Technology

Pre-purchase checklist for air conditioners you should know

In today's modern life, air conditioning is an essential electronic device to make our homes more comfortable. However, choosing a high-quality and suitable air conditioner at a reasonable price is not easy. This article will share the steps to check your air conditioner before making a purchase for your home.

Administrator

25 December, 2023

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Check the air conditioner before buying hardware

Check the indoor unit

The indoor unit is an important component that functions to cool the air in the room. It has a rectangular box shape and is covered by a layer of metal casing. Inside the indoor unit are copper pipes and fan blades.

First, you need to check that the indoor unit casing is not cracked or dented, the dust filter must be clean and not torn, the aluminum fins must be clean and not bent or broken. Check the fan blades to see if they are broken, if they can be easily rotated, and if any blades are missing.

Check the outdoor unit

A common mistake that most buyers make is only paying attention to the indoor unit and not thoroughly checking the outdoor unit. Therefore, you should thoroughly check both the indoor and outdoor units by comparing the model numbers on both units.

In addition, to ensure that the quality of the air conditioner is not affected, you need to check the parts including the outdoor unit casing, outdoor unit fan, outdoor unit copper pipes to ensure they are not cracked, broken, dented, or rusted.

Check the copper pipes

Note that checking the copper pipes must be done simultaneously for both the outdoor and indoor units. The copper pipes in the outdoor unit are responsible for transferring cold gas from the outdoor unit to the indoor unit, while the copper pipes in the indoor unit are responsible for returning cold gas from the indoor unit back to the outdoor unit. Therefore, if the copper pipes in either unit are leaking cold gas, it will affect the efficiency of the air conditioner.

In terms of length, the copper pipes must be suitable for the type of air conditioner to ensure efficient and durable operation. If the copper pipes are too short, the cold gas will not return to the compressor in time, causing congestion and damage. On the other hand, if the copper pipes are too long, the cooling process will be slow, wasting electricity. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the length of the copper pipes, which should be a minimum of 3m and a maximum of 15-30m depending on the type of air conditioner.

In terms of color, copper pipes that are copper or bronze are still in good working condition. If the copper pipes turn black, it indicates that the copper pipes have rusted and are damaged. Rusty copper pipes will cause the cold gas to leak, affecting the efficiency of the air conditioner.

Check the gas pipe welding joints

The gas pipe welding joints are important parts of the air conditioner, which connect the copper pipes together. Good welding joints will ensure that the cold gas does not leak, helping the air conditioner operate efficiently and durably.

You can easily check these welding joints with the naked eye, just observe the joints carefully. When the welding joint is done correctly, it will have a uniform shape, not bulging or sinking; the welding joint is neat, without cracks or leaks.

Check the origin and accompanying accessories

Make sure that the air conditioner you are buying has a clear origin, comes with a warranty certificate, and has complete accompanying accessories to ensure good quality and safe use. When buying an air conditioner, you can check the origin of the air conditioner by looking at the product code, labels, and origin certification documents,…

In addition, you also need to check the accompanying accessories of the air conditioner to ensure that it has all the necessary accessories for installation and use. The accompanying accessories of the air conditioner usually include:

Power cord
Remote control
Copper pipes
Automatic switch
Other installation materials

Check the remote control

The air conditioning remote control is an important component when you control the air conditioner from a distance. A well-functioning remote control will help you use the air conditioner more easily and effectively. Therefore, before buying an air conditioner, you need to check the air conditioning remote control to ensure that it works properly and is not damaged.

