Air conditioner on with window open. Misconceptions related to the operation of air conditioning. Filters get clogged quickly

It's no secret that in the summer indoors - be it city ​​apartment or a private house in nature - the temperature often rises above comfortable. It gets hot, open windows don’t help, or even vice versa - they let hot air in from the street, you don’t want to do anything and many people dream of coolness.

It is necessary to immediately make a reservation that the concept of “comfortable temperature” is a relative concept. There are people who are quite satisfied with warming to 30-32°C and, moreover, if this does not happen, then the summer, so to speak, has passed in vain. The differences are especially noticeable in office premises - when with the start summer season Irreconcilable wars begin between those who are STUFFING and those who are BLOCKING.

What is a comfortable indoor temperature in summer?

In this material we will talk about generally accepted temperature conditions. Currently, the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation has developed optimal (recommended) standards for air temperature in residential premises (SanPiN 2.1.2.2645-10). According to these standards optimal temperature for a living room in the warm season it should be in the range from 22 to 25°C, and the maximum permissible is 20 - 28°C.

The traditional solution to maintaining a comfortable indoor climate is to use an air conditioner. However, this is also one of the common causes of colds. Moreover, if there is a child in the house, the topic of safe use of air conditioning equipment is especially acute.

How to avoid catching a cold while in an air-conditioned room?

To avoid catching a cold from the air conditioner, you should follow these rules:

  • the difference between the temperature outside and the temperature set on the air conditioner should not exceed 7 degrees (ideally, the air conditioner temperature should not be lower than 23-24°C)
  • The air flow should not be directed towards a person. To regulate the direction of flow, use the “blinds” built into the air conditioner - vertical partitions that can redirect the air flow to the left or right. In addition, it is worth directing the flow of cold air to the ceiling - this way it will be distributed more evenly throughout the room.
  • set the air flow rate to the lowest speed - the room will cool more slowly (but it will still cool down in about 15 minutes), but no one will be blown away.
  • install directly under the air conditioner protective screen- this way the air flow will be further dispersed.
  • close the curtains or blinds - do not let the sun heat the room - this will cool the air without resorting to extreme temperatures of the air conditioner.
  • close the windows and doors in the refrigerated room (below we will explain how this will help prevent colds).
  • Clean the air conditioner filters regularly (bacteria accumulate and multiply on them, and if the filter is heavily soiled, this dirt begins to forcefully spread throughout the room with air currents. This is especially true when the device is started for the first time in a season).

Let's take a closer look at some issues.

What room temperature should the air conditioner maintain?

Modern models of air conditioners (even the simplest ones) provide the ability to create a temperature of +18°C even with increased outside temperature up to +40°С. But few people know that sudden changes surrounding a person temperatures of more than 7°C lead to acute respiratory diseases (ARI, ARVI), in other words, to a cold, and then to pneumonia. The way out of this situation is to bring the temperature in the treated rooms closer to the temperature environment or eliminate frequent changes in ambient temperature.

With a difference of 7°C, colds do not occur, but the feeling of comfort in the room remains. It follows from this that if the temperature outside is +30°C, then the temperature in the room needs to be set to +23°C - +24°C. Comfort for people staying and re-entering the premises will remain the same, and the risk of disease will be reduced. In the case when a person is constantly in a room for a long time and there is no sudden change in temperature (there are no movements “street - room - street”), then the temperature in the room can be set below + 23°C.

Why can't you turn on the air conditioner with the window open?

We remind you that doors, windows, vents must be closed when the air conditioner is on! Why? While cooling the room, the air conditioner does not always supply a strong flow of cold air - having cooled the room to the set temperature, it subsides and picks up speed again only when the temperature begins to rise again. In fact, this means that in an effectively cooled room a person does not always sit under a stream of cold air - at the moment when the air is cooled, the air conditioner practically does not blow.

It should also be noted that from open door and the windows there is a constant influx of hot air and the air conditioner actually works to cool the street. This, firstly, does not allow the device to effectively maintain the desired temperature in the room, and secondly, it makes it work for wear (it tries to lower the temperature, but it does not decrease, that is, it will blow without stopping), which significantly reduces its service life. services. Since a person still needs an influx of fresh air, it is permissible to open a window for ventilation (that is, literally just a crack!).

