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Why Is an Air Conditioner’s Capacity Measured in Tons?

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When we visit our customers for AC repair in St. Louis, MO it often confuses them to hear us refer to their air conditioner’s capacity using the word “tons.” They’ll look at a three-ton unit and say in disbelief, “That thing really weighs three tons?”

If the word “ton” here referred to weight, a three-ton AC would be too big for your back yard. Luckily it is not referring to weight at all, but rather to a measurement of how much heat it can remove from your house.

Answering this question is going to be fun, because it requires taking a little bit of a peek back in time.

The answer

The first thing to know is that people used to use ice to cool homes and refrigerate foods, and the measurement of an AC unit’s heat-removing capacity reflects this. A three-ton AC removes heat at a rate that a three-ton block of ice would, if it removed heat evenly and melted completely across 24 hours. Confusing? Here’s a simpler way to think about it. A three-ton AC unit is like putting a 6,000-pound block of ice in your home every day. Just without the mess, of course.

It may seem strange that ACs are measured using such an abstract standard, but it’s not strange at all when you think about how the power of other modern machines are measured. Just think about a car’s horsepower. ACs are more or less measured in ice power. So with both machines, their power is explained in terms of the things they were replacing: blocks of ice for the AC, and horse-drawn carriages for the cars.

The math

Here’s how that translates into math. A one-ton block of ice melting evenly across 24 hours would absorb heat at a rate of about 12,000 BTU/hour—one BTU can be understood as being about the same amount of heat caused by burning one match all the way down. So if you have a three-ton unit, it removes about 36,000 BTUs of heat from your home per hour, and about 864,000 BTUs per day. The heat of one match might not seem like much—but now picture the heat of 864,000 matches. Your AC unit’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?

The bottom line

What would your ancestors—after returning home from the market on their horse-drawn carriage, chipping new ice for their rooms, hour after hour, just trying to stay bearably cool—say if they could step into your home and enjoy the effortless cool that your AC provides, knowing it does not require moving three tons of ice into the house, bit by bit, in order to enjoy that cool feeling? They’d probably say, “Are you kidding me?” and then beg you to switch places. What do you think?

We hope you enjoyed this little history lesson. We know we really enjoyed answering your question! If you’ve got more questions, give us a call here at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We’re experts in AC repair in St. Louis, MO, and we’ve got the knowledge and expertise to get the job done right.

Do Portable Air Conditioner Towers Save More Electricity Than a Normal AC Unit?

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We hear this question a lot: Do portable air conditioners save more electricity—and thus, more money—than standard AC units? And the simple answer to that is, no!

There may be some benefits to portable AC units, but conserving electricity is not one of them.

So, why are standard AC units more efficient?

Portable air conditioner towers are standalone air conditioners that can be moved from room to room. They condense and cool air, and then pump their hot air through an exhaust tube that can be set up to blow out any window. Their main benefit is their convenience. But when it comes to energy efficiency, they’re nowhere near the level of a standard air conditioning installation in St. Louis, MO.

There are several reasons why this is so:

Overall, the basic design of a portable system means it just can’t compete with standard AC units. They are only really useful if you live somewhere that’s almost always a habitable temperature and you’re only likely to need AC a few days a year. Otherwise, you’re better off with a standard AC setup.

Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling has been providing air conditioning installation in St. Louis, MO since 1999, and we can help you get the best AC solution for your house. We install and consult, so give us a call if you’re thinking about home cooling.

Your Air Conditioning Service in St. Louis, MO Recommends Changing Your Air Filter Every Month

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When was the last time you changed the air filter in your AC unit? If it has been a while, you may want to consider changing it sooner rather than later. According to your air conditioning service in St. Louis, MO, changing your air filter every month can greatly improve the performance of your cooling system, as well as provide you with the following benefits:

Remember that your air conditioning service in St. Louis, MO recommends changing your air filter every month, so you too can take advantage of these cooling benefits. When your AC unit needs a tune up, call Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We look forward to helping you stay cool and comfortable all summer long!

Reduce Your Cooling Costs with These Recommendations from Your AC Service in St. Louis, MO

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With the weather heating up, your cooling costs are no doubt going up. While you want to be comfortable when it is sweltering outside, you need to get your energy costs under control in the easiest way possible. Take this advice from your AC service in St. Louis, MO on how you can reduce your home energy bill even when you have your AC running:

Take this advice from your AC service in St. Louis, MO to help get your cooling costs under control. When you are in need of AC repairs, maintenance or installation, contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We provide 24/7 emergency service to ensure our customers’ continued comfort all year long.

Understand the Myths About Air Conditioning Before Calling for AC Installation in St. Louis, MO

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It is important for people to be able to cool off when they are hot. When you need to beat the heat, there are many ways you can go about doing so, including powering up your AC. An air conditioner will definitely keep you cool, but if you want to survive the summer, you’ll want to ensure you know the facts and avoid believing some of the many common myths related to air conditioning.

If you are planning for AC installation in St. Louis, MO this summer, here are a few myths you should know about first:

Being hot can make a person unhappy, uncomfortable and irritable. When you want to cool off, using an AC to do it is a wise option. You just want to make sure you don’t ignore the facts and believe the myths, because doing so can greatly affect your ability to keep cool on a hot day, and ultimately has a negative impact on your comfort and your wallet.

Do you want to speak to a professional about AC installation in St. Louis, MO? Contact the experts at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today for assistance.