Warm weather has arrived. Now's the time to consider getting a new air conditioner or updating the one you have. Room air conditioners, central air conditioners, and ones in-between all have their purposes. Whether you have heat but need cool air, need an air conditioner for one room, are living in a historical home that needs air conditioning, are on a tight budget or want to go all out--take a look at the types of air conditioners listed below because there is a right unit for you.
Room air conditioners:
They cool rooms and even though are usually noisier and lower in efficiency, also provide lower costs as they are used in rooms only where they are needed--not the whole house.
Window-mounted
-What it is: Small unit designed to fit in a window. Most are made fordouble-hung windows but some are designed for casement windows. Be sure to pick a unit designed for the type of window the consumer has. Most units include a window mounting kit, which will have sill brackets to support the unit and side vents that make an airtight fit for the window.
-Advantages: Purchase several and can adjust each room's temperature to individual preferences. Can be removed easily and stored when the season changes.
-Disadvantages: Give up having a view from the window. Must be removed or winterized when cooler weather hits
Through-the-wall
-What it is: Usually used to cool a single room. Functions like a window air conditioner, only is permanently mounted through the wall.
-Advantages: Window is not blocked. Don't have to remove and store during cooler weather.
-Disadvantages: Not easy to install in a pre-existing home. Has to be installed in an area where there is no electric or pipes running through the walls. May have problems cutting the hole if walls are made of concrete, stone or brick. Unit is hard to hide during the winter months. During the colder months, has to be sealed off to keep cold air from coming in the house
Free standing portable
-What it is: A unit about 30 inches tall and 80 pounds in weight that stands on the floor. May be single or dual vent. Dual vent units circulate clean air back into the room and will usually cool the air quicker. Most have wheels, giving the consumer the ability to move them around. Must be connected to a place like a window where the hot air from the unit can be vented. Most units have window-venting kits, that can be moved from one window to another and that are easy to install.
-Advantages: Portable meaning they can be moved from room to room. Window-mounting not required. Move the air conditioner from the bedroom to the kitchen to the living room depending on where you are during the day. Many have features where the condensation bin doesn't need to be emptied as frequently, making the unit less of a pain to use and removing moisture from the air in the home, helping to prevent mold. Ability to keep different rooms different temperatures.
-Disadvantages: Costs more that a window-mounted air conditioner with a similar cooling ability level. Similar to central air conditioners.
Mini-split unit
-What it is: Mix between a window air conditioner and a split system. A compressor unit is mounted outside the house and a fan unit is wall-mounted inside the house. The system gets a copper lineset between the outdoor and indoor unit.
-Advantages: They are small and can cool individual rooms. Great for multifamily housing, room additions, rooms over garages and small apartments. The indoor part of the system does not need a window and can be mounted on the floor, hung on the wall, or suspended from the ceiling. Many of the systems even offer a remote control to turn the system on and off. Not noisy since the compressor goes outside.
-Disadvantages: They are more expensive than room air conditioners. Don't have the built-in look of a central air conditioner unit.
Mini-duct unit
-What it is: They are specially-designed systems for tight spaces, where running conventional duct work is impossible. Forces air through plastic feeder ducts just 2 inches in diameter.
-Advantages: Good for historical homes where duct work wasn't considered when the home was built. Minimizes renovation costs by keeping walls and ceilings intact. Not noisy. Use about half the air of a conventional air conditioning system.
-Disadvantages: Higher costs to install the system because they require more outlets, about 5 outlets per ton of cooling.
Central air conditioners:
Aside from being more efficient than room air conditioners, central air conditioners are out of the way, not noisy, and convenient to operate.
Single-package unit
-What it is: Everything (evaporator coil, compressor, condenser coil, blower motor, and controls with the exception of the thermostat) located in one metal cabinet box. Sits outside of the house. Each room in the house gets cold air via a duct system.
-Advantages: Get this system and you won't need a separate furnace indoors.
-Disadvantages: More expensive and complex to install.
Split-system unit
-What it is: The air handler (inside) and condensing unit (outside) have a copper lineset running between them to connect the condenser to the evaporator. They usually share control voltage, but have separate circuits for line voltage power. Each room in the house gets cold air via a duct system.
-Advantages: Makes more economical sense to install if your home already has a heating system but no air conditioner.
-Disadvantages: More expensive and complex to install.
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