MacSpares Complete range of Air-conditioners:

• Mid wall split Air Conditioners

• Under Ceiling Air conditioners

• Cassette Air conditioners

Dual and Split Air conditioner Systems

Dual and Split Air conditioners are Air conditioners were the Evaporator or indoor unit is separate from the Condenser / Compressor unit, or Outdoor unit. They are the ideal air conditioning solution for installations where adding Air ductwork is impractical or too expensive. Since mini splits have no ducts, they avoid the energy losses associated with ductwork of central forced air systems. Duct losses can account for more than 30% of energy consumption for space conditioning, especially if the ducts are in an unconditioned space such as an attic.
Split-systems can also help to keep your home safer since there is only a small hole in the wall. Through-the-wall and window mounted room air-conditioners can provide an easy entrance for intruders.
The matched combination of indoor air handler and outdoor condenser is efficient and easy to install.
Dual zone Air Conditioning systems let you cool or heat two separate areas or one large area.
The Outdoor Air conditioning Compressor can be mounted on any outside wall - a 70mm diameter hole is all that's needed for connecting the two units. This hole can be re-sealed after installation of the Air-conditioner

Selecting the right size of Air Conditioner

To choose a Split air conditioner you need to know how many BTUs you need to cool the area you are trying to cool. You normally need one air indoor unit / Evaporator per room but, if your home or office has open areas you may be able to cool multiple rooms fewer Indoor units, or use a dual Air-conditioner system .A Air-conditioner size calculator can be found here, or a simple rule of thumb guide is to measure the length , width and height of your room, (in meters) multiply by 600 and the result will give you the BTU's needed to cool the room. As the result is going to give you a BTU somewhere between two Air-conditioner sizes, the best selections policy is to use the bigger size Air conditioner
You need to decide what type of air conditioner you want
Wall unit where the indoor unit / Evaporator is mounted on a wall
Cassette mount were the Indoor unit /Evaporator is mounted in the ceiling.

Split air conditioners are a cost effective choice compared to central air conditioning or Ducting type Air Conditioning. Although they are typically more expensive than a thru- the -wall or window air conditioners and you need an Air Conditioner Technician to install the unit. The compressor is installed outside the building and therefore they the air conditioners are very quiet and much more efficient. As a single 70mm hole is all that is required , the security of the building is not compromised as in the case of Non split or ducted type Air-conditioner AS already mentioned , the only access hole in the wall is generally about 70mm" in diameter. This hole can be re-sealed after installation of the Air-conditioner

What comes with an Air conditioner Kit ?

Normally the Air Conditioner kit comes with three meters of Copper tubing and this is enough for most installations, however if the run is more than three meters then additional tubing needs to be bought. This is what will connect the indoor and outdoor units. The size and length of the tubing depends on how far the inside unit is going to be from the outdoor unit.

Heat Pumps

Most modern air conditioners have a method to provide heat in the colder winter months, Some of the older Air-conditioners have electric heater elements but most of the modern air-conditioner systems are designed to also be heat pumps or reverse Gas flow systems.Dual zone and triple zone Air-conditioners are Multi room Type air conditioners.Dual zone means that there are two indoor units and triple zone means there are three indoor /Evaporators units. It is best to get an indoor unit for each room you are trying to cool but, if you are trying to cool open areas that consist of more than one room you may be able to use one indoor unit just make sure the BTUs ratings are enough to cover the square meterage area of all of the rooms that must be services, rather go slightly over than just adequate Heating methods: electric heater and heat pumps
When a unit says that there is electric heat, or strip heat, there is a heater Element in the air-conditioner that uses the fan to distribute the heat.
A heat pump is similar to an air conditioner however instead of cooling the air like it would in the summer it heats the air and redistributes it into the room. This is also called “ reverse flow air conditioning” outside gets cold, inside gets hot

Energy Star

Energy star is a American program that ranks products that are extraordinarily energy efficient. Products that meet strict energy efficient requirements determined by the EPA and the US Department of Energy that do not compromise the performance and features of a product receive the Energy Star logo.
EER and SEER Ratings?
The Energy Efficiently Rating (EER) is determined by The American Air Conditioning and Refrigeration board that equals the ratio of cooling capacity in BTUs to the power input in watts. This rating determines the state of the air conditioner when it is working.
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) is commonly used to measure air conditioning. efficiency All air conditioners must have a SEER rating of at least 10 to be sold in the America.
A chassis is the base of an air conditioner. When the air conditioner is described as fixed that means that the chassis does not slide out. Air conditioners with slide out chassis are easier to repair especially if the air conditioner is a through the wall air conditioner. However , under certain conditions your security can be compromised