Why is it important to ventilate the room even if there is air conditioning?

You need to know that the usual wall mounted air conditioner has nothing to do with ventilation of the room. That is, the air conditioner cools and circulates the same air inside the room. The functions of the block hanging outside the window include removing excess heat from the room to the street, but no AIR EXCHANGE occurs. Therefore, it is necessary to ventilate the room regularly and repeatedly throughout the day. To do this, you need to turn off the air conditioner, open the window, at the same time you can open the door (then ventilation will be more effective) and allow the air in the room to refresh for 5-10 minutes. It is highly advisable to carry out ventilation at a time when there are no children in the room (and newborns should absolutely not be exposed to a draft) - that is, to ventilate the room when the child is on a walk, has lunch or is in another room.

How to make staying in an air-conditioned room more comfortable?

A running air conditioner not only cools the air in the room, but also dehumidifies it. And even if you are not sitting under a stream of cold air, and the room temperature is maintained within the recommended limits, you can still get a runny nose and sore throat. This is caused by the fact that the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx can become very dry and irritated - hence the stuffy nose and soreness. Not everyone’s body reacts to air conditioning in this way, but if you know that you are prone to such a reaction, take measures to maintain normal humidity in the room. Humidity between 40 and 60% is considered normal; the humidity level can be checked using a hygrometer.

An ideal assistant in maintaining optimal humidity There is an ultrasonic air humidifier at home, and it will be useful not only when paired with an air conditioner. Usage ultrasonic humidifier air relieves cough and runny nose when a cold has already begun.

If you don’t have the opportunity or desire to use a humidifier, you can simply drop Aquamaris or regular saline solution into your nose as needed - this will protect the mucous membrane from drying out and maintain a feeling of comfort in a room with dry air. Saline solution is much cheaper than Aquamaris; it can be purchased at a pharmacy or.

Is air conditioning a breeding ground for germs and diseases?

Indeed, the air conditioner has special filters installed that are designed to trap small particles of dust and debris that get inside the device. If you do not clean the filters, pathogenic bacteria begin to accumulate and multiply in them, so they must be washed regularly. Depending on the dustiness of the premises, the period between filter cleaning can range from once a month to a year.

The effect of a running air conditioner on a child.

Of course, the fragile bodies of children are most sensitive to temperature changes, drafts and, as a result, respiratory diseases that threaten them. Of course, if possible, the child should not be in a refrigerated room. As a last resort, the device can be set to the lowest setting and under no circumstances allow the baby to be under a stream of cooled air.

2013-09-04 11:04:09

We have been thinking about buying an air conditioner for a long time, but we recently had a baby and we are afraid that he will catch a cold. After reading this article, I think we will finally buy an air conditioner, because now we will know how to handle it correctly, what temperature to set, etc. .p, thank you!

If the room is equipped with an air conditioning system, a controversial question often arises: is it possible to turn on the air conditioner when open window? Some open the window and say that this can be done, others, on the contrary, close all the windows and doors and insist - under no circumstances should this be done! So who to believe? Information about the operation of the air conditioner and an objective judgment will help you understand the issue.

Content:



What temperature is considered comfortable for the average person?

During cold weather, a person begins to chill and freeze, and during hot weather, he begins to sweat and overheat. At the same time, working capacity decreases, and during overheating, heat stroke can occur. To prevent this from happening, you need to maintain a comfortable temperature for the human body from 18 to 25 degrees Celsius.

If in winter time help warm the living space heating devices, then in warm seasons the air conditioner copes with this task.

How does air conditioning work?

Air conditioning systems can be divided into three types according to their operating principle:

  1. The supply type of air conditioning uses air that is not in the room (or outside).
  2. Recirculation type - uses indoor air only.
  3. Recuperation type - can use air both outside and inside the room.

All types of air conditioning systems are united general mechanism work - for cooling, air passes through the system with a cooler. Freon gas is used as a coolant.




