Air Conditioner Types
What's the Right Air Conditioning (AC) Type for Your Needs?
Be sure to consult with a professional before you purchase an air conditioner. Getting a free on-site evaluation of the cooling needs of your home may save you from making the wrong choice.
Split System Central Air Conditioning (ducted A/C)
This is what people most commonly think of when they speak of wanting air conditioning. Split central air allows you to place the noisy portion or your cooling unit outside where it will be less noticeable. Split central air requires that your house have ducting to the various rooms in your home (usually the same ducting you use for your central heat). Central air allows you to cool all parts of a house evenly and quietly.
Central Air Conditioning is the preferred type of air conditioning in almost all situations. If you are hoping for a quiet even distribution of cool air with the highest efficiecy ratings than a split system central air conditioner is the right option for you.
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Allows you to keep the noise associated with air conditioning outside. - Even newer room air conditioner units deliver noise along with cool air. Central air keeps the largest portion of the noise outside of the house so that your home's interior remains quiet and peaceful.
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Cools the entire house evenly so you don't notice temperature differences going from room to room. - Older homes that use window air conditioners typically have one or two rooms that are too cold while the rest of the house is too warm. Even cooling is a major benefit of central air.
- Adjust the temperature for the entire house at one location rather than several window mount air conditioners. - No need to run from room to room to adjust the temperature of the house anymore. Central air controls the temperature from a single thermastat.
- Central air is more efficient than window mount or room air conditioners. - Increased efficiency means a savings of dollars! Lower heating and cooling bills are something that just about everyone can appreciate.
- Requires that you have ducting installed in your home for the cool air to be distributed. - If you have ducting already installed for your furnace or a prior air conditioning system you will probably be able to use it as is. However, a cooling specialist should examine the system to let you know for sure. The ducting plays a significant role in cooling your home. If the ducting is not efficient your colling system may not work properly.
- Be sure to consult with a professional before you purchase an air conditioner. Getting a free on-site evaluation of the cooling needs of your home may save you from making the wrong choice.
Single-Package Air Conditioner (Heat Pump)
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Single package central air conditioners are most commonly used in industrial applications.
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All of the components are mounted into one "package" which is typically mounted on the roof
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of a building although occasionally on a wall.
Ductless Air Conditioning
Ductless air conditioning offers some of the advantages of a split central air system when there is no air ducting installed. Most commonly used to cool specific rooms or the majority of a home which has a very open floor pan. In a mini split system the condensing unit stays outside the house just like in a traditional split system. However rather than one single indoor unit that circulates the cooled air throughout the house through air ducts the mini split has one, or more, indoor units that connect to the condensor outside. The individual unit(s) are mounted on walls or in the ceiling and cool a specific area. In many instances 2-4 indoor units can cool the majority of the home's interior while avoiding the extra expense of installing a duct system.
Ductless or Mini-Split Airconditioning Systems Single Zone Ductless/Mini-Split Air Conditioning System |
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Usually involves a simpler installation than a traditional split system
- Reduced noise by not having the condensor unit inside the home.
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Systems can be purchased that use a single control for all inside units.
- Efficiency levels are not typically as high as the more common split central air system.
Be sure to consult with a professional before you purchase an air conditioner. Getting a free on-site evaluation of the cooling needs of your home may save you from making the wrong choice.
Evaporation coolers
Evaportative coolers are popular in dry desert climates and can be tremendously effective, cooling the air by as much as 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
In simple terms the "swamp cooler" is a box that houses a large fan. The fan draws in air through vent grates which are located on three sides of the box. Between the vent grates and the fan a damp pad is placed. The pad remains damp throught the efforts of a small pump also housed within the box. As air is drawn past the moist pad molecules of water attach themselves to the air which is cooled as the water is evaporated. The cooled air is then forced into the house by the fan.
Evaporative coolers are used primarily in the Sourthwestern portion of the U.S. due to the desert like climates. They are less expensive to run than traditional air conditioning and are simpler to maintain and work on. In a humid climate evaporative coolers are mostly in-effectual as the air does not evaporate enough for the the air to noticably cooled.
Be sure to consult with a professional before you purchase an air conditioner. Getting a free on-site evaluation of the cooling needs of your home may save you from making the wrong choice.