Cooling and ventilation modes are in each model by definition. But air conditioners with
humidification are relatively rare. For them, the opposite format is mandatory — dehumidification and
heating.
- Cooling. The mode of lowering the air temperature in the room is the main function of any air conditioner. Note that conventional air conditioners, when cooled, also remove moisture from the air. However, due to a decrease in temperature, the relative humidity in this mode changes slightly (or does not change at all).
- Ventilation. The mode in which the air conditioner provides only air circulation throughout the room, without changing its temperature and humidity. Such a function can be useful, for example, for air mixing and temperature equalization; in addition, when passing through the air conditioner, the air is filtered, which is useful, for example, for cleaning from dust and smoke, or for ensuring hygiene in a room where a sick person is. Let us emphasize that ventilation must be distinguished from the
fresh air intake(see "Functions"). The ability to add air from outside is rare and only in expensive models of air conditioners.
- Dehumidification. Mode for removing excess moisture from the air. This function works by condensing water vapour on the cold heat exchanger of the air conditioner; the
...collected moisture is usually removed to the outside through a drainage tube or accumulates in a special reservoir. Note that condensation also occurs in the cooling mode (see above); the dehumidification mode differs from it in that the temperature of the air passed through the air conditioner changes very slightly — usually by no more than 1 °C — but the humidity drops very noticeably.
— Heating. The mode of increasing the air temperature in the room. It should be borne in mind that most air conditioners with this function are not designed to be used as full-fledged heating systems - their task is to "help" such systems, as well as heating in the off-season, when the main heating does not work. In addition, the permissible outside temperature (see “Minimum t for heating mode”) can be different: for example, not every unit with a heating mode can work in cold weather. On the other hand, there are exceptions - powerful cold-resistant models, approaching the characteristics of heat pumps and withstanding temperatures of -25 ° C and even lower.
- Humidification. A need to increase air humidity often arises in winter. When the air is heated by heating devices, its relative humidity decreases (and the overall comfort in the room is associated precisely with relative humidity). In addition, in rooms where there are small children, it is recommended to specially humidify the air. The humidifying mode in air conditioners is rare and only in premium models. And for the operation of the humidifier, a supply of water is required, which must be monitored and periodically replenished.
— Fresh air intake. Ability to mix fresh air from outside with the air passed through the conditioner. Thus, models with this function not only change the temperature and humidity of the air but also additionally refresh it. On the other hand, mixing significantly complicates both the design of the air conditioner itself and its installation. Therefore, this function is rare, and mainly in models of the middle level and above.
— Automode. A function that relieves the user of the need to manually control the parameters of the air conditioner. It is enough just to set the desired microclimate in the room. After that, the unit will independently monitor the current conditions and select the desired operating mode. Most often, this function provides temperature monitoring and automatic switching between cooling and heating but advanced models may provide more advanced features, such as humidity monitoring with automatic dehumidification or even humidification.
— Night mode. A function that allows you to use the air conditioner as comfortably as possible at night. There are two main features of this mode. First, the fan speed is set to a minimum, which reduces noise and avoids strong air currents that can disturb sleepers. Secondly, the temperature change occurs very slowly and smoothly — by a couple of degrees within two to three hours; this is considered optimal for sleep. Additionally, in the night mode, a timer can be provided that turns off the air conditioner after 7-8 hours.
— Emergency heating. A function found in air conditioners with heating (see "Operating modes"); is intended mainly for summer cottages and other similar places that can be left unattended for a long time during the cold season. When using standby heating, the air conditioner maintains a low positive temperature in the room (about +8..10 °С). It is enough to avoid freezing of walls and damage to communications, and at the same time, energy consumption is low.
— Self-cleaning. The mode of automatic cleaning of the internal parts of the air conditioner — usually due to intensive purging with air. It allows you to remove the accumulated dust inside and dry out excess moisture and also prevents the growth of harmful microorganisms. At the same time, self-cleaning does not eliminate the need for full manual cleaning or replacement of working elements in the air conditioner filters. Additional features provided by the device.
