SORABYCO | Life in Japan

When I first moved to Japan, I thought of the wall-mounted air conditioner as something I would mainly use in summer. Then winter came, and I realized the same unit would also be doing the heating. That made me wonder what I was supposed to do after months of using the cooling mode. Should I clean everything before winter? Should I turn on the heating right away? Or is there something I should check first? The short answer is simple. You do not need to deep-clean your air conditioner every autumn. Once you are using the cooling mode less often, it is enough to clean the filter, make sure the unit can dry properly, clear the area around the outdoor unit, and test the heating before the weather gets cold . In Japan, autumn AC maintenance is less about “putting the air conditioner away” and more about getting the same machine ready for its next job. Start with the filter after a long Japanese summer After weeks or months of cooling and dehumidifying, the filter is the easiest place to sta...

I never really thought about my air conditioner’s airflow direction until one summer night in Japan. I wanted to sleep with the AC on, but I hate having cold air blow directly onto my face. So I tilted the vent upward and left it there. Then I started wondering whether I was giving up better cooling just to avoid the breeze. After all, cold air sinks and warm air rises. Wouldn’t that mean the AC should point down in summer and up in winter? I was wrong. For most homes, the basic rule is simple: Season Best Airflow Direction Summer cooling Up or slightly horizontal Winter heating Down That small adjustment can make the temperature feel more even and may help your air conditioner run more efficiently. Best Air Conditioner Airflow Direction in Summer In summer, the best AC airflow direction is usually upward or slightly horizontal. Cool air naturally moves downward. When the air conditioner sends it across the upper part of the space, it gradually settles and spreads through the living ar...

Every summer in Japan, I end up doing the same thing. I stand in the living room with the air conditioner remote in my hand and hesitate. Should I press Cooling? Should I use Dry Mode instead? Would Eco Mode help lower the electricity bill? Japanese summers are not only hot. They are also incredibly humid, which makes choosing the right air conditioner setting feel more complicated than it should. For years, I mostly pressed whichever button seemed right at the time. We also have three Bengal cats at home, so I cannot think only about saving electricity. I want to keep the room comfortable for them, especially when we are out of the house. I used to assume that Dry Mode was always cheaper than Cooling Mode. Then I started reading different explanations online and became even more confused. Some articles said Cooling Mode used less electricity. Others said Dry Mode was more economical. Eco Mode added another question because I thought it might automatically choose between Cooling and Dr...