In the global trade of air conditioners, buyers normally care about not only the price but also the suppliers and products when they are selecting them.

For the air conditioner distributors and branding sellers, their concerns are whether the product suits the market stably and reliably and if the cooperation is continuous.

So, what do conditioner importers concern most when purchasing? Knowing the points will not only help the suppliers treat clients well but also help buyers to make reasonable decisions when purchasing.

 

I. Quality and reliability

 

For the importers, product quality is the most important key point. As the air conditioners are durable consumer goods, once the quality issue happens, then the after-sales service will cost and may even influence the brand's frame. So importers normally place deep concerns on the following:

 

Compressor brand and reliability,

Key components (electric control, fan motor, capacitor, etc.),

Lifespan and stability,

Systematic quality control of the factory.

 

Many buyers will ask for test reports and certificates from the suppliers. Stable quality is more attractive than a lower price.

 

II. Whether the product comply with the local certifications

 

Different countries and regions have different regulations and certification requirements. Such as CE (European market), SASO (KSA market), GCC (Gulf countries), CCC (China), ERP (Europe), etc.

If the product is not certified accordingly, importers normally cannot complete the custom clearance and distribute it. So many importers will ask in advance:

 

Whether the product complies with local certifications,

Whether the product comply with the local voltage and frequency,

What's the energy efficiency class?

 

Suppliers with a complete certification system will more easily gain long-term cooperation opportunities.

 

 

III. Price and market competitiveness

 

Unit price is absolutely a key factor when purchasing, but importers normally concern themselves with market competitiveness instead of the lowest price.

They will check comprehensively:

 

The purchasing price,

Shipping and logistics costs,

Import tax,

Retail price and profit.

 

If the product has a stable quality and a reasonable price, the importers will build long-term resale channels in the local market more easily.

 

IV. Whether the production line is complete

 

Many importers want the supplier to provide the whole product series instead of a single model. Such as air conditioner capacities from 9000 BTU to 36000 BTU. Various markets need various models, such as inverter air conditioners (or non-inverter air conditioners), cooling-only air conditioners (or cooling heating), split air conditioners, floor standing airs, etc.

 

The more complete the production line, the easier it is for the importer to build unit branding and a stable supply in the market.

 

V. Delivery capability and supply stability

 

As for the importers, stable supply is essential as well. If the supplier cannot deliver the goods timely, it will lead to the following:

 

Lack of stock in peak season,

Tense relationship with distributors,

Decrease of market share.

 

In case of that, buyers will evaluate the suppliers on production capability, lead time, peak-season capacity, and raw-material supply stability. A stable supply chain is the vital basis of long-term cooperation.

 

 

VI. After-sales support and spare parts supply

 

There are unavoidable maintenance demands during the use of air conditioners, so after-sales support is also important.

Buyers are also concerned with the following:

 

Whether the spare parts supply is supported,

Whether technical guidance provided,

Whether the technical datasheet is offered,

Whether there is remote technical support.

 

A good after-sales system will help importers reduce maintenance costs and improve the end user's satisfaction.

 

VII. Cooperation modes and branding strategies

 

Different importers have different business modes, so the cooperation modes are different as well.

Common cooperation modes are as follows:

 

OEM production (using importers' brand),

ODM (products designed by importers),

Branding distributorship (deal as an agent of the supplier's brand).

 

At the initial stage, both parties will negotiate the following:

 

Whether there are market protection,

Whether there are marketing support,

Whether the brand is allowed to customize.

 

A reasonable cooperation mode will contribute to building a long-term and stable business relationship between both parties.

 

We are a professional air conditioner manufacturer in China. Should you have any other questions in the industry, please don't hesitate to reach us!

In every winter, many users will face a phenomenon that when the air conditioner operates in heating mode, the outdoor unit will blow a batch of smoke, and sometimes there are sounds of water flow and shutdown of the motor. It seems the machine has malfunctions.

Actually, most of the time this is not a failure but the operation of the auto defrost mode of the air conditioner. Here we will explain why it smokes in winter, how the defrost mode operates, and if it is harmful to the equipment.

