How to choose a ventilator, an air conditioner or an air cooler? Buyer's guide
During the summer, we can sometimes be bothered by the heat, which can influence our concentration and even or health in a negative way. A workspace with the ideal temperature and refreshed common rooms guarantee comfort and welfare for the employees, but it is not always easy to find the right material between all the possibilities (ventilators, air conditioning, air fresheners,…). Depending on the company’s activities and the architecture of your office, you will definitely find the best device that will keep you cool during summer...
Index
1 The ventilator
2 Choose a good ventilator
3 The air conditioner
4 Choose a good air conditioner
5 The air freshener
6 Choose a good air freshener
1 - The ventilator
Equipped with a screw with a large or a smaller diameter, this device ventilates and refreshes the environment, without producing cold air. Ventilators offer a good value for money and respond to a prompt need. There exist different models, to be used in different environments (at home, in common rooms, in offices,…). You can determine yourself which model will meet the best your requirements, depending on the use, the architecture of the place and the number of users.
This exceptionally practical column shaped model spreads a vertical air stream and rotates around 180 °. It is perfect for refreshing a complete space in a lasting manner. This model is compact and silent.
A column ventilator can be moved and stored very easily. Thanks to the compact dimensions and the discrete finish, it is an ideal model for use in the office or at home.
Some models are equipped with a timer, a screen and a remote control. The functioning can be programmed in advance or at a distance.
Consult the column ventilators
This model is also called the “table ventilator” and is used frequently in a professional environment, for its simplicity and its mobility. This ventilator is usually meant for one user and can be installed easily on a table or on a desk.
For an optimal feeling of freshness, it is possible to incline the ventilator, in order to refresh the air homogeneously.
Consult the ventilators on pedestal
THE VENTILATOR ON FOOT: SPACE-SAVING AND VERSATILE
A ventilator on foot does not need an extra support. This is its principal advantage. It can be put in every room at home or in the common rooms of the office.
The foot is adaptable in height, so it is possible to use it for refreshing large rooms with a high ceiling. At last, the air stream is adaptable with different speed levels and the ventilator is equipped with a rotating head.
Consult the ventilators on foot
The air blower meets perfectly the requirements of professionals, as it is ideal for large surfaces, e.g. hangars, workshops or garages.
Although it makes a lot of noise, it offers a more efficient air movement, it improves the renewal of warm and humid air, it is responsible for the removal of dust and bad odors and it helps to speed up the drying process of products and materials installed next to it.
It can be inclined, it has three speed levels and it can be put directly on the floor, in order to push the air upwards or it can be fixed to the wall for an optimal efficiency.
If you wish to buy an air blower, please contact MyBruneau by mail.
The ventilation, realized through a circular opening and an aerodynamic ramp, is continuously and powerfully amplified. It consumes few energy and it guarantees an optimal air stream in the whole room.
This model can be cleaned easily, without any danger, as there is no propelling blade, nor a grid.
Thanks to the remote control, you can activate from a distance certain functions, program them or adjust the oscillation without needing to move over.
Efficient, silent and extremely trendy, this ventilator stays a premium product.
If you wish to buy a ventilator without propelling blade, please contact MyBruneau by mail.
2 - Choose a good ventilator
The surface of the room, the dimensions of the device, the functions or the capacity,... There are several criteria that will influence your final choice.
Money for value
The first criterion that needs to be taken into account is the price. It is determined in function of the capacity and the available features, and it guarantees the quality and the origins of the device.
Capacity and air flow
The most important characteristic is the capacity of the device, that determines the amount of the circulated air. The capacity is expressed in watt (from 30 to 90 watt, depending on the model), and the air flow is expressed in m³/h or m³/min.
For use at home, you can put the ventilator on a desk or on a table, with a low air flow (900 m³/h), while it is better to choose for a more powerful model with an air flow rate of 10 times higher, when it is necessary to refresh a complete room. In a professional context, the air flow must sometimes reach up to 18000 m³/h and you need to search for a model for large surfaces.
Diameter of the propellers
The ventilated surface is determined by the diameter of the propellers: the larger the propeller, the more efficient the ventilation will be, even from a distance.
Sound
Although few attention is paid in a garage or in a hangar to the presence of a ventilator, this criterion can be very important in an office or in a bedroom. The sound is measured in decibels and it depends on the speed of the ventilator (the higher the position, the more sound it makes).
