Hot summer months call for the use of an effective air conditioner. However, before buying an AC, you need to know about the different types that exist and how each of them operates. There are six major types of air conditioners to choose from.
Portable Air Conditioners
These are free-standing, easy-to-move models that cool by pulling the air. The unit vents any warm air outside by means of an exhaust hose that is installed in a window. The main benefit is that you can move them into different rooms and they’re particularly affordable.
Window Air Conditioners
This is the most common used AC for single rooms. All the different parts of the equipment such as the compressor, condenser, expansion valve or coil are enclosed inside a single box. This unit is fitted in a slot made in the wall of a room.
Central Air Conditioners
This is the most common type of cooling system as it is mainly used for larger homes. The central air conditioner circulates air through supply and return ducts. These ducts are commonly installed in the walls or floors. Installing a central air conditioner requires more planning and preparation as the sizing is crucial.
Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioners
These type of air conditioners are quiet, unobtrusive and used for homes and offices. However, unlike portable air conditioners, these ones cannot be moved around to other rooms. Ductless Mini-Split AC, as the name suggests, do not require ducting like central air conditioners. They basically have two parts: a large condenser unit and one or more compact wall-mountable blower units that are placed inside the space.
Packaged Air Conditioners
This one is the best if you want to cool more than one room. There are two possible arrangements with the package unit. The first one, all the components are housed in a single box. The cooled air is thrown by the blower and through ducts laid in many rooms. The second arrangement consists of the compressor and condenser housed in one casing. The other components are then located in other rooms.
Hybrid Air Conditioners
In the summer, your heat pump works normally, pulling the heat from your home and distributing it outdoors. In the winter, the pump reverses this action and the cool air gets transferred inside your home.
These are the various types of air conditioners and how each one differs. Click here for more information on AC.
