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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:

  • Standard units have higher energy efficiency requirements: The most important reason is that, while standard AC units––such as HVAC units located outside the home, and window units––are highly regulated and have stringent energy efficiency standards they must uphold, portable units are essentially not regulated at all. This means that unless you’re using the very top-of-the-line portable unit, your portable unit simply won’t be engineered well enough to compete with a standard unit in terms of energy efficiency. On average, they use worse parts––aluminum instead of copper tubing—and less efficient systems for cooling—cap-tube evaporator coils rather than expansion valves—and are not built to stand the tests of time and the elements like a standard unit.
  • Portable ACs do not have efficient heat exhaust: The portable unit’s greatest strength is also its greatest weakness. Because it is indoors, you’re overly reliant on its exhaust setup to pump the hot air its motors make and then extract outdoors, and even then it is creating ambient heat while it cools. Standard units do all their work outdoors. The heat is separated from the cool air and then simply radiates into the air instead of into your house, making them more efficient.
  • Portable units create negative pressure: Whereas standard AC units circulate in cool air at the same rate they circulate out warm air––meaning there is no pressure added or removed from the rooms it works in––portable ACs create a negative pressure, which causes warm air to be pulled into your home from outside to fill the space left by the air your unit is venting outside. This greatly diminishes its energy efficiency.

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.

Why Regular Air Conditioning Service in St. Louis, MO Is So Necessary

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An air conditioner can make things a lot better when the outside temperature is just a bit too much to handle. As the cool air blows and lowers the temperature in your home, you can relax and enjoy the fact that you are able to beat the heat. However, you might find this difficult if you haven’t performed the necessary routine maintenance on your unit.

Here’s why routine professional air conditioning service in St. Louis, MO is such an important part of keeping the unit operating smoothly:

In some ways, your AC isn’t any different from your car or the appliances in your home. If you want it to last for many years, or at least another summer, you have to put in the effort to maintain it. Since those warm summer days can make you want to stay inside in an attempt to avoid the heat, having an air conditioner that works is important, so it would be wise to have a professional technician perform regular maintenance.

Do you need air conditioning service in St. Louis, MO to ensure your unit last all summer? You can contact Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling today to schedule an appointment.