Noise level

All air conditioners will make some sort of noise however the modern are substantially quieter than older units. Split air conditioners are the quietest since the compressor sits outside.
Air flow
This determines how you can move the vents to determine where the air flows in your room. Air deflection means that you can move the vents manually to the side and up and down manually. Air swing means that the vents move automatically
An Air-conditioner fan speed settings vary from air conditioner to air-conditioner. Some units come with just two settings (on and off) others, with low, medium, and high.Floor Air-conditioners
A floor Air-conditioner is normally assembled with the Indoor indoor unit ( Evaporator ) and outdoor unit ( Condenser ) on the same chassis,. To install these units a hole is made in the wall were the chassis slots through and seals the hole. Due to the size of the hole needed these units have fallen from popularity as under certain conditions the hole compromises the safe aspects of the room

Portable Air-conditioner

Portable air conditioners are perfect spot cooling or for areas that central air conditioners, and bigger units cannot reach, also for area's that has a high sun load and additional cooling is required so as not to compromise the main air conditioning installation efficiency

Reverse flow Air Conditioners or Heat pumps

For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space into a warm, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house; during the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors. Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide up to 4 times the amount of energy they consume.
The most common type of heat pump is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air. If you heat with electricity, a heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating by as much as 30%?40%. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months. .
A heat pump is like a conventional air conditioner except it also can provide heat in winter. In the summer, the heat pump collects heat from the house and expels it outside. In the winter, the heat pump extracts heat from the outside air and circulates it inside the house using the refrigeration flow in the opposite way. The heat pump works best when the outdoor temperature is above freezing. Below that, supplementary heat often is needed, at times a simple 100watt light bulb is enough. A heat pump can save 30 to 60 percent less energy to supply the same heat when compared to an electric heater with heater bars or oil heater using resistance heating elements
COOLING CYCLE- Refrigerant passes through the indoor coil, evaporating from a liquid to a vapour. As the liquid evaporates, it absorbs heat, cooling the air around the coil. An indoor fan pushes this cooled air through ducts inside the house. Meanwhile, the vaporized refrigerant laden with heat, passes through a compressor which compresses the vapour, raising its temperature and pressure. The reversing valve directs the flow of hot, high pressure vapour to the outdoor coil where the heat released during condensation is fanned into the outdoor air, and the cycle begins again.
HEATING CYCLE- The reversing valve changes and shifts the Valves around, causing the refrigerant flow to reverse. Liquid refrigerant now flows to the outdoor coil picking up heat as it evaporates into a low pressure vapour. The vapour travels through the compressor where it is compressed into a hot, high pressure vapour, which is then directed by the reversing valve to the indoor coil. The vapour turns into liquid as it passes through the indoor coil, releasing heat that is pushed through the ducts by the indoor fan. Thereby warming the inside area

Dehumidifiers

Because air conditioners operate in the same basic way as dehumidifiers, window units are often used as makeshift dehumidifiers by sending their exhaust back into the room instead of outside. This produces the same result as using a dehumidifier, a room atmosphere that is much less humid but slightly warmer.

Air curtains

Air curtain can be aliken to an invisible door that prevents two air bodies from intermingling These systems create a wall of air that protects the interior space from climatic temperature swings, polluted air, etc. Both quiet and powerful, Air curtains is an energy-efficient solution of providing enjoyable indoor environments that is clean,comfortable, An Air Curtain allows the main air conditioner to operate within its design parameters and not be overloaded be exterior climatic conditions. Ideal for open-front stores and shops in shopping malls, building complexes and street-level businesses

1.An Air curtain is able to maintain the interior air conditioning efficiently, by preventing the loss of cooled air to outdoor.
2.An Air Curtain retains the interior cooled air and maintains the temperature at a balanced level.
3.An Air Curtain shuts off the outdoor heat, odours, dust, smoke and insects from entering and thus maintaining a comfortable and clean environment.
4.An Air Curtain prevents the cold air from escaping from the cold storage area.
5.The opening and closing of doors is unnecessary especially in high customer traffic area, as an Air Curtain act as a "door" of air.

