7 Different Types of Air Conditioners
Choosing an air conditioning system for your home or office can be confusing and stressful. The market has several types of air conditioners making the possibilities quite overwhelming. You may even be facing a time constraint depending on your current situation.
The most important thing is to make sure that you choose the best air conditioning system. Apart from understanding the factors that you need to consider when choosing these units, you should also understand what types of air conditioners.
This article will help you to understand the 7 different types of air conditioners in the market. The knowledge will help you to make a better purchase decision when you go out shopping for these units. Central Air Conditioning
This cooling system is the most common among the various types of air conditioners on the market. It works best in larger buildings because it has the ability to cool efficiently.
The central air conditioning system circulates cool air via the supply and return ducts. Registers and supply ducts, which are on the floors or wall, carry the cooled air into your building. Once the air becomes warm, it will supply back into the registers and supply duct. From here, it is transferred back to the air conditioning unit.
You need a high level of preparation and planning to install a central air conditioning system in your home. The reason is that sizing is a crucial element to the functioning of your system. If the system that you install is energy efficient but of the wrong size, the utility costs will go higher.
1. Ductless, Mini-Split Air Conditioner Systems
Ductless, mini-split air conditioners are more popular in retrofitted parts of the home. Like the central air conditioners, these units have an outdoor condenser/compressor together with an indoor handling unit.
If you want to cool individual rooms within your building, this system is the best for you. Most of the ductless, mini-split conditioners have up to 4 handling units. All these handling units are connected to the single outdoor unit.
Every zone has a thermostat and you can use it to adjust the temperature of every room as per your needs. It allows you to cool a specific section of the house that is underuse. The feature makes it be an economical air conditioning system.
2. Window Air Conditioners
You can think of window air conditioners as compact units that only cool a single specific room. Some people refer to them as unitary units and you install them on the window of your room.
Window air conditioners blow cool air into your room and emit warm air out hence cooling your room. The units will work best if you are residing in a small place. These conditioners don’t work well in large buildings because they will not cool the room efficiently. You will require a different unit for that type of environment.
3. Through the Wall Air Conditioners
Like the window air conditioners, these units absorb warm air that is then exhausted and send cool air back to the room. These systems are unitary and self-contained like the portable and window air conditioner.
If you don’t have an accessible window, the through the wall air conditioning units will serve you best. However, they need proper planning because you mount them in the wall permanently and can never remove them.
The contractor cuts a wall in your exterior walls and installs a sleeve. The sleeves support the weight of the air conditioner because the wall isn’t strong enough. It explains why you need to use a professional to handle the installation process.
Unlike the window air conditioners, you will not lose control of your window when using this unit. The unit is also more energy-efficient as it creates an airtight seal.
4. Portable Air Conditioners
Portable air conditioning systems are considered to be the next generator of window air conditioners. These units absorb air from the room and cool it before directing it back to your room. The system then vents the warm air outside by using an exhaust hose that is installed on the window.
Like the window air conditioners, the design of portable air conditioners only allows them to cool a single room. The units are affordable, versatile, and easy to install. With the portability of these air conditioners, you will not find it hard to stay cool on a hot summer day.
5. Hybrid Air Conditioners
Like the hybrid motor vehicle, the hybrid heating pumps alternate between using electricity and burning fossil fuel to run. This system will choose between the two sources of energy intelligently so as to save energy and money. The rising energy costs will not hold you hostage.
During the summer season, the heat pump functions as it does. It pulls heat from your building and distributes it to the outside environment.
In winter, the hybrid air conditioners work in a reverse way. The system pulls heat from the outdoors and distributes it within your building.
Do you remember the second law of Thermodynamics from your high school? It states that heat is transferred from hot objects to cold ones.
When the refrigerant falls below the outdoor temperature, the outside heat will be transferred to the coils of the heat pumps hence into the refrigerant. The heat that is extracted is turned into warn and conditioned air for your building.
6. Geothermal Heating and Cooling
Geothermal energy is energy-efficient, sustainable, and has a long life. The ground temperature that is below us consistently remains at 55 degrees regardless of how cold or hot the atmosphere is. As a result, the geothermal technology will extract heat from below and then transfer it into your building.
Experts install a geothermal coil deep into the ground and are used to cool or heat your building. It is an effective air conditioning system for your home or office. The unit extracts heat from the earth in the winter to make your room warm. In the summer, it will extract heat from your home and distribute it back into the ground.
Conclusion
These are the main air conditioning systems in the market. You can choose any of them depending on the area you want to cool and your budget.