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Inverter control. The presence of a compressor with inverter power control in the air conditioner.
Models without an inverter have only two modes of operation — full power and off, and the set intensity of heating/cooling is provided by turning the compressor on and off for certain periods. In turn, the principle of inverter control is to smoothly change the compressor power, which avoids constant switching on and off. It provides several advantages: minimal wear, no power surges and unnecessary load on the mains, as well as a comfortable (low and stable) noise level. The main disadvantage of inverter models is the rather high cost.
— Timer. A function that allows you to set the time for automatic shutdown of the air conditioner. Thanks to the timer, you can, for example, start the air conditioner before going to bed and fall asleep peacefully without worrying about turning off the device — it will turn itself off after a user-defined time. And in some models, the timer is part of the night mode (see below).
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Auto restart. Automatic restoration of air conditioner settings after a power outage. Simply put, when power is restored, a device with this function will continue to operate in the same mode as before the power outage.
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Air pollution sensor.... A sensor that monitors the presence of smoke, dust and other contaminants in the air passing through the air conditioner. The use of such a sensor can be different: some models can independently start the ventilation mode when pollution is detected, in others the sensor is only responsible for automatic shutdown, and ventilation must be turned on manually. However, this function greatly facilitates the monitoring of air quality.
— Motion sensor. A sensor that monitors the presence of people in the room. Using the location of people in the room, the air conditioner can change the direction of the flow away from people, thereby protecting against drafts. If the presence of people is not detected, then the air conditioner may switch to low power consumption mode and work not at full capacity, maintaining a comfortable temperature, and depending on the implementation of this functionality, it may even turn off if there is no activity in the room for a long time. It helps to save energy and provides an additional guarantee in case the user forgets to turn off the air conditioner manually.
— Vertical blinds drive. Recall that in most models the air outlet has the form of a slot, equipped with two types of blinds — horizontal (usually one), along the length, and vertical, along the height. By default, the motor drive has only a horizontal blind: this allows you to change the direction of the airflow vertically, as well as close the duct during non-working hours. However, some modern air conditioners (mostly wall-mounted, see "Installation") also provide a vertical blinds drive — it allows you to turn them from side to side, changing the direction of the horizontal airflow. It significantly expands the possibilities for setting up the unit for the specifics of the situation.
— Self-diagnosis. The ability to automatically detect malfunctions and errors in the operation of the air conditioner. The specific features of the operation of this function may be different: in some models, the “health” of the unit is constantly monitored or automatically checked at certain intervals, in others, such a procedure is only started manually. Usually, self-diagnostic systems can automatically fix minor problems that do not require external intervention. More serious problems are reported to the user by the device, for example, by an error code on the display.
— Control via smartphone. The ability to remotely control the air conditioner from a smartphone or other similar device, such as a tablet. Usually, for this, you need to install a special application on the device. Such control can be more convenient and intuitive than using the remote control — the application can provide various specific parameters and functions that are not available for the remote control (for example, the schedule of work by day of the week). In addition, through the application, you can monitor the operating parameters of the air conditioner in real time — the set temperature, speed, programme, etc. — and receive notifications of problems. And some models with this feature can even be connected to the Internet — and get access to air conditioning control from anywhere in the world where there is access to the World Wide Web. Connection with the control gadget can be carried out via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, depending on the model. For some devices, this feature may require the use of an external Wi-Fi module (see below).
— Wi-Fi module connect. Such equipment significantly expands the functionality: a Wi-Fi connection can be used to control via a smartphone or even via the Internet, to transfer statistics and other service data to external devices (smartphone, laptop, etc.), for remote diagnostics and troubleshooting, etc. The specific set of capabilities associated with the wireless module should be specified separately; however, this feature is typical mainly for fairly advanced models. Note that modern air conditioners can be equipped with built-in Wi-Fi modules. However, when buying such a model, you have to immediately pay extra for additional communication options, while with a separate Wi-Fi adapter, there is a choice — you can buy it both together with the air conditioner, and separately, later (or even not buy at all if this function turns out to be unnecessary).
