Thursday, January 24, 2008

Beat the Summer Heat - What Size A/C Do I Need?

A larger air conditioner will not always provide more cooling. It should be sized for the room area. If properly sized it should operate long enough to remove moisture from the air. It is the moisture removed from the room which actually produces the feeling of cooling. Unfortunately many people in their rush to purchase a window air conditioner buy too large a model.

Too large a unit can actually provide less cooling than a smaller, properly sized unit. This is because with an oversized air conditioner its run time is too short. Consequently it does not remove enough moisture from the room to produce a feeling of comfort. If youre A/C seems to cycle off and then back on every few minutes and does a poor job of cooling, it is probably oversized for the room.

Air conditioners are rated in BTUs. british Thermal Units are a measurement of how much heat is being transferred form the room being cooled to where the heat is dumped out of doors. This is why the cooing coil inside the room is cool to the touch, while the part that hangs outside is extremely hot.

A window air conditioner used in the average household room can be as low as 4000 BTU. While 5000, 6000, and 8000 are the most common sizes purchased.

How do I determine what size A/C I need? Following is a basic sizing chart for calculating the window air conditioner needed for a room. Calculate the size of the room by multiplying the width of the room by the length of the room. Use your room size to determine what BTU's are required to cool that particular room size.

room in sq ft-----room in sq m-----A/C size in BTU's

100 250............9 23............5000 6000

250 400...........23 37............6000 8500

400 550...........37 51............8000 11000

550 875...........51 81...........11000 15000

Based on a room occupied by two adults, having an average insulation, number of windows, and sun exposure.

Which is the best room for placement of an air conditioner?

Wherever it gives the most comfort is where it should be installed. If you only have one air conditioner then we usually suggest the bedroom. This is because most people find that if they can sleep comfortably during a hot summer night then their next days work will be a lot easier. Getting through a hot day at work becomes a lot easier when you know you will sleep comfortably that night.

Some people do not like a cool sleeping environment so they will tend to place it in a living room or family room. Or some people will place it in the family room because the whole family can sleep there. Get out the sleeping bags and turn it into an adventure for the young ones. Beats waking up in the morning to find a dog, cat, and four kids in the bed with you.

Also window air conditioner can be noisy, which may disturb sleep. Others find the drone of the fan actually promotes sleep because all the neighbourhood noises are drowned out. Some people say the air conditioner works as well as a sleeping pill

But whichever room you eventually pick dont expect the impossible from youre A/C. It is not meant to cool more than one room or one open area. Air conditioners will not cool other rooms? This is because the blower in a window air conditioner is not very powerful. It is sized to cool one open area, not a number of interconnected rooms. Therefore once again a couple of smaller units may be better for your home than one large unit.

Lastly, remember to properly secure the air conditioner in the window. Once installed a piece of wood to stop the window from being lifted up is a good idea. If you have wooden sills the simple addition of a wood screw at the top of the raised window (the one you had to raise to install the A/C) will only take a minute. Otherwise an intruder could gain access to the house by lifting the window and letting the A/C fall out. This could result in the loss of both your valuables and the air conditioner.

Copyright 2005 by Donald Grummett. All right reserved.

service manager of MG Appliance Repair services in ottawa, canada. In the trade over 30 years as a technician, business owner, and technical trainer. For more information about appliances including FAQ, Stain guide, Recycling, and Newsletter visit http://www.mgservices.ca

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Wireless Security Camera - For Dick Tracy and Every Tom, Dick, and Harry

Have you seen the movie Dick Tracy? It was the 1990 blockbuster film staring Al Pacino and Madonna. It's based on Chester Gould's comic strip, which he wrote and drew from 1931 until 1977. The work featured Dick Tracy, the superhero of police detectives. He was smart. He could punch with an iron fist. Even more impressive, he had the fastest draw in the city. Dick Tracy had to face villains so ugly they could make onions cry. These bad guys and gals include B-B Eyes, who had the eyes of a frog; hairless Miss Egghead; The Blank, who literally had no face; and The Claw, whose hook replaced a missing hand. One of the comic strip's hallmarks was Dick Tracy's gadgets, which he used to help track down these evil villains. His most famous tool was his 2-Way Wrist Radio, which, beginning in 1946, allowed Dick Tracy and police force members to communicate easily. In 1964, the watch was improved to a 2-Way Wrist TV, and then to a 2-Way Wrist computer in the year 1987. Today, a wireless security camera would certainly be included in Dick Tracy's arsenal of gizmos.

Cameras and Calendars
Before the wireless security camera, there was the television camera. Philo Taylor Farnsworth invented one that transformed the captured image into an electric signal. The U.S. dollar sign was the image that he transmitted. Farnsworth received a patent for his "dissector tube" invention that transmitted the image. Later, the first professional camcorder was put on the market, in 1982. And then during the following year, the first domestic camcorder appeared in stores. The first video surveillance system was installed in 1942, about a decade after Dick Tracy first appeared, to observe the launching of V2-rockets. Today, security cameras have come a long way. They are now digital, rather than analog; and even a wireless security camera can be used!

Pulling the Plug
While a home security system would probably not include a V2-rocket, today the wireless security camera has become instrumental in keeping homes safe. When considering whether or not a wired or wireless security camera is ideal for you, think about the benefits of the wireless security camera.

* They are ideal for the do-it-yourself kind of person because as they are easy to set up and are more portable.
* They are easier to conceal.
* They sometimes have motion-activated sensors that e-mail you after a person has walked into view!
* They can be accessed by logging onto your computer from almost anywhere.
* They do not require a power connector so they can be placed almost anywhere.
* They can save you money because you will not have to spend much money on wires and other electrical pieces.

Working outside of the Home
The wireless security camera also has several applications outside the home. These include crime registration, monitoring of traffic, observation of industrial processes at factories, and compliance with safety requirements. Today's wireless security cameras are so tiny they are very difficult or impossible for the naked eye to detect. This makes them ideal for places where the camera must be concealed.

Technology has come a long way since "Dick Tracy" was introduced into the world of comic books in 1931. In fact, the wireless security camera has become so effective that the fearless detective might even use one if he were still prowling the streets for bad guys today.

Toying with the idea of getting a wireless security camera or other hidden video cameras? Discover the power of wireless video surveillance when you visit video-surveillance-guide.com now!

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