Are Air Conditioners, Electricity guzzling monsters?

Water heaters

 When microwaves were first introduced it was difficult to understand that a small unit that plugs into a wall socket outlet could do the same work as a stove with its heavy wiring - A stove and then a geyser are the main Energy guzzler of all houses

Air-conditioning design and technology have developed to such a great extent that using refrigerants and a system call “ heat pumps “ (Reverse flow air-conditioning ). A single one Kilowatt ( 1 KW ) used buy the heat pump compressor can do the work of three household geysers elements .
Yes, think about it the same power that a strong microwave draws from a wall plug outlet can do all your geyser heating requirements.
Three average geysers (150 Litre ) have one element each therefore 3 off 3KW heater elements = 9 KW
this is a simple sum 1Kw heat pump = 9 Kw geyser elements
Looking at the saving over a Extended period, the heat pump will work longer but you will get a saving of between Forty and Seventy Percent

Heat pumps have traditionally been used for space heat Air conditioning, but they are now also being used to replace electric water heating. They are usually three times more efficient than electric resistance water heaters--meaning that they can produce the same amount of hot water for one-third the amount of electricity.

EER:

The "Energy Efficiency Ratio" (EER) of a room air conditioner is a rating of its operating efficiency. To determine the EER, you divide the BTU/Hr. cooling capacity by the amount of electric power consumed (watts). The higher the EER, the more cooling or heating you get for your money and the lower the operating costs for comparable cooling capacity. Each model's EER is clearly marked on it energy hang tag.

 Installation, Maintenance & servicing

ADVICE ON AIR CONDITIONING MAINTENANCE

There is no better time than the Beginning of Summer, Spring to have your air conditioning system serviced in good time for the Summer months. Very often small problems spotted at the time of service stop them from becoming major and expensive problems later on.

Here are some questions we are frequently asked: _
Q. Is there a suggested period for re-gassing my air conditioning system?
A. Using the air conditioner does not use up the refrigerant gas inside it. In fact, if conditions were ideal it would never need re-gassing. During servicing and maintenance, the level of refrigerant (R22) gas is checked and a low gas pressures mean that in all likelihood there is a minute leak in the air con system. Most recently manufactured air conditioning units have connections which are welded to minimize leaks but older units used to have mechanically connected fittings which, over the years, can vibrate loose and cause a leak and the air conditioning system will fail.

The effects of a gas leak are as follows: -
1.The efficiency of the air conditioner is reduced considerably.
2.The refrigerant , normally R22, cools the compressor and over a period of time a low level of gas can cause the compressor to overheat, breakdown. even burnout This would require a complete replacement of the compressor and sometimes the condensing unit as well. A very expensive repair.
3.Low gas levels can also cause the evaporator coil to freeze up. When the air conditioning unit defrosts, it will normally restart and then freeze again.

Q. Should I take my Refrigeration Technicians advice and arrange regular check ups for my air conditioning systems?
A. Yebo !!! We do recommend at the very least annual air conditioning system checkups and these should be done in the Spring. By undertaking a programme of about three month maintenance checks , you would minimise the risk of expensive repairs later on. Also, the main advantage is that your system should function efficiently during the Summer and Winter months.Q. What actions are carried out to the air conditioning system during the service?
A.
1Filters are checked and cleaned.
2. The evaporator and condenser coils are cleaned.
3. All motors are oiled where required.
4. Check condenser.
5. Check thermostat is working accurately.
6. Check all electrical fittings and test controls.
7. Check for correct for refrigerant levels. If found to be low check and repair any leaks before adding further gas.Q. What can I do to maintain my air conditioning unit?
A. Ensure that the outdoor , condensing unit which is located outside of your premises is not covered up or blocked in any way. The efficient operation of your Air-conditioner depends on the condenser unit drawing cool air over the radiator and getting rid of the heat load in the refrigerant gas (R22) to cool the refrigerant t If the condenser is blocked in any way then the heat will not be expelled and the Air conditioner will break down catastrophicly . An air conditioning unit needs fresh air to work properly.

