Does your air conditioning remote scare you? Do you only press the power button and maybe the temperature up or down arrows in fear you may muck up the setting? Read on to find what your air conditioning remote symbols mean and what they do.
Do you look at the sun symbol and wonder if you use it on a sunny day to cool the room or on a winters day to heat the room? Most remotes for different brands of air conditioning units share the same features.
In this article we will explain what each symbol means and what it does.
The first button is the one that turns the air conditioning unit off and on. This is usually a different colour than the rest of the other buttons. It is usually orange or yellow but can also be red, blue or green.
It can have ON/OFF or START/STOP written on it or just have the POWER symbol which looks like the following.
or
One press to turn the unit on and another press to turn it off. Once turning the unit off the current settings will be kept and it will continue on these setting once the unit is turned back on.
The temperature buttons are usually up and down arrows with TEMP written by them. Pressing the UP button will increase the set temperature and pressing the DOWN button will decrease the temperature.
Most units have a MODE button which will cycle through the air conditioning units’ different operations. Fujitsu and Panasonic remotes have simplified things by having the words HEAT and COOL instead of small symbols to resemble the sun and a snow flake.
Most units will have a snow flake or ice symbol for the COOL mode. This mode is used to cool the room and would typically be used during summer.
oror
The sun symbol represents HEAT mode. This is the opposite of the cool mode and is used to heat the room, usually during the cooler winter months.
oror
A teardrop or water symbol is used to show the DRY mode. This mode is used to reduce the humidity in the room when the air is warm and very humid.
ororor
The indoor fan speed is automatically reduced in this mode so that the air spends longer moving across the indoor units cooling coils, to extract more moisture from the air. Dry mode can be an efficient and effective option in those conditions as reducing the humidity makes the air feel cooler and more comfortable. However if it’s very hot and only moderately humid, the cooling mode will be much more effective. The temperature cannot usually be increased or decreased in this mode.
The last symbol in the MODE setting is usually AUTO.
oror
This mode will allow the unit to automatically select the cooling or heating mode depending on the set temperature. Unless you live in a climate where there are large temperature swings, (Melbourne) you are probably better of manually selecting the COOL or HEAT symbols.
The FAN setting is shown by a fan blade symbol.
ororor
This mode allows the unit to run as a fan only. As it just recycles the air in the room it neither heats or cools. The air may feel cool as it does the same job as a ceiling fan and the evaporation of body sweat on a hot day may feel like it is slightly cool.
The indoor fan speed can be controlled by pressing the FAN button. Each time you press the button the fan speed will increase as represented by the fan symbol on the remote screen. Most units have a minimum of 3 manual fan speeds and most newer units have up to 5 speeds. If you keep pressing the fan button you should eventually come to an AUTO FAN symbol. With this setting selected the unit will automatically select the fan speed depending on the current and set temperature. The unit will make the fan run at a high speed when it is first turned on and as the temperature approaches the set temperature it will reduce the fan speed, until eventually it is just ticking over on low speed. If the temperature in the room increases (in cooling mode) the fan will automatically adjust the fan speed to suit.
Some units also have a QUIET or SILENT fan option where the unit will run the indoor fan speed at a very low settings. This could be used at night time.
oror
A POWERFUL or TURBO button can sometimes be found on some units.
oror
This allows the unit to run the fan at maximum fan speed for maximum cooling or heating and to push the air further around the room. Some brands have a timer where after a set amount of time the unit will go back to its previous fan setting.
We suggest always leaving the fan on AUTO and let the indoor unit automatically select the correct speed.
The POWERFUL button should be used to quickly bring the room to the required set temperature.
Selecting a manual LOW fan speed should not be used when first turning the unit on as the unit will take a lot longer to cool/heat the room. Having the unit initially set to a low fan speed may not be enough to cool or heat the room. Higher fan speeds (or AUTO) allow the unit to quickly push the cool (or hot) air throughout the room. The greatest energy savings are once the room is close to the set temperature and the fan has automatically started to run on low settings. Not only is the unit running most economically it is also running very quiet.
Most units have a button that can control the vertical position of the louver. The louver is the horizontal blade that runs across the front of the unit. Pressing this button usually allows the blade to move to the next position up or down.
Each push allows another small movement and then the blade will move back up the other way. Sometimes each push of the button will eventually get to the auto mode where the louver will continually move up and down by itself. Sometimes there is a separate auto louver button on the remote that will do the same thing.
Some units also have an AUTO mode where the unit will select the best position for the blade – this is usually pointing across the room for cooling and down for heating.
ororor
Some units may have a button that allows the horizontal louver to move left and right to allow the air to move in this direction.
