height and width of the clear opening)
Know the approximate square footage of the space you wish to cool L x W = Sq. Ft.
Window units have vents on the sides, and some have top vent which cannot be obstructed
Wall units have no vents on the sides or top and fit into a “sleeve” below the window
Call early to schedule a convenient delivery and installation day and time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important for an air conditioner to dehumidify?
Air conditioners keep you comfortable by removing heat and moisture from the air. To do both effectively, the unit must be properly sized for your space. If the capacity is too low, you may never feel quite cool enough. When the capacity is too high, the unit produces so much cold air so quickly that the room reaches the desired temperature before the unit has adequate run time to dehumidify. The result is a cool but clammy room that can feel just as uncomfortable as one that is not cool enough.
I occasionally see black particles blowing out of my unit. What are these, & do I need to do anything about it?
If your unit is only a couple of years old, then what you are seeing is probably due to a maintenance issue. Air conditioners remove both heat and humidity from a room. That humidity condenses on the air conditioner coils and drains into the base pan where it is used to cool the unit. Occasionally, mold or mildew will take advantage of this high moisture environment. The only way to alleviate this situation is to have the unit professionally cleaned. Contact Golden Plug Air Conditioning to treat this problem.
Why is there water in the base pan of my air conditioner?
Air conditioners remove both heat and humidity from a room. This process produces condensation which runs off into the base pan. This condensation is then used to cool the hot condenser coil which improves the unit’s performance.
Are there air conditioning options for spaces without an exterior wall?
Absolutely! One of the best options is a ductless split system, because the indoor unit can be mounted virtually anywhere. Depending on the system, the indoor and outdoor units can be separated by up to 164 feet with maximum height differences of 98 feet. So even if the rooms that need cooling are located in the building’s interior or on separate floors, there may be a ductless system that will fit the application.
What model or product is best for my situation?
Depending on the type of installation and cooling capacity you need, you may find solutions that you never knew existed. To get a complete understanding of the features and benefits on available products, contact Golden Plug Air Conditioning.
What is the decibel rating of my air conditioner?
There is no industry standard for measuring the sound of room air conditioners or an independent agency to verify the ratings. We follow the guidelines set by AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers), but these guidelines do not list decibel ratings for home appliances. Without an accepted industry standard, each manufacturer can “test” for sound ratings using whatever methodology they prefer. And without a common testing method, none of the results provide accurate comparisons. That’s why we do not publish sound ratings.
What causes ice to build up in an air conditioner?
Icing can be caused by a number of factors. Units that have not been cleaned over a long period of time may have coils and fins clogged by dust, dirt or debris. Clogged coils and fins restrict air flow through the unit, which can cause the compressor to work even harder – so hard, that it may reduce the coil temperature below the normal range in an attempt to make up for the lost cooling power from the blocked coils.
Another potential cause is running a unit with a very cold set point (i.e., turning the target temperature down very low) on low fan speed for an extended period of time. This can cause excess condensate to build up on the coils, further lowering the temperature of the coil and leading to icing.
Water is draining into my room from my air conditioner. What do I do?
This problem generally has one of two causes: the unit was not installed properly with the outside lower than the inside to allow for adequate exterior drainage, or there may be a clog in the drain pan where condensate collects during operation.
If you feel that neither of these conditions exists, check for air leaking in from the outside anywhere around the unit. Air leaks will cause condensation to form on the outside of the unit, and this water will drain into your room. If there are any air leaks, resealing them should address the problem.
My unit produces cold air, but it keeps turning off & on every few minutes, & I’m never comfortable. What is happening?
Your unit is probably too large for your room and is “short cycling”. This happens when cold air from an oversized unit bounces off the wall and back towards the unit, creating a room temperature reading that’s cooler than the actual temperature. This false reading causes the compressor to shut off before the room has truly reached your desired set-point. While the compressor is off, the “real” room air enters the intake grille, and the thermostat reads that the room is no longer at the set temperature, so it turns the compressor back on. Your unit cycles off and on approximately every two to three minutes to reach the set-point. While the air coming out of the unit is cold, the compressor does not remain on long enough to cool the entire room.
The only solution is to correctly size the unit’s capacity to the room size and demand. A unit’s capacity is determined by its BTU. Larger rooms need a higher-capacity unit (a greater BTU) to cool correctly. But a unit that is too large for the room will reach its set point too quickly, and the compressor will turn off before the air conditioner has had adequate time to remove humidity from the air.
How do I choose the correct unit capacity/BTU size?
You should consider a number of variables when sizing a unit, such as location, room insulation, how many people will be using the room, size and location of windows, to name a few. Golden Plug Air Conditioning can provide you with professional advice in making this important decision.
It’s cold outside but hot inside, & I need to use my air conditioner. What now?
Your air conditioner is designed to cool in warm weather when the outside temperature is above 60° Fahrenheit and below 115° Fahrenheit, so it won’t cool a room if it’s cool outside. If you want to cool a room in the winter, set your unit to Fan Only mode (if it has one) and set the Fresh Air/Exhaust control to Fresh Air. This will bring in a supply of outside air. You can do this as long as the outside temperature is above freezing.
Can I use a cover over the outside of my air conditioner during the months when it is not in use?
Please do not cover the outside of your air conditioner unless you first remove the unit from the sleeve, clean it and dry the base pan. Air conditioners are designed to hold water in the base pan. If the air conditioner is covered, the water cannot evaporate, and mold and mildew will form. If the air conditioner is installed per the instruction, you should not have problems with air coming in or around the unit. Everything in the rear of the air conditioner is sealed, so snow and rain cannot harm the air conditioner.
Give us a call or send us an email to learn more or to request an estimate.