In the middle of a hot summer, people all over this region want effective cooling. There are many types of air conditioners, and each one has its benefits. Here’s how to tell them apart.
Window Air Conditioner
Some AC units are meant to run all-in-one. This means that you just plug in and place one piece of equipment, and it provides all the cooling for you. A window AC system works a lot like your refrigerator. It uses refrigerant to remove heat from the air and then blow the heat out of the space. You install it in the window, and then take it down at the end of the season. A window air conditioner is generally considered one of the least expensive types of air conditioning to install but the most expensive to operate.
Portable AC
Like a window AC, portable air conditioning is built to cool one space at a time. You set it up in a designated location, plug it in and turn it on for cooling. The most obvious difference between a portable AC and a window air conditioner is portability. Window AC has to be installed at the window, while a portable model offers some flexibility in where you put it in the room. It does need a place to expel the heat, or you will be wasting the effort of removing the heat in the first place. This might be a window, fireplace, or another vent in an exterior wall.
Ductless Mini-Splits
Some people want central air but can’t have it because they don’t have room for ductwork. They have an option for complete cooling with one system by using ductless mini-splits. With this kind of air conditioner, there is still one exterior unit that gets rid of the heat. That unit is connected to a series of smaller interior units, as many as one in every room. The exterior equipment sends refrigerant to all units in the house to remove heat. Each one has an air handler to ventilate and circulate the cooler air. Ductless mini-splits are a good option both for older homes and new constructions, basements and attics, garages, workshops, in-law suites, rooms without proper airflow/ductwork or mobile homes. They run quietly, but provide enough power to cool or heat a good-sized room and keep it comfortable.
Central AC
The accepted standard in air conditioning is central. Centralized air conditioning uses one system to remove heat and humidity from the entire home. Central AC typically relies on an exterior unit to dissipate the heat outdoors, and interior components that draw heat out of the home. Many central air conditioners use a furnace’s blower to force the cooler air through the ductwork. Central is usually more expensive than a single window AC or ductless mini-split. However, the ability to maintain the entire home from one set of controls offers a consistency of comfort that many homeowners find hard to beat.
Getting the best cooling for your home depends on the type of home you have and your budget. To talk to an expert about an air conditioner that will meet your needs, contact us at Evolved Mechanical today!