— I Feel (remote control with temperature sensor). The presence of a temperature sensor in the complete remote control. Usually, such a remote control also has a separate button, when pressed, the air conditioner measures the temperature at the location of the remote control, that is, near the user. It allows you to more accurately control the microclimate than when using a sensor on the indoor unit — the device estimates the temperature at the user's location, and not at the installation site of the indoor unit.Types of additional filters that are standard on the air conditioner (in addition to the simplest mechanical cleaning filters, which are found in all models).
We emphasize that we are talking specifically about the filters supplied in the kit; Some models allow you to separately purchase additional elements for air purification, but this possibility is not taken into account in this case. As for specific options, the most popular in modern air conditioners are
ionizers, various
antibacterial filters(including
catechin elements and
UV lamps), devices for
fine cleaning (including
HEPA filters),
antifungal,
antiallergenic,
deodorizing and
formaldehyde filters, and also elements that combine several functions at once (for example,
catalytic). Here is a detailed description of each of them:
— Ionizer. The action of the ionizer is based on the saturation of the air with negatively charged ions. They provide a feeling of fresh air, have a bactericidal effect, and are considered beneficial for overall health. One of the advanced types of ionizers are also
plasma (electrostatic) filters. Along with the saturation of air masses with useful air ions, they are assigned the task of air purification. Such filters can quite effectively destroy harmful microorganisms, destroy some harmful substances, and trap grains of dust, smoke, soot, etc. — these particles, under the influence of ionized air, themselves acquire a charge and are attracted to the filter plates.
— Fine cleaning. This term usually refers to advanced mechanical filters that provide air filtration at a microscopic level. The specific effectiveness of such devices may vary; it should be clarified separately in each case. Note also that the HEPAs described below are also, in fact, fine filters; however, they use a specific operating principle and are inherently highly efficient. Therefore, the presence of HEPA filters is indicated separately.
— HEPA filter. A special type of mechanical fine filters. Thanks to the special design of the microchannels through which air passes in such a filter, such devices can trap particles much smaller in size than the size of the microchannels. For comparison, the effectiveness of a HEPA filter is assessed by its ability to capture contaminants measuring 0.1 - 0.3 microns (with such particles, such a filter is least effective), while the size of most bacteria starts at 0.5 microns. Based on their effectiveness, such filters are divided into classes; Nowadays, HEPA classes from 10 (retains at least 85% of the mentioned particles) to 14 (filtration efficiency reaches 99.995%) are relevant.
- Catechin. In fact, it is a type of antibacterial filters described below, created on the basis of catechins - natural organic substances with a powerful antioxidant effect. Such filters are highly effective in fighting bacteria and viruses, but they are not cheap; In light of these features, they are separated into a separate category.
- Catalytic. Most often, this term refers to photocatalytic, or “zeolite” filters - devices that operate using a special substance (photocatalyst) and UV radiation. Under the influence of such radiation, the catalyst decomposes the organic matter falling on it into simpler substances - usually water and carbon dioxide. This technology not only allows you to remove harmful impurities from the air (at the level of individual molecules), but also provides a good bactericidal and antiviral effect. Moreover, such a filter requires virtually no maintenance: the photocatalyst is not consumed during operation, and the reaction products freely evaporate outside. On the other hand, the price of such elements is quite high.
- Antibacterial. Various filters designed to destroy bacteria and other harmful organisms - viruses, fungi, etc. The specific operating principle, level of efficiency and maintenance rules for such filters may vary; these details should be clarified in the documentation for the air conditioner. However, if air disinfection is of fundamental importance to you, such a filter will definitely not be out of place. Let us note only two nuances in this regard. Firstly, catechol elements are usually not included in this category, although they have the same purpose (see above); secondly, not every antibacterial filter is capable of effectively fighting viruses - again, it would not hurt to clarify this point separately.
