There Is An Air-Con Function That Can Help You Save Money
This function is shown by a symbol of a water drop.
By John Lim
Most of us have air conditioners at home to keep us cool during hot spells. Unfortunately, using them for long periods of time mean higher electricity bills.
Correct, this is.
In fact, reports have said that consumers who rely heavily on air conditioners are finding it hard to cope with costly bills
TNB said that consumers are more likely to lower the temperature and increase the fan speed of the air-conditioner due to the scorching hot and dry weather. It also added that consumers are may be using their air-conditioner unit for prolonged hours.
However, 'dry mode' - a function found on a variety of window and central air conditioners can be of great use
So, what does the 'dry mode' function do?
On the remote, the 'dry mode' is shown by a symbol which is a water drop. In a nutshell, what the dry mode does is to lower humidity in the room, as many do not realise that an increase of humidity translate to an increase of temperature.
This function works best during those times of the year when humidity is at an all-time high
When the air conditioner is functioning in dry mode, the fan and other inner components of the device will be running. The air in the room passes through the aircon and the water vapor condenses on the evaporator.
Dry air will then exit the unit and flow back into the room. This function of the dry mode is almost similar to that of a dehumidifier.
The compressors and other mechanics of the air conditioner will also run slower, which helps to reduce the use of energy
Using the dry mode will cause the fan in your air conditioner to operate at a slower speed, resulting in a cooler evaporator coil that condenses water vapor as dry air is blown out. The reduce in energy equals to less electricity!
According to an experiment, a watt usage meter is used to compare the differences in electricity usage between dry and normal mode. The results show that normal mode uses up till 600W of electricity while the dry mode only used up to 350W.
Do note that dry mode does not cool the air directly, but filters out excess water in the air as stated above
It is, however, good at extracting humidity from the room. Humans are very sensitive to humidity and respond to moisture-heavy environments by sweating. This enables us to maintain a comfortable body temperature.
So, if you're looking for a more cost-conscious way of using the air conditioner. Do give the dry mode a try and you might just see a drop in your electricity bill!