Multidirectional blowing
Most of the devices are nowadays equipped with this function, as it spreads the air stream over a large surface, without needing to move the device. Certain column ventilators can even rotate over 360°, in order to serve the complete room.
Speed levels
A ventilator is equipped with several speed levels, in order to adjust it to your needs. Watch out: the faster the ventilator rotates, the more sound it makes.
Programming, remote control and functions
Similar to a lot of other devices, ventilators are nowadays equipped with programmable functions (e.g. timer, delayed start and sleeping mode) and a remote control. When you manage the functions from a distance and you program the operating conditions, you can save a lot of energy.
Several manufacturers offer new functions for a more comfortable use (functions for hot air or a breeze, with repellent effect against mosquitoes or with the distribution of an odor), or for a better health (distribution of essential oils or negative ions).
Design
The design is particularly important when you want to install the ventilator in an office or in a living room. Efficiency and aesthetics go lately hand in hand, and the devices are often available in several colors, materials or shapes.
Money for value
The first criterion that needs to be taken into account is the price. It is determined in function of the capacity and the available features, and it guarantees the quality and the origins of the device.
Capacity and air flow
The most important characteristic is the capacity of the device, that determines the amount of the circulated air. The capacity is expressed in watt (from 30 to 90 watt, depending on the model), and the air flow is expressed in m³/h or m³/min.
For use at home, you can put the ventilator on a desk or on a table, with a low air flow (900 m³/h), while it is better to choose for a more powerful model with an air flow rate of 10 times higher, when it is necessary to refresh a complete room. In a professional context, the air flow must sometimes reach up to 18000 m³/h and you need to search for a model for large surfaces.
Diameter of the propellers
The ventilated surface is determined by the diameter of the propellers: the larger the propeller, the more efficient the ventilation will be, even from a distance.
Sound
Although few attention is paid in a garage or in a hangar to the presence of a ventilator, this criterion can be very important in an office or in a bedroom. The sound is measured in decibels and it depends on the speed of the ventilator (the higher the position, the more sound it makes).
Multidirectional blowing
Most of the devices are nowadays equipped with this function, as it spreads the air stream over a large surface, without needing to move the device. Certain column ventilators can even rotate over 360°, in order to serve the complete room.
Speed levels
A ventilator is equipped with several speed levels, in order to adjust it to your needs. Watch out: the faster the ventilator rotates, the more sound it makes.
Programming, remote control and functions
Similar to a lot of other devices, ventilators are nowadays equipped with programmable functions (e.g. timer, delayed start and sleeping mode) and a remote control. When you manage the functions from a distance and you program the operating conditions, you can save a lot of energy.
Several manufacturers offer new functions for a more comfortable use (functions for hot air or a breeze, with repellent effect against mosquitoes or with the distribution of an odor), or for a better health (distribution of essential oils or negative ions).
Design
The design is particularly important when you want to install the ventilator in an office or in a living room. Efficiency and aesthetics go lately hand in hand, and the devices are often available in several colors, materials or shapes.
3 - The air conditioner
By absorbing hot air and pushing it outside, the air conditioner creates a comfortable cold feeling and it guarantees convenience and welfare, even when it is hot outside. They are refreshing, they let the temperature drop down very fast, they renew the ambient air and they remove the humidity, in order to filter the air and to control the temperature according to needs.
They are pretty voluminous, but at the same time really compact. As they are always equipped with wheels, it is very easy to move them from one room to another.
They are very practical for an occasional use and when it is not possible to execute large installation work, but they need an opening close to them, for the discharge duct. They can be used directly after purchase, by connecting them easily to a plug-socket of 230 V
If you wish to buy a mobile air conditioning system, please contact MyBruneau by mail.
Mobile monoblock air conditioners contain one single element, and they don’t need a special installation. They are one of the cheapest systems on the market.
This model absorbs the ambient air and dehumidifies it before blowing it again in the room. The hot air is discharged outside with a flexible pipe. The capacity is determined regarding the surface that needs to be ventilated: 2500 watt for a room of less than 50 m³ and 3500 watt for a room of more than 50 m³.
Consult the mobile monoblock air conditioners
4 - Choose a good air conditioner
The airco is often the ideal device for tolerating extremely high temperatures. Welfare and comfort are guaranteed by its capacity to lower the room temperature, to dehumidify and to filter the air. Several parameters need to be taken into account when you are choosing the model that matches the best with your requirements and your budget.
