With temperatures in certain parts of India already hitting 50 degrees Celsius, one can’t help but wonder if our ACs are equipped to deal with this sort of heat. When they advertise their ACs, AC manufacturers have often claimed that their ACs would make the Sahara or the Atacama deserts feel like the polar caps. But how true of claims is this?
Basically, do ACs really work in this extreme heat that Delhi is seeing? Or more importantly, are the equipped to deal with this heat?
How do ACs remove heat?
But first, it is important to understand how ACs function. In a very rudimentary sense, air conditioners work by moving heat from inside to outside. But when it’s super hot out there, this process isn’t as effective, making it harder for the air conditioner to keep things cool indoors. Basically, extreme outdoor heat makes it tough for the system to do its job properly. The efficiency of this process is usually measured in BTUs per hour. A 1.5-ton AC, for example, has a BTU rating of about 18,000.
When the outdoor temperature goes way above what the system is designed for, it struggles to cool indoor spaces, especially if it’s trying to cool too big an area. This puts a lot of pressure on the unit and can cause it to wear out faster.
It may come as a surprise to many, but older ACs that came with heavier, but less efficient compressors actually have better cooling capacities. Compressors are responsible for moving the refrigerant around in a cooling unit, the condenser or the radiator, to soak up and dissipate heat.
But when it’s blazing hot, the compressor can get overloaded because it’s working extra hard to cool things down. The reason why older compressors work better is because they were built with a greater emphasis on cooling, rather than power efficiency. Because of global emissions targets, AC manufacturers had to start prioritising their products’ energy efficiencies, as much as their functionality.
Can ACs deal with this heat?
Regardless of whether your AC has an older compressor or a newer one, all ACs have a limit on how much can it deal with. Modern ACs are usually rated to be able to operate at a maximum ambient temperature of 55 degrees. But, do keep in mind that when even in considerably lower temperature, the air around the AC is much hotter. That’s because the AC is taking heat away from a room, and throwing it out.
As a result, while air conditioners might technically keep running when it’s 50°C outside, they’re not going to work as well. People inside might not feel as comfortable, you’ll end up paying more for electricity, and your system might even get damaged.
With temperatures going up worldwide, it’s super important to make sure our air conditioners can handle the heat. After all, staying cool and comfy indoors is a big deal for our well-being.
Expanding upon this, let’s consider some potential solutions to the challenges posed by extreme heat on air conditioning systems. Remember when we said that ACs with older compressors are better at cooling? Even though they are better at cooling, they are not well suited to the kind of heatwave that people are dealing with. They lack many other functions that actually help an AC function better.
Most modern units often come with advanced features which are designed to improve performance in hot climates. These include variable-speed compressors and enhanced insulation. These allow the system to adapt better to fluctuating outdoor temperatures, and maintain consistent indoor cooling at a fraction of the energy costs.
How should I set my AC for this 50-degree summer?
First and foremost, forget to set the temperature of the AC at anything less than 24 degrees. Consider the factor of 25. The lowest that your AC temperature should be is roughly 25 degrees lower than the ambient temperature outside. Anything lower than that, and you’re going to use up more electricity without making much difference, and straining your compressor and cooling system more than usual, which might hurt not just its performance, but also, its longevity. You may have to replace the condenser, compressor, or even the whole unit before expected.
While you can still run your AC lower than once in a while, it has be for a shorter period of time. And as such, you should be using your fan in conjunction with your fan to make it more effective. Moreover, you may cause some severe damage to the compressor, or the radiator, which is also called the cooling coil.
Also, if you’re going to push your ACsto the limit constantly, get it cleaned regularly. Also, you may need to get your AC services twice a year, and get the cooling loop’s gas topped up. While you’re doing so, be prepared for a gargantuan electricity bill, probably larger than you have ever seen.