Some basic maintenance tasks

1. Check the filters to make sure they are not blocked. Clean them by using a vacuum cleaner to suck out the dust and wash them under warm soapy water. Some filters are disposable and these should be replaced.
2. Change the filters and run the system to test it in the Spring so that if there are any faults or problems they can be dealt with in good time for the Summer months.
3. Check that you have set the thermostat to “cooling mode”. It’s amazing how many people forget to do this.
4. A thoroughly cleaned air conditioner will operate at maximum efficiency. Do not however, use a hose and water to try to clean it because there is a very serious risk of electrical shock and possible shorting of electrical components when they come into contact with water.
5. We would always recommend that you employ a fully qualified company of air conditioning contractors to service and maintain your expensive Air conditioning system.

Air Conditioning Service, Maintenance and Repair of your Installation
For your peace of mind we strongly recommend that your Air-conditioner gets regular maintenance. It is a recognised fact that a regularly serviced air conditioning unit will have a far longer lifespan, will have higher performance and be more energy efficient than a unit which does not receive Planned Preventative Maintenance.The installation of your air conditioning system is a major investment, To protect your investment by both prolonging the life of your system and to ensure that the air conditioning units run efficiently and economically we recommend that you enter into a Maintenance Contract to ensure regular servicing This will help achieve the longevity and efficiency of your system for many years.
It is our experience that the vast majority of expensive air conditioning repairs occur as a result of systems which have not been subject to any regular maintenance or servicing.

Air conditioning maintenance contracts are available at what is really very little cost and should form part and parcel of any company’s Plan Preventive Maintenance Program and again we cannot stress that air conditioner maintenance ought to form part of any potential damage limitation exercise.

Installation

What you get with every air conditioner bought

Indoor unit

Outdoor unit

3 metes pipe an control cable run

the unit comes pre- gassed

How to find out what size Air conditioner you need

Common Problems

One of the most common air conditioning problems is improper operation. If your air conditioner is on, be sure to close your home's windows and outside doors. For room air conditioners, isolate the room or a group of connected rooms as much as possible from the rest of your home.

Other common problems with existing air conditioners result from faulty installation, poor service procedures, and inadequate maintenance. Improper installation of a central air conditioner can result in leaky ducts and low airflow. Many times, the refrigerant charge (the amount of refrigerant in the system) does not match the manufacturer's specifications. If proper refrigerant charging is not performed during installation, the performance and efficiency of the unit is impaired. Unqualified service technicians often fail to find refrigerant charging problems or even worsen existing problems by adding refrigerant to a system that is already full.
Air conditioner manufacturers generally make rugged, high quality products. If your air conditioner fails, begin by checking any fuses or circuit breakers. Let the unit cool down for about five minutes before resetting any breakers. If a central air conditioner's compressor stops on a hot day, the high-pressure limit switch may have tripped; reset it by pushing the button, located in the compressor's access panel. Other common reasons for air conditioner failures are listed below.
Refrigerant Leaks
If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant gas, either it was undercharged at installation, or it leaks. If it leaks, simply adding refrigerant is not a solution. A trained Air-conditioner technician should fix any leak, test the repair, and then charge the system with the correct amount of refrigerant. gas Remember that the performance and efficiency of your air conditioner is greatest when the refrigerant charge exactly matches the manufacturer's specification, and is neither undercharged nor overcharged. Refrigerant leaks can also be harmful to the environment.
Inadequate Maintenance
If you allow filters and air conditioning coils to become dirty, the air conditioner will not work properly, and the compressor or fans are likely to fail prematurely.

HOW AIR CONDITIONERS WORK

All air conditioners take moisture out of the air but they are not considered a dehumidifier on there own.
Air conditioners employ the same operating principles and basic components as your home refrigerator. Refrigerators use energy (usually electricity) to transfer heat from the cool interior of the refrigerator to the relatively warm surroundings of your home; likewise, an air conditioner uses energy to transfer heat from the interior of your home to the relatively warm outside environment.