 

I. How does the air conditioner heat in winter?

 

Under heating mode, the room air conditioner indoor unit performs as a condenser to release heat, while the outdoor unit acts as an evaporator to absorb heat. It brings energy from exterior to interior. Though the exterior temperature is 0℃, the air still contains energy, and the compressor could extract this part of the heat through refrigerant circulation.

 

II. Why does frost form on outdoor surfaces?

 

When the temperature is low and the humidity is heavy outdoors, the surface temperature of the outdoor unit heating exchanger will be lower than 0°C. The steam in the air will condense under lower temperatures and form frost on the exchanger surface gradually.

Particularly during 0℃ to 8℃ rainy days in high-humidity areas, it is easier to frost.

The frost covering on the heat exchanger fins will lead to lower heat-exchange efficiency and weaker heating ability as a result of high energy consumption. If it remains without action, the heating performance will be worse and worse.

 

 

III. What's the Defrosting Mode?

 

When the detected frost reaches a level, the air conditioner will start the defrost process automatically.

This function is easy; the air conditioner compressor will temporarily convert the rotating direction and the cooling cycle.

This means the normal heating mode in the room will convert to heat the outdoor unit, melting the frost by using the high-temperature refrigerant in the copper pipe.

This procedure will last 3-10 minutes, which is a common protection mechanism for air conditioners.

 

IV. Why can we see white smoke?

 

When the frost is melted by hot refrigerant quickly, it becomes water; some water is heated to evaporate, becoming steam; hot steam and cold air condensate and form plenty of small and slim water fogs, which look like smoke.

 

In the meantime, you will see the outdoor fan stop working, the indoor unit stop supplying air, and hear sounds of water flow, which are all common phenomena.

 

 

V. Why does the indoor unit not heat during the defrost procedure?

 

When defrosting, the system is heating for the outdoor unit, and the indoor unit stops supplying air. This is to avoid blowing cold air indoors in winter and improve defrosting efficiency. Some air conditioners will show "DF" or "H1" or a defrosting symbol. After defrosting is finished, the air conditioner will resume heating automatically.

 

VI. Is frequent defrosting normal？

 

Based on the environmental conditions, in extremely cold and high-humidity weather, it defrosts once every 40-90 minutes normally.

If defrosting occurs every 10 minutes, or the heating is obviously insufficient, or the outdoor unit freezes heavily, it would be a lack of refrigerant, sensor failure, or the blockage of the drainage pipe. At this time, it is suggested to arrange professional examination and maintenance.

 

VII. How to reduce frequent defrosting?

 

1. Ensure good ventilation for the outdoor unit;

2. Ensure drainage unobstructed;

3. Avoid frequent start-ups;

4. Set a reasonable temperature. (22-24℃).

 

We are a professional air conditioner manufacturer in China. Should you have any other questions in the industry, please don't hesitate to reach us!

 

Most of us have the experience that a small room could be cooled down in several minutes, but for a larger space, the temperature decreases slowly even though the air conditioner has been operating for a long time. It doesn't mean the air conditioner has not enough cooling ability; instead, a most important physical concept contributed to the situation—thermal inertia, which is often being omitted.

 

I. What's thermal inertia?

 

Thermal inertia is the insensitivity level of an object or space to the temperature exchanges. Simply, it means the higher the thermal inertia, the slower the temperature exchanges; and the lower the thermal inertia, the faster the temperature exchanges.

 

It is not simple data, which is determined by three factors: mass, specific heat capacity, and the heat exchange conditions.

Inside the buildings and rooms, the thermal inertia performs mainly in walls, ceilings, floors, appliances, and the air itself. All those items will store heat.

 

II. Why does a larger house have a higher thermal inertia?

 

1. More items which store heat in the house

 

The larger house has wider wall areas, larger air volume, more concrete and bricks used in construction, and more space to put appliances and decorations. These are all heat storages. When the outside temperature is high, those heat storages have absorbed much heat already.

 

2. Air conditioning is to remove heat first, not to lower the temperature

 

The core task of air conditioners is not to blow cold air but to remove the heat from indoors to the outdoors steadily.

