How You Can Use Air Conditioning in The Winter
Contemplating air conditioning in the winter is probably not what you thought you would be doing. Since the weather is already cold enough outside, what use could you possibly have for your air conditioning in the winter? Ironically, there are a few beneficial uses for your air conditioner in cold weather, and this article will tell you what they are.
Considerations
Before you do anything with your air conditioning this winter, you should first consider why most people don’t touch their air conditioning in the winter and the consequences of using them and not using them.
Firstly, during winter, your air conditioner’s internal components will be affected by the cold. For example, efficiency will decrease as air conditioners are intended to run at their most efficient when outdoor temperatures are high. There are several pieces of equipment inside your air conditioner that are designed to lower overall air temperature, including cooling coils, freon, and compressor oil. Freezing temperatures will negatively impact this equipment.
If your cooling coils freeze, the blower fan will experience difficulty in pulling air through the coil, and your air conditioner might freeze. Additionally, the system will be forced to over-work to pump freon (the refrigerant) around your system. And finally, the compressor oil used to lubricate the compressor will become more viscous and potentially cause the system to overheat and break.
These reasons are why most simply leave their air conditioner alone in the winter. But doing so can inadvertently lead to far more air conditioning maintenance once temperatures start to rise again, as allowing an electronic system to freeze and thaw over months without intervention can cause certain components to stop working or work inefficiently. For this reason, using your air conditioner, if only sporadically, throughout winter can be beneficial, despite the warnings against doing so.
How can I use air conditioning in the winter?
There are a few ways you can put your air conditioner to use when it gets cold. Firstly, by improving circulation.
- For circulation and temperature distribution
The festive season is synonymous with large gatherings. Whether in the office or a commercial establishment. It is also synonymous with the increased use of heating in winter. If you use your heating in winter, you may find that your rooms can become stuffy quickly, and your guests will be left feeling hot and uncomfortable in their thick winter jumpers. Using your air conditioner for a short period will not only jump-start your system and keep it working as normal. But it will also help to cool your guests quickly in uncomfortably warm rooms.
Drawing in cold air from outside and combining it with the warm internal air will create air circulation, which your guests will be more than thankful for.
- To keep food fresher for longer
If you store perishable food in unrefrigerated places for any amount of time such as your counter or table, you may find that they rot faster during the winter. Mould and bacteria thrive on moisture and warmth, so drying wet clothes on the radiator will affect your food items. Running your air conditioner for a short period every few days will help keep your food fresher for longer while reducing the need for air conditioning maintenance in the future.
- To repel insects
Although most species of insects hibernate during the winter months, there are still a few who survive. If you use your heating in winter, you will probably notice an increase in critters in your house, as they will be attracted to the warmth. Insects including ants, silverfish, and cockroaches will take refuge in your building and could quickly become an infestation if left unchecked.
You can use your air conditioning in the winter to repel insects from your building while still being able to use your heating. As mentioned above, using air conditioning can help air circulation and temperature distribution, so you can keep yourself comfortable and cool yourself down quickly without the help of open windows. Open windows are the easiest way for creepy crawlies to ingress, especially in winter. So your air conditioner will be doing you a favour.
What can D-MEC do for you?
Here at D-MEC, we provide air conditioning installation and maintenance throughout the year to locations across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire & Hertfordshire, to name a few. Cold weather doesn’t slow us down. In fact, autumn is actually the best time to install air conditioning! So, why not contact us today to help us provide a solution to your air conditioning needs?