Glossaire — Tempéra

Définitions et termes clés utilisés sur Tempéra : comprenez chaque mot du domaine pour faire le bon choix.

• BTU (British Thermal Unit) — Unit of measurement for the cooling power of an air conditioner. 1 BTU = 0.293 Watts. The higher the BTU value, the larger the area the device can cool. For a room of 20 m², expect approximately 7,000
• CE Certification and Standards — Mandatory CE marking in Europe certifying compliance with safety and environmental directives. Standards: EN 12021 (portable air conditioners), EN 60335 (electrical safety). Optional certifications: A
• Environmental Certification — Labels guaranteeing reduced ecological impact: use of eco-friendly refrigerant fluids (R32), high energy efficiency (class A), material recyclability. Certifications: EU 2021/92, Energy Star. Importan
• Energy rating — Rating (A to G) indicating the energy efficiency of an air conditioning unit according to EU 2021/92 standard. Class A = highly efficient, class G = low efficiency. Based on the SEER index (cooling) a
• Portable air conditioning unit — Standalone and portable cooling device with no fixed installation. Uses a compression or evaporation system to lower the ambient temperature. Equipped with a hot air exhaust hose and a water tank or c
• Monoblock Air Conditioner — Portable air conditioning unit composed of a single unit containing all components (compressor, condenser, evaporator). Hot air escapes through a single hose. Simpler to install than a split system, b
• Mobile split air conditioning unit — Mobile system composed of two units: an indoor unit (evaporator) and an outdoor unit (condenser). Better energy efficiency and acoustic comfort than a single-unit system. Requires a window or passage
• Compressor — Central component of the air conditioner that compresses the refrigerant fluid to create a cooling cycle. Transforms the refrigerant gas into high-pressure liquid. The most expensive component and dec
• Condensation — Natural process where humid air transforms into water upon contact with the cold evaporator. Generates 5-20 litres/day depending on humidity and temperature. Water accumulates in the reservoir or drai
• Condenser — Air conditioning component that transforms gaseous refrigerant into liquid by releasing heat to the outside. Usually located in the external unit or the evacuation pipe. Must be regularly cleaned to m
• Power Consumption — Electrical power required in Watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). Portable air conditioner: 700-3500 W depending on cooling capacity. Estimated monthly cost: (Watts × hours/day × 30 days) / 1000 × kWh rate. E
• Refrigeration Cycle — Continuous thermodynamic process that allows the air conditioner to cool the air. The refrigerant circulates through four phases: compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation. Each cycle absor
• Home Automation / WiFi Control — Function enabling air conditioning control via smartphone or voice assistant (Alexa, Google Home). Requires WiFi connection and dedicated application. Offers remote scheduling, consumption history and
• Decibel (dB) — Unit measuring the noise level of the air conditioner. Mobile models generate 60-75 dB during normal operation. A quiet air conditioner: < 65 dB. Noise mainly comes from the compressor and fan. Import
• Maintenance and Care — Regular operations ensuring efficiency and sustainability: filter cleaning (2-4 weeks), tank emptying (weekly), evaporator cleaning (monthly), hose inspection (quarterly). Minimal but essential costs.
