That time of the year when the heatwave hits are here again; everywhere you go, you hear people talk about the harsh weather and how the air conditioner is their saving grace. Summer and winter are harsh weathers that most people prepare for, even though people detest summer more because heat makes the body uncomfortable with water loss.
Choosing the best air conditioner to tackle harsh weather should not be based on how heavy or light your pocket is, but rather factors like energy consumption should be considered as well. The amount of energy your air conditioning system uses is measured in BTUs, and to determine that, you need to know how much space you are trying to cool.
Let’s get into the perfect type of air conditioner for you and why you should opt for it.
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Types of Air Conditioners
Central Air Conditioner
This is strictly for those with massive rooms wanting to cool them simultaneously without buying more than one AC unit. The central air conditioner uses a split system that regulates air in all rooms simultaneously through the air ducts passed into the rooms.
The central air conditioner consists of two units; the outdoor unit consists of a condenser and compressor, while the indoor units consist of an air handler and an evaporating coil. The central air conditioner also uses a refrigerant that helps remove heat in the house and replace it with cool air for summer.
Just like the summer is harsh, winter also requires you to heat your home to stay cool and here, the central air conditioner comes in handy also just like HVAC supplies, you can utilize modern HVAC technology with a programmable thermostat to enjoy a smart home.
Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioner
For better efficiency and less air ducts in the house, you can opt for mini-split air conditioners. Also, if you want specific rooms to experience the cooling and heating, then you should consider the mini-split AC because it comes with outdoor units like a condenser and a compressor with indoor units installed on the wall and contains air blowers.
The mini-split outdoor and indoor units are connected through the tubing, which allows the refrigerant to circulate.
Window Air Conditioner
Popularly known as the champion of cooling small spaces, window air conditioners are the most common type of air conditioners you would see in most homes. They are usually used to cool a particular space, for instance, the sitting room or bedroom only.
A window air conditioner is a single unit, and all of its units are placed inside just that it injects heat out of the house through its outdoor side because it is usually placed by the window.
Portable Air Conditioner
The portable air conditioner is similar to a window air conditioner just that it can be moved from one room to another in the house, provided you can create a space to plug it and where to pass it ducts to release heat.
The portable air conditioner can come with a single hose that takes in air from the house and expels it, or it can come with a dual hose that helps it collect air outdoors from one hose and expelled through the second hose.
Floor Mounted Air Conditioner
The floor-mounted air conditioner is perfect for homes made with glass since there wouldn’t be space to hang the indoor unit on the wall. The outdoor unit can also be installed without ductwork; the indoor unit should be placed a few inches above the ground level and connected to the outdoor unit through a small hole to pass in the refrigerant.
The floor-mounted air conditioner is ideal for all homes as it allows even distribution of cool air into the home since it is placed at a strategic level.
Smart Air Conditioner
Smart air conditioners are ACs that are IoT enabled; they are connected through WiFi and come with a ready-made application for controlling. Think of smart air conditioners as HVAC supplies; they work like a programmable thermostat and come at a decent price compared to other smart air conditioners.
Geothermal Air Conditioner
This might seem like magic to non-science students, but for easy remembrance, the temperature of air under 4 to 6 feet of land remains constant throughout the year irrespective of the weather; this is utilized to cool the home through the help of pipes that are passed underground.
The pipes help circulate water between the home, a heat pump, and the ground. The setup is quite strenuous and expensive, so it is rare to find.
Hybrid/Dual Fuel Air Conditioner
This type of air conditioner combines a gas furnace with an electric air-source heat pump to deliver efficient performance in terms of heating and cooling. During summer, the hybrid air conditioner expels hot air from home, and during winter, the hybrid expels cool air from home.
Conclusion
For many, budget is the main driving force behind buying an air conditioner, but for seamless enjoyment, it is advised that other factors like energy consumption, number of rooms to cool, cost of maintenance, and space requirements should be considered.
Conclusively, central air conditioners are your go-to air conditioner because they have more cooling power, and they are quite easy to maintain and affordable when compared to geothermal air conditioners.