It is also worth considering that no matter how effective the air conditioner filters are, thorough air disinfection is not its main task;
specialized devices should be used for these purposes.
- Antifungal. A specialized filter for removing harmful fungi from the air, such as mold. The antibacterial devices described above also have this function to one degree or another; however, this type of filter is much more effective in this regard. On the other hand, the need to intensively fight specifically fungi does not arise so often, and for other cases, the same antibacterial filters are usually quite sufficient. So antifungal elements are used quite rarely in modern air conditioners.
- Anti-allergenic. Filters designed primarily to remove allergy-causing contaminants from the air: pollen (including from indoor plants), dust mites, particles of pet hair, etc. The specific operating principle of such filters may vary and should be clarified separately. Thus, relatively inexpensive air conditioners usually use simple mechanical cleaning, and the term “anti-allergenic” is more of a marketing ploy than a real description of the filter’s specialization. More advanced models often include more advanced technologies - for example, an enzyme filter that breaks down allergens into simple, harmless substances like water and carbon dioxide.
- Ultraviolet lamp. A lamp that processes the air passing through the air conditioner with UV radiation. This treatment provides a bactericidal effect: ultraviolet light neutralizes most bacteria, viruses and fungi. True, in general the efficiency of such lamps is not particularly high; however, they are a great addition to an antibacterial filter. And even without such a filter, the quality of air purification of an air conditioner with a UV lamp will be higher than that of a similar model without such a lamp.
We would like to emphasize that this function should not be confused with the catalytic (photocatalytic) filter described above - UV lamps have a much simpler design and operating principle.
— Deodorizing (charcoal). A specialized filter designed, among other things, to combat unpleasant odors. Acts at the molecular level, allowing ordinary air to pass through and absorbing molecules of substances that create unpleasant odors; Of course, it is also capable of trapping larger particles, such as smoke. Activated carbon is most often used as a filter element - hence one of the variants of the name; There are filters based on other substances, but they also have similar properties. It is worth keeping in mind that in any deodorizing filter the working element must be changed periodically - when its resource is exhausted, it becomes useless and can even emit harmful substances itself.
- Formaldehyde. A specialized filter for removing formaldehyde and some other harmful organic compounds (for example, ammonia, benzene and/or hydrogen sulfide) from the air. The source of such substances can be both external pollution (for example, emissions from industrial enterprises) and some objects in the room itself: new furniture or curtains, some types of floor and wall coverings (immediately after application), spoiled food, cigarette smoke, etc. n. The specific operating principle of filters of this type may vary. Most often, the so-called cryocatalytic element is used, in which the catalyst decomposes organic matter into simpler, harmless components, and then restores its properties due to the cold when the air conditioner operates for cooling. In addition, many catalytic (photocatalytic) filters (see above) have similar capabilities, so one such element can be declared in the characteristics as two types of filters at once - both catalytic and formaldehyde.
In addition to the varieties described above, other types of filters may be found in modern air conditioners, in particular:
— Air purifying. A general name used for different types of filters. This term often denotes the simplest elements of coarse cleaning (for advertising purposes - so that the list of filters in the characteristics is larger). However, there is also another option - devices created on the basis of specific proprietary technologies and which do not fit into any of the varieties described above; such devices can combine several functions simultaneously (for example, fine filtration and antibacterial effect).
— Dust collecting. Most often we are talking about a simple mechanical filter that traps dust and other relatively large particles. Almost all modern air conditioners are equipped with such devices, but in some models the presence of “dust” filters is specified separately - mainly for advertising purposes.
— With vitamin C. A filter that saturates the air with vitamin C. It is believed that this supplement has a positive effect on immunity and skin condition; There is no clear evidence of this, but in conditions of vitamin deficiency, such a device will definitely not be superfluous.