• Air filter — Component that filters dust, pollen and fine particles from incoming air. Located upstream of the evaporator. Should be cleaned or replaced every 2-4 weeks with intensive use. A clogged filter reduces
• Refrigerant fluid — Substance circulating in the closed circuit of the air conditioning system, responsible for heat transfer. Old refrigerants (CFCs) damage the ozone layer; modern ones (R32, R410A) are more environment
• Manufacturer's Warranty — Manufacturer's commitment covering manufacturing defects. Standard duration: 1-2 years parts and labour. Some premium models: 3-5 years compressor. Conditions: proper use, regular maintenance, invoice
• Relative Humidity — Percentage of water vapour in the air. Optimal range: 40-60%. Above: discomfort, mould, corrosion. Below: dry skin, respiratory irritation. The air conditioner reduces humidity by cooling and evacuati
• SEER Rating — Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio : seasonal cooling energy efficiency ratio. Expresses the cooling energy produced per kWh consumed. SEER ≥ 8 = good, SEER ≥ 10 = excellent. The higher the index, the l
• Installation — Air conditioning installation process: stable positioning, drainage hose routing through window or wall, electrical connection, water tank filling (if applicable). Monobloc: simple, 30 mins. Split: mo
• Ioniser — Technology that generates negative ions to purify air and reduce odours and allergens. Complements mechanical filtering. Moderate effectiveness according to studies. Found on high-end air conditioning
• Heating Mode — Inverse function of cooling, available on certain reversible air conditioning units (hot/cold). Uses a heat pump to warm the air. Consumes more than cooling. Suitable for regions with mild winters. Re
• Night mode — Function combining gradual cooling and noise reduction for nighttime. Gradually increases temperature (0.5-1 °C/hour) to prevent excessive cooling and unnecessary consumption. Reduces sound volume. Im
• Cooling Mode — Air conditioning: primary function of the air conditioner, which lowers the ambient temperature by expelling hot air outside. Available on all models. Usually adjustable in increments of 0.5 °C or 1 °
• Dry Mode (Dehumidification) — Function that reduces humidity without significant cooling. Useful in tropical or humid climates. Consumes less energy than cooling. The compressor operates in short cycles. Ideal for maintaining hygr
• Silent Mode — Function reducing air conditioner noise by limiting compressor and fan speed. Generates 50-60 dB instead of 70-75 dB. Slower cooling but comfortable for sleeping or working. Consumes slightly less ene
• Ventilation mode — Function that circulates air without cooling or heating. Consumes very little energy (fan only). Useful for homogenising temperature or creating air circulation. Economical complement to cooling. Avai
• Flux Oscillation / Flux Orientation — Function that automatically or manually directs the direction of cold air flow. Oscillation: continuous horizontal sweep. Manual orientation: adjustment of louvres. Ensures even distribution of coolin
• Scheduled Programming — Function allowing you to schedule the air conditioner to turn on/off at specific times. Basic models: simple timer. Advanced models: weekly scheduling. Useful for cooling before arrival or automatical
• Cooling capacity — Cooling capacity of an air conditioning unit, expressed in BTU, Watts or kW. Determines the surface area and volume it can cool effectively. Insufficient power leaves the room warm; excessive power wa
• Air Quality — Indoor air purity measured by pollutant concentration (PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, allergens). The air conditioner filters dust and pollen through an air filter. Some models include HEPA filters or ionisers. I
• Water tank — Pan collecting condensation water generated by the air conditioning unit. Must be emptied regularly (capacity 5-20 litres depending on model). Some devices offer continuous drainage via tubing. Forget
• Installation Security — Standards to comply with: dedicated 16A minimum electrical outlet, secured drainage hose, no obstruction to air inlet, appliance stable on flat surface, distance from heat sources. Non-compliance risk
• Thermostat — Automatic temperature regulation system. Allows you to set a target temperature (typically 16-32 °C). The device stops when the temperature is reached, and restarts if it increases. Optimises comfort
• Discharge hose — Hot air duct connecting the portable air conditioner to the outside (window or wall). Generally made of reinforced plastic, diameter 15-20 cm. Should be as short as possible to minimise efficiency los
• Remote Control — Infrared or RF device controlling the air conditioning unit remotely. Allows you to adjust temperature, mode and scheduling without getting up. Basic models: 5-10 buttons. Advanced models: LCD screen,
• Air Flow Rate — Fan power setting (typically 3 speeds: low, medium, high, or auto). High speed = rapid cooling but noisy. Low speed = quiet but slow cooling. Auto mode automatically adjusts based on temperature. Impa
• Energy savings — Practices reducing air conditioner consumption: closing doors/windows, using dry mode rather than cooling, programming night-time shutdown, maintaining moderate temperature (24-26 °C), regularly servi
• Evaporator — Heat exchanger in the air conditioning system where refrigerant evaporates, absorbing heat from indoor air. Cools the air blown into the room. Located in the internal unit or monoblock. Accumulates du