Check the air conditioner before buying its features

Check the cooling mode

Here are some common cooling modes:

Quick cooling mode: The quick cooling mode activates the compressor to operate at maximum capacity and increases the fan speed for a certain period of time. In the first few minutes, this helps the air conditioner quickly cool the entire room, providing a cool and comfortable feeling for the user.
Cooling mode: The cooling mode is the basic cooling mode of the air conditioner, indicated by the snowflake icon. When activated, the air conditioner will draw in hot air from the room into the indoor unit, then cool it down and blow it back out, reducing the room temperature.
Auto mode: When the auto mode of the air conditioner is activated, the air conditioner will display the house-shaped icon. The air conditioner automatically adjusts the temperature, fan speed, and operating mode to suit the environmental temperature.
Fan-only mode: With this mode, only the air conditioner fan is used for cooling, without using the compressor, so it is usually used when you only want gentle cooling or want to save electricity.

Wind direction modes

The air conditioner’s wind direction modes are an important feature that allows you to adjust the airflow as desired, providing the most comfortable feeling when using it.

Upward/downward, left/right swing mode: The swing mode is a basic mode and is present in most air conditioners today. With this mode, you can control the air conditioning to blow the cold air in the desired direction to cool the sitting area more quickly.
4-way automatic swing mode: The automatic mode allows the swing blades to automatically adjust the wind direction in 4 directions: up, down, left, right. Thanks to this, the cold air is evenly distributed throughout the room, making it cool quickly and more efficiently.
Comfortable breeze mode: When the room reaches the desired set temperature, the airflow is directed upward to the ceiling to evenly cool the entire room and avoid direct cooling, providing a comfortable and pleasant feeling for the user.
3D wind mode: The 3D mode uses wide swing blades to create a multidirectional airflow, helping to cool quickly and more efficiently. This mode is suitable for large rooms.

Check the noise and vibration of the unit

Noise and vibration are two important factors to be checked when buying or using an air conditioner. If the noise level is too loud, it can cause discomfort and affect your sleep and daily activities. Excessive vibration can damage the machine.

To check this, you can turn on the air conditioner to run continuously for about 5 to 10 minutes to check the noise level and vibration. If the outdoor unit blows hot air strongly, the fan runs smoothly, without any signs of vibration; the indoor unit blows cool and fast, then you can rest assured to buy and use that air conditioner.

Other modes of the air conditioner

In addition to basic modes such as cooling, dehumidifying, heating, and fan modes, air conditioner manufacturers also integrate many other modes to meet the diverse needs of users. Depending on the air conditioner brand, some other modes that need to be checked before buying include:

Sleep mode: The sleep mode helps the air conditioner operate smoothly and gently, while adjusting the room temperature to be suitable for the user’s body, allowing you to sleep better and deeper.
Timer mode: The timer mode allows you to set the air conditioner to turn on/off at your desired time, saving energy and providing convenience.
Auto-restart mode after power failure: By enabling this mode, the air conditioner will automatically restart after a power failure, saving you time from reconfiguring the settings when power is restored.
Error self-diagnosis mode: This mode helps you easily identify and troubleshoot any problems that may occur with the air conditioner, ensuring stable and durable operation.
Ionizer mode: This mode activates the production of negative ions, helping to improve air quality and providing a comfortable and relaxing feeling for the user.

Additional utilities of the air conditioner

In addition to basic and other modes, air conditioner manufacturers also integrate many additional utilities to meet the diverse needs of users. Some common additional utilities of air conditioners nowadays include:

Energy-saving technology: Some air conditioner manufacturers also integrate other energy-saving technologies such as Eco, i-See, i-Feel,… to help the air conditioner save energy more efficiently.
Air purification technology: Air purification technology helps to eliminate bacteria, dust, and odors in the air, providing clean and fresh air for your family.
Sensor technology: Sensor technology allows the air conditioner to automatically adjust the temperature, airflow,… according to environmental conditions, making it more comfortable for users and saving energy.
Wi-Fi connectivity: Wi-Fi connectivity allows you to control the air conditioner remotely via a smartphone, making it easy to control the air conditioner anytime, anywhere.

In conclusion:

Above are the steps to check the air conditioner before buying that you can refer to from FPT Shop. Hopefully, with this information, you will be able to choose an air conditioner of good quality that suits your needs!