- Preliminary. Mechanical coarse filter installed in front of the main set of filters. Detains relatively large contaminants, preventing them from reaching other filter elements and removing part of the “load” from them. At the same time, the design of the pre-filter is, as a rule, as simple as possible, and its maintenance is limited to periodic shaking or washing.
— “Ionic” (for example, Smart Ion, etc.). As a rule, it is the same electrostatic filter (see above), but presented under one or another brand name.
Cooling factor EER provided by the air conditioner. It is calculated as the ratio of the useful operating power of the air conditioner in cooling mode to the electricity consumption. For example, a device that delivers 6 kW of operating power in cooling mode and consumes 2 kW will have an EER 6/2 = 3.
The higher this indicator, the more economical the air conditioner is and the higher its cooling energy efficiency class (see below). Each class has its clear requirements for EER.
It is worth noting that this indicator is considered not very reliable, and in the European Union another coefficient has been introduced that is closer to practice — SEER. See Energy efficiency SEER (cooling) for more details.
The heating coefficient COP provided by the air conditioner. It is calculated as the ratio of the heat output of the air conditioner in heating mode to the electricity consumption. For example, if a device consumes 2 kW and produces 5 kW of thermal power, then the COP will be 5/2 = 2.5.
The higher this indicator, the more economical the air conditioner is and the higher its energy efficiency class when heating (see below). Each class has its own clear COP requirements.
Note that COP values are usually higher than the values of another important coefficient — EER (see above). It is due to the technical features of the air conditioners.
It is also worth mentioning that since 2013, a more advanced and closer-to-practice coefficient, SCOP, has been put into use in Europe. See "Energy efficiency SCOP (heating)" for more details.
The general energy efficiency class that the air conditioner complies with in cooling mode.
This parameter is indicated by letters from A (highest efficiency) and beyond. It is directly related to the value of the EER factor (see "Cooling EER"): each energy efficiency class corresponds to a certain range of factors (for example, B — from 3.0 to 3.2). Specific coefficient values for each class can be found in special tables; here we note that more efficient air conditioners are more expensive, but this difference can pay off due to less electricity consumption.
The general energy efficiency class that the air conditioner corresponds to when operating in heating.
This parameter is indicated by letters from A (highest efficiency) and beyond. It is directly related to the value of the COP coefficient (see "Heating COP"): each energy efficiency class corresponds to a certain range of coefficients (for example, C — from 3.2 to 3.4). Specific coefficient values for each class can be found in special tables; here we note that more efficient air conditioners are more expensive, but this difference can pay off due to less electricity consumption.
A small screen installed on the indoor unit of the air conditioner. Such
a display usually has basic functionality and displays a limited set of characters - numbers, some letters, sometimes also individual graphic icons. However, even such a screen can display quite a variety of information: set temperature, operating mode, timer settings, filter status, error codes, etc. Thanks to this, control is more convenient and visual.
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Hidden display. When switched off, the hidden info display blends in with the surface design of the indoor unit of the air conditioner and remains invisible. In active mode, the characters on the screen are visible through a certain place in the texture and all the necessary information is displayed on the display. On most models, the screen can be turned off using the remote control, and this feature can often be set to automatically hide after a certain period of inactivity, which will be useful at night.
The brand of the compressor installed in the air conditioner.
The compressor is the "heart" of the unit, it is on its specs that the capabilities of the air conditioner and the features of its operation primarily depend. And the brand of this part is specified mainly in cases where an advanced compressor is used in the design, which is noticeably superior to conventional options in terms of specs and overall quality. So this parameter is more advertising than practically significant. However, if you wish, you can find data on the general features and "reputation" of a particular brand and use this information for the final choice.
Note that even in air conditioners of the same brand, different brands of compressors can be used. It is because many manufacturers of such parts do not produce ready-made air conditioners, but only sell components to third-party companies. However, there are exceptions — usually large corporations such as Panasonic or Mitsubishi Heavy, or top manufacturers like Daikin.
