Picking the Right Air Conditioner Unit For House
If your air conditioner is nearing the end of its cycle or if your energy bills are soaring, it could be time to get an entirely new AC system. How do you pick the best one?
The size of an air conditioner is determined by the amount of BTUs it can remove per hour from the air. This is the first thing you should look at.
Window units
Window air conditioners are easy to install in homes that do not have ducts. The unit simply fits into a window frame or opening in a wall, and plugs into a standard electrical outlet. It can cool a room and generally has several temperature and fan settings. The unit also has an drainage line that will direct any excess water to a drip pan, or outside. It is crucial to ensure that the evaporator coil in your window AC is clean in order to ensure proper heat transfer. The evaporator coil is clean when you regularly wash and clean the air filter.
Window units consume between 500-1400 watts of electricity when it is cooling your home. This is a lot lower than central air conditioning systems, which can use up to 3,500 watts.
A window air conditioner has the benefit of being easy to move from room to room. This is especially beneficial in homes with limited storage space. These units are easy to use and don’t require professional installation or maintenance. They are prone to wear out quickly and are costly to replace. You’ll also have to pay HVAC maintenance in Gainesville. They aren’t as efficient as a ductless unit.
The second type of air conditioner is a wall mounted unit. These are also easy to install and move from room to room when necessary. They are more energy-efficient than window units and are a bit quieter. They are not a good fit for every home. They may not work with all wall materials, and you’ll need ensure that the walls can withstand the weight of the unit.
If you are looking for a more energy-efficient air conditioning unit, consider a Mitsubishi mini-split. They are not only more efficient than traditional ductless systems however, they also function as heating units in winter months. This will let you to get the most out of your air conditioning system in Florida and also reduce your heating costs.
Wall units
If you are seeking a longer-lasting method of cooling the room, rather than using window air conditioners, consider installing an air conditioner on the wall. They are similar to central AC systems but are more energy-efficient because they only cool one room at a time. They come with internal thermometers that stop the unit when the room reaches a specific temperature, saving energy. They are less intrusive than central air systems as they do not require ducts or vents to be installed in your home.
If you are looking for a through the wall unit, choose one that has a BTU rating that is appropriate for your space. BTU is an abbreviation for British Thermal Unit. It determines how much energy the unit uses to cool an area. Abt provides a wide range of energy STAR rated products that will save you money on your energy bills.
These units are ideal for smaller homes where ductwork might cost a lot or be difficult to set up. They are also an excellent choice for rooms that are used on occasion and don’t need to be regularly cooled. This is a great option for offices that are only occupied by the owner and doesn’t need to be kept cool at all times.
It has its shortcomings. The most significant disadvantage is that it doesn’t allow the whole house to be cooled efficiently. The cooled air is distributed in a circular fashion from the unit, cooling the area closest to it first, and then moving outwards. This results in a less uniform temperature throughout the home than a central AC system.
In addition, a wall-mounted air conditioning unit needs to be maintained in order to function at its highest level. A properly maintained unit can last 10 years or more. You can extend the lifespan of your air conditioner by scheduling regular maintenance prior to summer. A professional can examine the unit and replace the air filter. They can also clean the evaporator coiled and test the refrigerant levels.
Split systems
There are many kinds of HVAC systems that can be set up in homes and include split system units. They separate the unit into outdoor and indoor units, unlike packaged units and window air conditioners that contain the whole HVAC unit in one package. The indoor and outdoor units can be connected using refrigerant pipes as well as control wiring.
This system is ideal to cool large areas of the home. The indoor air handlers can be installed on walls in rooms that have no ceiling space. The indoor air handlers suck in air from the room via an evaporator coil. It cools the air before returning it back to the room. The refrigerant inside the air handlers transforms from a liquid into a gas which cools the evaporator and the room.
The mini split ductless is a popular alternative to central split systems, as it does not require ductwork. This system lets you connect multiple air handlers to your home which allows you to control each room’s temperature individually. It is ideal for new additions to your home or for homes that are unable to accommodate ductwork, since it can save on energy bills and contractor costs.
Mini-splits that are ductless have increased in popularity due to their efficiency and ductless design which eliminates air leaks which can increase the cost of energy. These systems can be connected with smart thermostats, which allow you to control and maintain specific temperatures throughout your home.
A ducted system can be coupled with a gas heater. This lets you cool your home in summer and heat it in winter, reducing the energy cost.
The main disadvantage to a ducted system is the costs for installation and maintenance. In addition to the initial cost, ductwork is susceptible to damage as time passes, leading to costly repairs. The ducts could also become blocked, leading to a decrease in performance. Additionally the ducting system requires more maintenance than a split system. It is recommended to consult a professional installer if you are thinking about a split system.
Mini-splits
Mini splits consist of an outdoor compressor unit and an indoor air handling unit. They are connected by refrigerant pipes. The unit pumps cooled indoor air into your home. The evaporator coil heats the air to warm up the room. The heated air then gets drawn back into the outdoor unit where the thermal energy is released to the environment.
Mini-splits utilize electricity to circulate controlled indoor air, in contrast to window and through-the wall units that make use of fossil fuels. They use less energy than centralized HVAC systems and therefore help you reduce your utility bills. Many models also have SEER ratings that are higher than the federal requirements. Gree’s mini-splits range, for example, have SEER ratings of up to 25.
These multi-functional HVAC systems can also be used to warm spaces during winter. A professional can suggest an option that is designed for your house and is compatible with your existing ductwork.
The number of indoor air handlers in a system determines its heat-generating capacity, and this may differ between multi-zone and single-zone systems. Each indoor air handler has an evaporator, a fan and an air-filter that can be set for either cool or warm air. You can alter the temperature using the remote control.
These systems are ductless and can be installed in areas that cannot be adequately cool by a central HVAC system or in areas with limited ducting, such as attics or basements. A mini split zoned system can also conserve energy, since it doesn’t need to send air conditioning to rooms that aren’t being used.
In addition to offering better control of the temperature A mini-split ductless system can help improve indoor air quality by eliminating contaminants that might be accumulating in the ducts of your home. Furthermore, these systems do not produce strange smells or rely on fossil fuels to run and are therefore green and quiet. If properly maintained they require minimal maintenance. Indoor units can last up to 20 years. However, it is important to check them regularly for dirt and dust.