Note! The main reason why you want to open a window when the air conditioner is running is the flow of fresh air into the room. Simple air conditioners this is not provided, but this is feasible with air conditioning systems with supply and exhaust ventilation. Supply system provides the supply of fresh air to the room, and the exhaust - removes polluted air from it. But these solutions have an appropriate price.

Open the windows with the air conditioner on. Causes and consequences

Modeling this situation will lead to the following conditions:


Important! Temperature It is also important to observe in the case of refrigerators. An explanation about this is given by the article: “Is it possible to put hot food in the refrigerator.”



Will the air conditioner break down if the window is on?

The main cause of air conditioner failure is water hammer. It can appear for several reasons, some of which are quite common:

  1. Low temperatures. When in the room subzero temperature, the air conditioning system can quickly fail. Of course, few people will open the windows so much that the temperature in the room becomes sub-zero, but this must be remembered.
  2. Clogged filters. Basic and satisfied common reason, which was mentioned above. Polluted, “dusty” air from a window can quickly “break” the air conditioner.

    Advice! Dust causes windows to become dirty. Find out how to properly clean windows without streaks.

  3. Prolonged operation of the air conditioner with the window open can lead to rapid wear of the compressor and fan.

Advice! If you need to run Fresh air into the room, briefly open the window for ventilation, and turn off the air conditioner. Then close the window and turn on the cooling device again.

In conclusion, I want to say: you are the master of your equipment and only you can decide how to manage it. Air conditioning system engineers advise not to open windows while operating this equipment, so as not to void the warranty, reduce service life, or break the air conditioner.

Many people are familiar with the situation when the air conditioner is turned on in the office, the air seems cool, but there is nothing to breathe. The question arises, what if you open the window and leave the air conditioner on?

You need to understand that a conventional air conditioner only cools the air in the room, i.e. recycles already used air without an influx of fresh air. And the fresh air sufficient quantity oxygen is simply necessary for normal human well-being. Therefore, the desire to open the windows is absolutely understandable.

When it’s very hot outside, keeping the window open while the air conditioner is running is pointless and even harmful:

  • The air conditioning will be ineffective and it will still be hot.
  • The air conditioner will work without turning off and will use up its resource faster, i.e. It will simply break faster.
  • In this case, electricity consumption will be maximum, because The air conditioner will run at full blast without stopping, trying to cool the hot outside air.

According to sanitary standards, the minimum exchange of air in a room is determined by the sum of the need for air for breathing and air for diluting harmful substances released into the room, taking into account a given area per person.

For office space, for example, the norm is 9 m3/h (2.5 l/s) per person plus 1.08 m3/h (0.3 l/s) per m2 of area, with a standard area of ​​14 m2/person.

Therefore, it is clear that if there is a large number of man, simple ventilation will not help, a constant flow of fresh air is needed. This problem can be partially solved using a ducted air conditioner. If an air conditioning system is already installed in the room and there are no plans to change it, you need to install air handling unit, which will supply fresh air from the street at any time of the year.

It is also important to know that for normal operation of the air conditioner it is necessary to carry out regular service maintenance, because As a result of seasonal operation, dust and dirt accumulate on the indoor and outdoor units, which leads to a deterioration of the indoor microclimate and air conditioner breakdowns.

Why can't you open the windows when the air conditioner is on? Because this will lead to disastrous consequences. Moreover, the air conditioner, your wallet and your health will suffer.

In this publication we will tell you what negative consequences await you if you use the air conditioner with the windows open. Don't forget to read the recommendations at the end of the article.

Why can't you open the windows when the air conditioner is on?

If you open a window, the volume of air in the room or office will remain the same. It just mixes more actively with the outside. Because of this, there will be a constant outflow of cold air and an influx of warm air. But there is one caveat.

As you know, cold air is heavier than warm air, so it tends to sink down into the room. That is, at a height of up to half a meter from the floor there will be a cold layer, and above – a warm one, which leads to negative consequences. Now let's talk about them in more detail.

