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Hanoi is currently experiencing the peak of scorching days with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in some areas. The scorching heat increases the risk of breakdowns for various types of air conditioners and cooling systems.
1. Why does extreme heat make air conditioners more prone to malfunction?
Hanoi is currently experiencing the peak of scorching days with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in some areas. The scorching heat increases the risk of breakdowns for various types of air conditioners and cooling systems.
Mr. Hien, a resident living in an apartment building in Hoang Mai district, Hanoi, has been complaining about his air conditioner during these hot days. Despite being newly installed at the beginning of the hot season, it doesn't seem to provide cooling, only blowing air from the unit.
Despite trying various adjustments without success, Mr. Hien and his family have started to worry.
Air Conditioner Breakdown - Nightmare of Hot Season
Noticing that the outdoor unit of his air conditioner was unusually quiet when turned on, Mr. Hien realized something was wrong. The malfunction of the air conditioner disrupted many activities of his family, especially making it difficult for the children to sleep without it on during the night.
It took several days to schedule an electrician, and Mr. Hien was shocked to hear that the air conditioner had a compressor failure, also known as a blockage, with a repair cost of approximately 4 million Vietnamese dong, nearly one-third of the total cost of the air conditioner.
Mr. Hien is just one of many cases experiencing air conditioner breakdowns as the Northern provinces enter the peak of the hot season. Why does a device designed to operate primarily during the hot season easily encounter such issues when the weather gets hot?
'The hotter the weather, the more prone air conditioners are to breaking,' shared a veteran air conditioner repairman. 'Conventional air conditioners can only handle temperatures ranging from 42-45 degrees Celsius outdoors. If the outdoor temperature exceeds that range, the air conditioner will continuously run without reaching the required cooling level. This continuous operation without rest will eventually lead to breakdowns.'
However, many households and offices still keep the temperature low, between 16-20 degrees Celsius, and run the air conditioners continuously for several days, causing them to constantly strain and overload.
Air conditioner block, also known as AC compressor block, is an essential component inside every air conditioner's cooling system. Its role is to draw refrigerant gas from the evaporator coil to compress it into a liquid form in the condenser coil.
During hot weather, when air conditioners have to run continuously for days, the AC block is one of the most vulnerable components to malfunction due to the heat generated, followed by the condenser coil. Even the cooling fan system can encounter issues, potentially leading to overheating, short circuits, or even fires.
Preventing Air Conditioner Breakdowns: How to Use Your AC Effectively?
On hot days, everyone feels exhausted and drained, and cooling devices are no exception. They have to operate at full capacity to keep your home comfortable. Therefore, to ensure these devices perform their tasks well, we need to set them to the appropriate mode of operation.
The most important thing when using an air conditioner in summer is that the hotter it gets, the higher we should set the temperature. If the temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius, we should adjust the AC to around 29 or 30 degrees.
Although setting the AC this way may not give the sensation of extreme coolness, it is still much better in reality than a room without air conditioning.
When the required temperature is not significantly different from the environment, the air conditioner will operate at an optimal power level, with intervals of rest, and it will also last longer.
In addition, using air conditioning in conjunction with other cooling devices such as ceiling fans, electric fans, and misting machines is essential.
Although this may give us the feeling of doubling our electricity consumption, it is actually one of the simple methods to save energy, achieve effective cooling, and reduce the frequency of air conditioner overload.
