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21st Century Air Conditioning
When we think of air conditioning, most people think 'cooling', but that's not really what the term means. The term "air conditioning" encompasses much more than just cooling the air. To condition the air is to affect both it's temperature (either to raise or lower it) and it's moisture content (either to raise or lower it), most often referred to as relative humidity. We may also include cleaning the air - removing contaminants by filtering the air or treating the air by the use of ultraviolet light or a photo catalytic cell to destroy viruses, bacteria, volatile organic compounds or odors. With today's technology properly applied our indoor air can actually be cleaner than the outdoor air! With modern air conditioning systems our indoor air can be both clean and comfortable in any season.
The use of the word system is an important distinction when discussing air conditioning. The equipment chosen - size, type, brand, is only part of the system. In addition a duct system that will deliver the conditioned air to the interior spaces of your home must be properly designed and installed. The materials used in it's construction whether metal, duct board or flexible duct must be carefully chosen and sized. Each choice affects the outcome. The quality of the installation is also a factor that must be considered.
A basic system may consist of the indoor section or air handler, the outdoor section or condensing unit and the duct system. A more complex system may also include a gas furnace, dehumidifier or humidifier, and/or a zoning system to control temperatures in each room of the home separately. Heat recovery ventilators or energy recovery ventilators are also part of many air conditioning systems today. These allow for the introduction of outside air to replace stale indoor air in a controlled and cost effective way. Equally important is the filtering system and air purification system.
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| Air conditioning is more than cold air. |
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