Prepare your wallet - utility workers make money

When a regular, non-inverter air conditioner operates in a room with the windows closed, most of the time it simply circulates air. The compressor turns on when the temperature rises above the set temperature. In “idle” mode, energy consumption is minimal.

Read also:

Air conditioner power consumption in kW, online calculator

When you open a window, the room temperature will constantly rise. Therefore, the compressor will turn on more often. Electricity consumption will increase accordingly. The actual power consumption of an air conditioner can increase by 2 or more times. Therefore, do not be surprised that you will have to pay extra for fresh air.

Shall we breathe in the dust?

The air outside the house is not clean. There is a lot of dust and dirt in it. And most of it will settle on the air conditioner filters. Of course, this is not critical, you can. But a considerable part of the dust will pass through the filters, fly around the room, and you will breathe it.

You can say that when closed windows The air conditioner drives dust around the room in the same way. But keep in mind one fact - with each pass through the filter the air becomes cleaner. And with constant access warm air it will be able to pass through the filter only once, and even then not in full.

This is what a dirty air conditioner filter looks like.

Work hard - look for a master

When there is a constant flow of warm air in a room, the overall temperature rises. The air conditioner tries to bring it to the desired level and works with greater efficiency. This affects it - all parts wear out faster.

The air conditioning compressor experiences the greatest load. In normal mode, it turns on and off periodically, and most of the time it is idle. If a lot of air enters the room, the load on the compressor will increase.

Read also:

How to choose the right one good air conditioner for apartment

If ventilation is abused, the life of the compressor can be reduced significantly. And it is the heart of the air conditioner and its most expensive part.

Say goodbye to your warranty

Some manufacturers indicate the exact operating conditions in the instructions. It often states that you cannot use the air conditioner in a room with an open window.

In many cases, installers provide a guarantee for their work and air conditioning. If they find out that you were using it and at the same time you had a window open, there can be no question of any warranty claim.

Feet are cold, but head is warm

An open window with the air conditioner on is a source of drafts. Cold air constantly moves along the lower part of the room towards the open window, and the warm one moves along the upper part in the opposite direction (see figure).

Even without a big draft, such “air currents” are enough to put you in bed with a fever for several days. Of course, there is an alternative - you can wear cotton pants and felt boots. But it is better to use the conditioner correctly.


Flows of cold and warm air between the air conditioner and the window.

Catch a cold in the summer? Easily!

Research shows that the most common disease office workers is a cold. And most often they get sick in the summer! The reason for this is drafts, which provoke a sharp temperature change.

When using an air conditioner, you can hear that the windows must be closed. Some people continue to open the windows, claiming that this way they can ventilate and cool the room faster. It is worth understanding the problem and understanding whether it is worth turning on the air conditioner with the windows wide open?

Increasing air volume

Experts say that when windows are open, the volume of air in the room increases significantly. The air conditioner, which cools the air in the room to a certain temperature at this time, is forced to spend more energy and time on cooling the ever-increasing volume of air mass. In this case, the already cooled air will exit out the open window, and the warm air, in turn, will again enter the room. Such air exchange negatively affects the operation of the air conditioner, which constantly increases its power in order to maintain the set temperature. You should also not ignore the unjustified energy consumption spent on increased operation of the air conditioner, since, in turn, this will lead to unjustified financial expenses.

Filters get clogged quickly

Another reason why it is not recommended to use the air conditioner with the windows open. Air conditioners have filters that tend to get clogged from time to time. Manufacturers recommend cleaning filters from time to time to avoid problems and interruptions in the operation of the cooling device. An air conditioner running with the windows open risks clogging the filters much faster. Which can lead to damage to the device.

The risk of catching a cold doubles

Almost everyone knows that you can easily catch a cold under an air conditioner, which is why they try to stay away from the device while it is operating. Also, when the windows are open, they try not to sit in a draft, as this can cause harm to health unnoticed. When the windows are open and the air conditioner is turned on at the same time, the risk of catching a cold from drafts doubles, so those who practice simultaneous ventilation and cooling often suffer from colds and complications caused by respiratory diseases. Experts recommend cooling the room using air conditioners only when necessary, since, in addition to colds, you can also develop allergic complications.