Importance of the room’s characteristics and the habits of the users
The first criterion that needs to be respected is the place. Air conditioners, installed above doors, spread cold air that shall not disturb the employees.
It is also necessary to observe the architecture of the rooms. Surface, number of present persons, dimensions of the openings (windows or doors), quality of the isolation, orientation or climate,… All these elements can influence your choice.
A thermal balance can be essential, especially when you want to buy a fixed block.
The capacity
You need to calculate between 80 and 100 watt per m² (which corresponds with 30 to 40 watt per m³). The capacity is mostly expressed in Btu (British thermal unit).
For information purposes, the next rules can be followed (1 watt = 3,414 Btu):
The higher the capacity, the more energy the device will consume. However, when the capacity is too low, the device will start to function in overdrive.
The energy
Similar to most of the electrical devices, the air conditioners carry an energy label, that expresses their energy capacity (A for a maximal return, G for the least efficient types). Most recent models offer a lower energy consumption (class A or A+), for better performances.
The EER (Energy efficiency rating), corresponds with the return in watt in cold mode (the delivered cooling energy is divided by the absorbed electrical energy).The COP (Coefficient of performance), determines the return in the heat pump mode (ratio between the recovered heat and the consumed energy), on a scale of 1 to 5. The higher the COP, the more the device will combine performance with energy consumption.
The air flow
The flow is adjustable and must be adapted to the dimensions of the room. A flow of 150 m³/hour is sufficient for a small surface, while 300 m³/hour will be necessary for a larger surface (around 30 m²). But be careful: when the air flow is too powerful, it can generate too cold air streams.
The sound level
The sound level is normally situated between 30 and 70 decibels and varies depending on the capacity. The fixed air conditioners are the most silent models (the compressor is installed outside) with an average level of 35 decibels, while the monoblocks produce a sound between 45 and 60 decibels (comparable with the sound level of a fridge).
Reversible, programmable or with other functions
Some models are also equipped with a heating mode, that allows you to reverse the functioning during a cold season and to enjoy an excellent supplementary heating system. These are real 2-in-1 devices, which give you the opportunity to save a lot of money, even if they are more expensive at the purchase.
Certain devices function with a remote control, or it is sometimes possible to program the start, up to 24 hours in advance, in order to offer a maximum comfort.
At last, there exist also several models that combine different functions. These devices can be very interesting for persons with a lot of allergies or respiratory problems, as they function independently: they dehumidify the air without cooling it or they control only the humidity level. There are even models that can purify the air and remove bad odors.
Importance of the room’s characteristics and the habits of the users
The first criterion that needs to be respected is the place. Air conditioners, installed above doors, spread cold air that shall not disturb the employees.
It is also necessary to observe the architecture of the rooms. Surface, number of present persons, dimensions of the openings (windows or doors), quality of the isolation, orientation or climate,… All these elements can influence your choice.
A thermal balance can be essential, especially when you want to buy a fixed block.
The capacity
You need to calculate between 80 and 100 watt per m² (which corresponds with 30 to 40 watt per m³). The capacity is mostly expressed in Btu (British thermal unit).
For information purposes, the next rules can be followed (1 watt = 3,414 Btu):
- 7 000 Btu is necessary for a surface of 7 to 15 m²
- 9 000 Btu is necessary for a surface of 15 to 25 m²
- 12 000 Btu is necessary for a surface of 25 to 35 m²
- 18 000 Btu is necessary for a surface of 35 to 50 m²
- 24 000 Btu is necessary for a surface of 50 to 70 m²
- 32 000 Btu is necessary for a surface of 70 to 80 m²
The higher the capacity, the more energy the device will consume. However, when the capacity is too low, the device will start to function in overdrive.
The energy
Similar to most of the electrical devices, the air conditioners carry an energy label, that expresses their energy capacity (A for a maximal return, G for the least efficient types). Most recent models offer a lower energy consumption (class A or A+), for better performances.
The EER (Energy efficiency rating), corresponds with the return in watt in cold mode (the delivered cooling energy is divided by the absorbed electrical energy).The COP (Coefficient of performance), determines the return in the heat pump mode (ratio between the recovered heat and the consumed energy), on a scale of 1 to 5. The higher the COP, the more the device will combine performance with energy consumption.
The air flow
The flow is adjustable and must be adapted to the dimensions of the room. A flow of 150 m³/hour is sufficient for a small surface, while 300 m³/hour will be necessary for a larger surface (around 30 m²). But be careful: when the air flow is too powerful, it can generate too cold air streams.
