Picking the Right Air Conditioner Unit For House
If your air conditioner is at the end of its life cycle or if your energy bills are soaring, it might be time to invest in a new AC system. How do you choose the best one?
Air conditioners are sized according to how many BTUs they can remove from the air per hour. This is the first thing you need to take a look at.
Window units
Installing window air conditioners in the home with no ducts is simple. The unit plugs into an electrical outlet, and then fits into the window frame or wall opening. The unit can cool one room, and typically has a variety of temperatures and fan settings. The unit also has an drainage line that will direct any excess water to a drip pan or to the outside. It is essential to ensure that the evaporator unit in your window AC is clean in order to ensure proper heat transfer. The evaporator coil will remain clean when you regularly wash and clean the air filter.
Window units consume between 500 and 1,400 watts to cool your home. This is lower than central air conditioning systems, which can consume up to 3,500 watts.
Another benefit of window air conditioner is that it is easy to move from room to another as needed. This is especially helpful in homes with limited storage space. These units are easy to use and don’t require any expert installation or maintenance. However, they tend to wear out quickly and can be costly to replace. You will also need to pay for HVAC maintenance in Gainesville. They aren’t as efficient as a ductless system.
The next type of air conditioning unit is one that is mounted to the wall. They are simple to set up and move around the room. They are more energy-efficient than windows and are slightly quieter. However, they don’t work in every home. They may not work with all wall materials and you will need to make sure that the walls are able to support the weight of the unit.
If you’re seeking a more efficient air conditioning unit, look into a Mitsubishi mini-split. They are not only more efficient than conventional ductless units, but they can also be used as heating units in the winter. This will allow you to make the most of your air conditioning system in Florida and also save money on heating bills.
Wall units
Consider installing an air conditioner on your wall if you need a longer-lasting cooling option than windows air conditioning systems. They function like a central AC system, but are more efficient in energy usage because they focus on one room at a time. These units have internal thermometers which shut off the unit once the room is at the temperature that is desired. This saves energy. These models are also less invasive than central air systems because they don’t require the installation of ducts or vents into your home’s walls.
When you are searching for a through-the-wall unit, make sure it has a BTU rating that is appropriate for your space. BTU is an acronym for British Thermal Unit. It is the amount of energy that the unit uses to cool an area. Abt offers a wide range of energy STAR model that are rated to save you money on your energy costs.
These units are great for smaller homes where ductwork would be expensive or impractical to install. These units are ideal for rooms that only need to be cooled on occasion and are not used regularly. A good example of this would be an office which is only used by the owner and does not need to be kept cool all the time.
It does not come without shortcomings. The most significant disadvantage is that it can’t effectively cool the entire home efficiently. The cooled air is dispersed in a circular pattern from the unit, cooling the room closest to it first, and then spreading outwards. This leads to a much less uniform temperature throughout the house as is the case using central AC system.
A wall air conditioner should also be maintained to perform at its best. A properly maintained unit can last 10 years or more. You can prolong the life of your air conditioner by scheduling regular maintenance prior to summer. A professional can inspect the unit, replace the air filter, clean the evaporator coils, and check the refrigerant levels.
Split systems
Split system units are just one of the many kinds of HVAC systems available for home installation. These systems divide the system into outdoor and indoor units, unlike packaged units and window air conditioners that contain the entire HVAC unit in one box. The indoor and outdoor units can be connected using refrigerant pipes and control wiring.
This system is ideal to cool large areas of the home. The indoor air handlers are able to be wall-mounted in rooms with no ceiling space. The indoor air handlers pull air out of the room and cool the air before returning it to the room. The refrigerant inside the air handlers transforms from a liquid to a gas which cools the evaporator coil as well as the room.
The ductless mini split is a popular alternative to central split systems since it doesn’t need the use of ductwork. This system lets you connect multiple air handlers to your home and allows you to regulate each room’s temperature separately. This is ideal for homes that recently been renovated or that are unable to accommodate ductwork. It also can help you save money on costs for contractors and energy bills.
Mini-splits with ductless technology have grown in popularity due to their high efficiency and ductless design which eliminates air leaks which can increase energy costs. These systems can be connected with smart thermostats, which allow you to set and maintain certain temperatures throughout your home.
A ducted system can be coupled with a gas heater. This lets you warm your home in the winter and cool it during summer, which can reduce the overall energy consumption.
The biggest drawback of a ducted system is the cost associated with installation and required maintenance. The ductwork could be damaged over time and cause costly repairs. The ducts may also become blocked, which could lead to decreased performance. A ducted system requires more maintenance than split systems. It is recommended to speak with a professional installer if you are thinking about a split system.
Mini-splits
Mini splits are comprised of an outdoor compressor unit as well as an indoor air handling unit. The units are linked by refrigerant pipes. The unit pumps cooled air into your home, and the evaporator coil heats it to warm the space. The heated air is transported back to the outdoor unit, where the heat energy is released to the surrounding environment.
Unlike window and through-the-wall units, which rely on fossil fuels and pollute the earth mini-split systems make use of electricity to circulate conditioned air. They use less energy than central HVAC systems and therefore help you reduce your utility bills. Additionally, many models have high SEER ratings that exceed federal standards. Gree’s line of mini-splits, for example, have SEER ratings up to 25.
These versatile HVAC solutions can also be used to heat rooms during winter. A professional can suggest the right model sized for your house and integrates into your existing ductwork.
The quantity of indoor air handlers within the system determines its heat-generating capacity, and this can be different between single-zone and multi-zone systems. Each indoor air handler has an evaporator, a fan and an air-filter which can be set for either warm or cool air. You can switch the temperature with an electronic remote control.
Since they’re ductless, these systems can be placed in rooms that cannot be adequately cooled using a central HVAC system or for rooms that have limited ducting, such as attics and basements. A zoned mini-split system can conserve energy too since it doesn’t have to send conditioned air to rooms that aren’t in use.
In addition to offering better air quality A ductless mini-split system can help improve the quality of indoor air by removing any contaminants that could be trapped in your home’s ducts. These systems are also environmentally safe and quiet, since they don’t emit odors or burn fossil fuels. When properly maintained they require very little maintenance. Indoor units can last for up to 20 years. However it is essential to check them regularly for dirt and dust.