Sometimes each push of the button will eventually get to the auto mode where the louver will continually move up and down by itself. Sometimes there is a separate auto louver button on the remote that will do the same thing.
oror
Most modern units have a timer function that allow the unit to turn on or off at or after a pre-set time. Some units have built in sensors that scan the room for movement. If no movement is detected after a certain amount of time, it will raise or lower the temperature to reduce energy costs.
Some brands like Panasonic have nanoe X technology that help in the inhibition of virus, bacteria, pollens and mould. Some units have special filtration that allows the removal of dust and can inhibit the growth of bacteria, mould and deodorise the air. SELF CLEANING functions can also be found on some units. This function is used once the unit is turned off and allows the indoor fan motor to be run at a very low speed to dry any moisture left in the air conditioning unit. This supposedly prevent mould build up.
A summary of popular air conditioning remote symbols are as follows:
Fall is characterized by the cool, crisp air, vibrant burnt orange leaves, and the irresistible aroma of pumpkin spice. However, this magical season can also bring unpredictable weather changes. From cool mornings to hot afternoons to frigid nights, finding the right indoor temperature can be difficult.
At this point, you may be confused about which mode to set on your HVAC system. Do you choose the cool mode when it gets hot and switch to heat during the night? When exactly is the best time to turn on heat? How do you switch from AC to heat on your unit?
Read on to find out how to activate heat mode in your room air conditioners with Cielo Breez smart AC controllers and central HVAC unit with Cielo Smart Thermostat.
As you gear up for winter, it’s important to ensure that your air conditioning system runs efficiently. It’s best to schedule your HVAC maintenance before the start of every heating and cooling season.
Related: The Ultimate Spring HVAC Maintenance Checklist
Some maintenance tasks need to be handled by professionals, but there are things that you can do yourself. Changing filters, cleaning the HVAC outdoor unit, and checking your thermostats are some of the tasks that you can easily take care of.
AC filters are an integral part of your unit as they filter out harmful pollutants and allergens from the air and prevent them from circulating inside your home.
The dust and debris trapped by the filters need to be removed after a certain period for efficient AC performance. If the filters are not changed regularly, your unit will have to work harder, resulting in decreased efficiency. Plus, you will also notice a decline in your indoor air quality.
For ducted units, it’s recommended that you replace the filters every 3 months. Ductless air conditioners also require cleaning AC filters. You can simply remove the front cover to take out the filters. These filters are washable, and you can clean them using soap and water. It’s recommended to clean them every 3 weeks and replace them every 3-4 months.
HVAC units have an outdoor unit that houses the compressor. It is responsible for compressing the refrigerant and the heat transfer from the air.
If the unit gets clogged by leaves or twigs getting inside the unit, it can affect the heat dissipation process. This can lead to decreased efficiency and high electricity bills.
To ensure it works at its optimum capacity, it is essential to maintain a clear space around it. Remove the debris from the top and sides of the outdoor unit during the seasonal maintenance checkups.
When doing your seasonal maintenance tasks, clean your vents by dusting or vacuuming them. Ensure optimal HVAC airflow by removing any furniture or drapes that may be blocking the vents.
Test your thermostat before the start of a new season to ensure optimal working.
Check your thermostat reading using a thermometer. If your thermostat reading is incorrect by a few degrees, try calibrating your thermostat.
You can also reset your thermostat if it’s been a while since you performed a factory reset. This helps to remove glitches and any problems you may be encountering.
Related: Thermostat Not Working Properly? 14 Easy Fixes
You can change to heat mode on your central system using the on-device controls on your Cielo Smart Thermostat or visit the Cielo Home app.
Cielo Smart Thermostats
Equip your HVAC system with smart features and achieve the perfect balance between comfort & savings.
Shop NowCielo Smart AC Controllers
Your best choice to make any mini-split, window,
or portable AC smart. Enhance your comfort and savings.
As the fall season is quite unpredictable, you may have to switch between cool and heat mode frequently. But is it okay to switch back and forth between the different modes? Will it have any negative impact on your HVAC unit?
Switching between cool and heat modes frequently is completely okay; however, there are some considerations to keep in mind:
It’s important to know how to switch from AC to heat to ensure your home stays comfortable during colder months. It’s a simple process that you can easily do in seconds. Before changing modes, it’s essential that you perform HVAC tune-ups for efficient operation. Another thing to keep in mind is to let your unit complete its current cycle before changing to another mode. Also, avoid sudden and extreme changes when switching between heating and cooling.