The sound level
The sound level is normally situated between 30 and 70 decibels and varies depending on the capacity. The fixed air conditioners are the most silent models (the compressor is installed outside) with an average level of 35 decibels, while the monoblocks produce a sound between 45 and 60 decibels (comparable with the sound level of a fridge).
Reversible, programmable or with other functions
Some models are also equipped with a heating mode, that allows you to reverse the functioning during a cold season and to enjoy an excellent supplementary heating system. These are real 2-in-1 devices, which give you the opportunity to save a lot of money, even if they are more expensive at the purchase.
Certain devices function with a remote control, or it is sometimes possible to program the start, up to 24 hours in advance, in order to offer a maximum comfort.
At last, there exist also several models that combine different functions. These devices can be very interesting for persons with a lot of allergies or respiratory problems, as they function independently: they dehumidify the air without cooling it or they control only the humidity level. There are even models that can purify the air and remove bad odors.
5 - The air freshener
WORKING PRINCIPLE
The air is absorbed and cooled down, and it goes through a humid filter, which is responsible for the vaporization. For the best efficiency and a faster cooling, the water tank must be filled up generously and you can also add some ice bags.
Some models will even start to function automatically, as soon as the air humidity is too low.
The air is absorbed and cooled down, and it goes through a humid filter, which is responsible for the vaporization. For the best efficiency and a faster cooling, the water tank must be filled up generously and you can also add some ice bags.
Some models will even start to function automatically, as soon as the air humidity is too low.
ADVANTAGES
Air fresheners are a good alternative to ventilators and air conditioners, certainly because they are more ecological. They offer a light and comfortable ventilation, without large temperature variations, and they procure more welfare and convenience, especially for sensible persons, as they are very versatile: ventilation, filtering, air humidity, and ionization of the air, depending on the model.
The air fresheners are easy to use and very mobile. You can move them hassle-free from one room to another.
These devices are perfect for rooms between 20 and 30 m² . Compared to other cooling systems, they cost less, which is very benificiary. At last, you can save money, as they consume few energy (between 60 and 90 watt).
DISADVANTAGES
Functional and easy to use, but the air fresheners have also some disadvantages. They are less efficient than ventilators or air conditioners when it is really hot, and they require a frequent ventilation of the room, in order to limit the humidity and to optimize the use.
Some models have a limited capacity, as they only vaporize hot air through a humid filter, and it is not possible to determine the ideal temperature, in contrast with other products.
The temperatures drop only with a couple of degrees and the air fresheners will only refresh people, who are sitting close by, and not the complete room. On the other hand, this limits the number of sick people, who caught a cold after large variations in the temperature.
Finally, it is important to clean the device frequently, in order to avoid the formation of bad odors or bacteria. You should also install it next to an opening, for a free air stream.
Consult the air fresheners
Air fresheners are a good alternative to ventilators and air conditioners, certainly because they are more ecological. They offer a light and comfortable ventilation, without large temperature variations, and they procure more welfare and convenience, especially for sensible persons, as they are very versatile: ventilation, filtering, air humidity, and ionization of the air, depending on the model.
The air fresheners are easy to use and very mobile. You can move them hassle-free from one room to another.
These devices are perfect for rooms between 20 and 30 m² . Compared to other cooling systems, they cost less, which is very benificiary. At last, you can save money, as they consume few energy (between 60 and 90 watt).
DISADVANTAGES
Functional and easy to use, but the air fresheners have also some disadvantages. They are less efficient than ventilators or air conditioners when it is really hot, and they require a frequent ventilation of the room, in order to limit the humidity and to optimize the use.
Some models have a limited capacity, as they only vaporize hot air through a humid filter, and it is not possible to determine the ideal temperature, in contrast with other products.
The temperatures drop only with a couple of degrees and the air fresheners will only refresh people, who are sitting close by, and not the complete room. On the other hand, this limits the number of sick people, who caught a cold after large variations in the temperature.
Finally, it is important to clean the device frequently, in order to avoid the formation of bad odors or bacteria. You should also install it next to an opening, for a free air stream.
Consult the air fresheners
6 - Choose a good air freshener
At the purchase of an air freshener, you need to consider several parameters:
- the surface of the space that needs to be ventilated, as it determines the capacity of the water tank
- the capacity of the ventilator
- the air flow
- the ventilation speed levels
- the different functions: some models are very versatile: ventilation, ionization for a healthier air, humidification in the case of too dry air,…