Heating and cooling your home is not just a convenience. It is necessary for the health and well-being of you and your family.
Before you invest in air handling equipment you should learn about the types of air conditioners available. A small mistake in selecting equipment could cost you big money and headaches down the road.
Read this article to learn about the most common types of air conditioners and their strengths and weaknesses.
Central Air Conditioners
The central air conditioner uses supply and return ducts to move conditioned air through the building. This is the most popular type of air conditioning in the United States.
With central air conditioning, you will see vents in the ceiling or floor of each room. The ducts connect to these vents to circulate air through the room. Transporting the air through ducts allows the heating and cooling unit to be centrally located, making it very efficient.
Central systems need a great deal of planning before ac installation. A professional should be consulted to determine the proper size and location of ducts and vents. Also, the size of the air handling unit will need to be calculated.
The advantage of central air conditioners is that they can heat and cool large areas and multiple rooms. They require a larger investment but will save you money over time through lower maintenance costs and better power efficiency.
Ductless Air Conditioners
Ductless air conditioners are available as mini-split systems, window units, or portable units. These systems distribute air locally without the use of ducts. This makes them ideal for smaller areas or areas where installing ducts is not practical.
Mini-split systems make use of an outdoor compressor attached to indoor evaporator units by refrigerant lines. A separate evaporator unit is installed in each room that needs air conditioning. Although this system does not need ducts, small diameter refrigerant lines must be run from each room to the outdoor condenser.
Window units are self-contained air handling units that exchange indoor and outdoor air directly. For this reason, they must be installed in a wall opening or window. This makes them more obtrusive than other types of air conditioning. Yet, their low cost and ease of installation make them popular for conditioning air in small spaces.
Portable units are like window units in the sense that they are self-contained. But, they can be free-standing and only need a small opening to allow the exchange of outside air. Portable units are ideal for temporary air handling needs as they are easy to move around. They can also be used in rooms where there is not an adequate wall opening for a window unit.
Geothermal Heat Pumps
Geothermal heat pumps use the earth’s stable temperature to exchange heat outside the building. They do this by pumping the refrigerant to a below-ground heat exchanger. This makes them less costly to operate and maintain than conventional air conditioners. However, they do have a higher initial installation cost.
Best Types of Air Conditioners
It’s hard to say which are the best air conditioners. This is because the best air conditioner must fit your specific situation and needs. Now that you have an idea of the types of air conditioners available it’s time to consult a professional.
The professionals at Bowersox Air Conditioning & Heating can help you make the best choice for your heating and cooling needs. We serve North Port, Wellen Park, Venice, West Villages, Nokomis, and Sarasota area residents.
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Contact us today to get a recommendation on the best type of air conditioner for your application and a free quote.
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