An air conditioning system generally consists of five mechanical components:

1.Compressor.
2. Fan.
3. Condenser coil (outdoor).
4. Evaporator coil (indoor).
5. A chemical refrigerant gas normally R 22.
Most air conditioning systems include of a "hot" side, outside your home, and a "cold" side, inside your home. The "hot" side generally consists of a condensing coil, a compressor and a fan.
The "cold" side is in your house

An air conditioner transfers heat from the inside of a building, where it is not wanted, to the outside. Refrigerant in the system absorbs the excess heat and is pumped through a closed system of piping to an outside coil. A fan blows outside air over the hot coil, transferring heat from the refrigerant to the outdoor air.
An air conditioner cools your home with a cold indoor coil called the evaporator. The condenser, a hot outdoor coil, releases the collected heat outside. The evaporator and condenser coils are serpentine tubing surrounded by aluminium fins. This tubing is usually made of copper.
A pump, called the compressor, moves a heat transfer fluid (or refrigerant) between the evaporator and the condenser. The pump forces the refrigerant through the radiator circuit of tubing and fins in the coils.
The liquid refrigerant evaporates in the indoor evaporator coil, pulling heat out of indoor air and thereby cooling your home. The hot refrigerant gas is pumped outdoors into the condenser where it reverts back to a liquid, giving up its heat to the outside air flowing over the condenser's metal tubing and fins.

The air cleaning function of the air conditioners is performed by filters, which remove dust from the air.
Throughout the second half of the 20th century, nearly all air conditioners used chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as their refrigerant, but because these chemicals are damaging to Earth's ozone layer, CFC production has been stopped. Nearly all air conditioning systems now employ halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as a refrigerant, but these are also being gradually phased out, with most usage to be stopped by 2020
Production and importing of today's main refrigerant for home air conditioners, HCFC-22 (also called R-22), will begin to be phased out in 2020 and will stop entirely by 2030. However, HCFC-22 is expected to be available for many years as it is recovered from old systems that are taken out of service. As these refrigerants are phased out, ozone-safe hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are expected to dominate the market, as well as alternative refrigerants such as ammonia.

Explanations of images on remote

Microprocessor-controlled Operation 
Microprocessor control ensures that the temperature and humidity levels in the room are always comfortable. 

Wireless Remote Control 
Infrared Remote Control with an easy to read LCD Display, gives the user the capability to adjust and set: temperature, sweep (louver control), fan speeds, timer, night setback and more, for complete automatic operation. 
Dry Mode 
By coupling compressor and fan operation intermittent operation can be precisely controlled according to room temperature, so that air is efficiently dehumidified. 
3 Fan Speeds and Automatic Fan Operation 
Convenient microprocessor control automatically adjusts fan speed to High, Medium or Low. According to room temperature to maintain a comfortable airflow throughout the room. 
Air Sweep Control 
The air sweep function moves the louver up and down in the air outlet, directing air in a "sweeping" motion around the room and providing comfort in every corner. 
 
Louver Control 
Louver can be manually set to the desired angle by remote control. 

Automatic Heating and Cooling Changeover 
After setting the temperature and functions you desire, just relax. If the room temperature is higher than the set temperature, heating operation begins. During normal thermostat cycle operation, cooling and heating operations automatically change in accordance with set temperature, time and room temperature. (Heat Pump unit only)

Night Setback Mode for Cooling and Heating 
Cooling and DRY Mode: With the Night Setback Mode, the air conditioner automatically raises the setting temperature 2?F after 30 minutes, and then another 2?F after the next 30 minutes.
Heating Mode: With the Night Setback Mode, the setting temperature is automatically lowered 4?F after 30 minutes. This saves energy without sacrificing comfort and is ideal for gentle cooling and heating.

Compact Size
Latest technology makes it possible to reduce the size of evaporator and fan components to much more compact dimensions.
Hot Start
Heating System
Right from the start, air is warm and comfortable. The Hot Start Heating System prevents any cold blasts at the beginning while the heat pump is warming up. (Heat pump unit only)
24-hour Clock
with ON/OFF
Program Timer
The remote control unit allows you to set a wide variety of timer-based operations. Such functions include automatic ON/OFF with a timer setting, same time ON/OFF every day, ON timer, OFF timer and Combination timer.
12-hour ON/OFF Timer 
This timer can be set to automatically turn the unit on or off at any time within a 12-hour period.12-hour ON/OFF Timer 
This timer can be set to automatically turn the unit on or off at any time within a 12-hour period. 
1-hour OFF Timer 
When this button is pushed either while the unit is operating or while it is stopped, the unit will operate for one hour and then switch off automatically.
Anti-mold Filter 
Filter is treated with anti-mold chemicals to prevent mold or bacteria from occurring.
Automatic 
Restart Function 
and Power Failure 
This feature allows the system to automatically resume operation at its preset program, after power is restored from a power failure.