In large spaces, the air conditioner needs to remove heat from walls, floors, appliances, and the air steadily. The larger the space, the more heat needed to be removed, so it took a longer time.

 

3. The surface temperature determines the body temperature

 

Though the temperature had been cooled down, if the wall is hot, the floor is hot, and the appliance surface is hot, according to reflection heat transfer, the human body will feel its heat as well.

That's why people still don't feel cool even though the temperature already shows 24℃ in the large house. Thermal inertia makes it much slower for people to get "real coolness."

 

 

III. Why it may not necessarily solve the issue by purchasing a larger capacity cooling device?

 

Most people will choose a larger capacity air conditioner to cool a large house, such as a floor standing air conditioner or a cassette air conditioner. But the common questions are unreasonable gas-liquid distribution, cold air cannot reach the areas with heat burden, unreasonable air-return design, and long-term stays of heat in a partial area. As a result, the energy consumption rises, but the comfort has no significant improvement.

 

IV. For cooling in the large spaces, the key is to deal with the thermal inertia

 

1. Start the air conditioner in advance, rather than operating it when it's hot

2. Focus on the airflow coverage, rather than the cooling capacity

3. Zoning control, separately dealing with the thermal inertia

4. Matching the air conditioning systematically rather than focusing on the unit datas

 

In large houses, villas, and commercial spaces, VRF, ducted air conditioners, and joint-combined systems are more suitable in both comfort and energy savings.

 

In the large houses, it's not harder to blow cold air but to remove more heat, which is the thermal inertia that influences it. What determines the comfort is not only how big the air conditioner is, but also whether the whole system is recognized and allowed to operate by following the physical rules.

To those living in extremely cold regions, a common question comes when it is needed to heat by an air conditioner in winter: can the air conditioner outdoor unit operate freely in an extremely cold environment or not? Particularly under the ultra-low temperatures of -30℃ and -40℃, is the air conditioner able to supply reliable heat?

 

1. What are the limits of traditional air conditioners?

 

Traditional non-inverter or inverter air conditioners are available to operate under the ambient temperature of -7℃ to -15℃. When the temperature goes further lower, the situations below will occur:

 

i). Apparent decrease of heating capacity;

ii). Severe frost on the outdoor unit and defrosting affect heating performance.

iii). The compressor is hard to start or does not even start.

 

In case of that, traditional air conditioners can not start freely under the temperature of -30℃ and even -40℃.

 

2. Advanced technology: EVI technology

 

For cold regions, air conditioner manufacturers will develop the air conditioner models with EVI (Enhanced Vapor Injection) technology. By adding additional jet ports for gas in the compressor, the technology allows the refrigerant to keep enough pressure and flow under the extreme cold condition, improving the heating ability under low temperature. Adopted with EVI technology, the air conditioners could provide stable heating under -25℃ to -30℃ environments. Some high-end models are claimed to start freely under -35℃.

 

3. Impossibility under -40℃

 

Under a -40℃ environment, even the high-end air conditioning models are still facing great challenges:

 

i). The starting difficulty: Thickening of the refrigerant oil makes it difficult to lubricate the compressor.

ii). The decreasing heating capacity: Even if the system can start, the heating capacity will be significantly reduced.

iii). The increasing power consumption: Even if the system can start, the heating capacity will be significantly reduced.

 

Common solutions to the -40℃ environments are ultra-low temperature air source heat pumps (customized commercial/engineering machines), rather than ordinary household air conditioners, or electric auxiliary heating and gas heating with air conditioning used in conjunction.

 

4. Options for the cold areas.

 

For regions in the Mongolia plateau, Northern Russia, and Canada, it is recommended to choose low-temperature heat pump air conditioners with EVI technology or directly choose air source heat pump heating units, whose operating limit can be extended to -35℃ or even -40℃, or combine them with backup heating methods such as floor heating and electric heaters to ensure comfort and safety in extreme weather.

 

Traditional air conditioners can't start at -40°C. Even some high-end low-temperature heat pump models claim to be able to operate, but they require extremely demanding technical support and operating environments. For users in extremely cold regions, choosing a professional ultra-low-temperature heat pump product is the only reliable way to heat your home in winter.