Picking the Right Air Conditioner Unit For House
If your home’s air conditioning system is coming to the end of its lifespan or your current energy bills are excessive, you might be thinking about purchasing an upgrade to your AC unit. How do you choose the right one?
Air conditioners are measured by how many BTUs they can remove from the air per hour. This is the first thing you should look at.
Window units
Window air conditioners are easy to install in homes without ducts. The unit plugs into an electrical outlet, and then fits into the window frame or openings in the wall. It is typically capable of cooling only one room, and comes with several temperatures and fan settings. It also has a drain line that will drain excess water into a drip pan or directly outside the home. To ensure that the heat is transferred properly, it is important that the evaporator of your window AC is clean. Regular washing and cleaning of the air filter can aid in keeping the evaporator coil clean.
A window unit consumes between 500 to 1,400 watts electricity when it is cooling your home. This is considerably less than central air units that require more than 3,500 watts to run.
Another benefit of window air conditioner is the ease to move from room to another as needed. This is especially beneficial in homes with limited storage space. These units are simple to use and don’t require professional installation or maintenance. They are prone to wear out quickly and are costly to replace. You will also need to pay HVAC maintenance in Gainesville. They are not as energy efficient as a ductless unit.
The next type of air conditioner is a wall-mounted unit. They are also easy to install and move from room to room as needed. They are more energy-efficient than window units and are also slightly quieter. However, they will not suit every house. You might need to determine whether the wall material is compatible.
If you are seeking a more efficient air conditioning unit, you should think about a Mitsubishi mini-split. They are not just more efficient than traditional ductless systems but they also be used as heating units during winter. This will allow you to make the most of your air conditioning system in Florida and also save money on heating bills.
Wall units
Consider installing an indoor unit if require a more durable cooling solution than windows air conditioning systems. These units are similar to central AC systems but are more energy efficient since they only cool one room at a time. They are equipped with internal thermometers that stop the unit when the room is at a certain temperature, thereby saving energy. These models are also less invasive than central air systems as they don’t require the addition of vents or ducts in your home’s walls.
When you are looking for a through-the-wall unit, you should look for a model that has the right BTU level that is appropriate for your space. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit and it is a measure of how much energy is used by the unit to cool your space. Abt offers a wide range of energy STAR rated models that will reduce your energy costs.
These units are perfect for smaller homes where ductwork might be expensive or impractical to install. They are also a great option for rooms that are only used on occasion and do not need to be cooled regularly. An excellent example is an office that is only used by the owner and does not require to be kept cool all the time.
A wall-mounted air conditioner is extremely cost-effective in these instances, but it does have its disadvantages. The most significant disadvantage is that it can’t cool the entire house efficiently. The air is distributed in a circular fashion, starting with the room nearest the unit, and then moving to further. This results in a less uniform temperature throughout the house than is possible using central AC system.
Furthermore, a wall air conditioning unit needs to be maintained in order to function at its best. A well-maintained unit can last for 10 years or more. You can extend the longevity of your air conditioning unit by making sure it is maintained regularly before summer arrives. A professional can examine the unit and replace the air filter. They can also clean the evaporator coil and check the refrigerant level.
Split systems
There are many types of HVAC systems that can be put in in homes, including split system units. They separate the unit into indoor and outdoor units, in contrast to packaged units and window air conditioners that contain the entire HVAC unit in one package. The outdoor and indoor units can be connected using refrigerant pipes as well as control wiring.
This system is ideal for cooling large areas of your home. The indoor air handlers are wall-mounted and can be placed in rooms where ceiling space is not available. The indoor air handlers draw in air from the room via an evaporator coil, which cools the air before returning it back to the room. The refrigerant contained in the air handlers transforms from a liquid into gas that cools the evaporator as well as the room.
A popular alternative to central split systems is the ductless mini-split that does not require the use of ductwork. This system lets you connect multiple air handlers throughout your home, allowing you to control each room’s temperature separately. It is ideal for additions to your home or for homes that are unable to accommodate ductwork, since it will save you money on the cost of energy and contractors.
Due to their efficiency, mini-splits made of ductless are becoming more well-known. This is because they are able to eliminate air leaks, which can raise energy costs. These systems can be connected with a smart thermostat, allowing you to set and maintain specific temperatures throughout your home.
Another benefit of a duplex system is the capability to connect it to gas furnaces. This lets you heat your home in the winter and cool it in the summer, which can reduce the overall energy consumption.
The main disadvantage to a ducted system are the expenses for installation and maintenance. In addition to the initial expense, ductwork can become damaged over time, resulting in costly repairs. The ducts can also become blocked, leading to a reduction in performance. Additionally, a ducted system will require more maintenance than split systems. It is best to consult a professional installer if you are considering a split system.
Mini-splits
Mini splits are comprised of an outdoor compressor unit as well as an indoor air handling unit. They are connected via refrigerant lines. The unit pumps cool air into your home, and the evaporator coil heats it to warm the room. The heated air is then returned to the outdoor unit, from where the heat energy is released into the surrounding environment.
Contrary to through-the-wall and window units, which rely on fossil fuels and pollute the environment mini-split systems make use of electrical power to pump conditioned air. They also consume less energy than traditional centralized HVAC systems, which is why they can cut your utility costs. Additionally, many models have high SEER ratings that are higher than federal standards. Gree’s mini-splits have SEER ratings as high as 25.
Although most homeowners use ductless AC as a supplemental cooling system, these versatile HVAC systems can also be used to heat spaces in winter. A professional can suggest an option that is sized for your house and can be integrated into existing ductwork.
The number of indoor handlers determines the heat-generating capacity of a system. This can differ between multi-zone and single-zone systems. Each indoor air handler comes with a blower, an evaporator and an air-filter that can be set to either cool or warm air. You can switch the temperature by using an electronic remote control.
These systems are ductless and can be installed in areas that cannot be adequately cooled by a central HVAC system or spaces with little ducting, like attics or basements. A mini split zoned system can also conserve energy, as it doesn’t have to send air conditioning to rooms that aren’t being utilized.
In addition to providing better air quality A ductless mini-split system can also improve indoor air quality by eliminating contaminants that might be trapped in the ducts of your home. Furthermore, these systems do not emit unpleasant smells or depend on fossil fuels to run, so they are green and quiet. If they are properly maintained they require minimal maintenance. Indoor units can last for up to 20 years before needing to be replaced, although it is essential to examine for dirt and debris regularly.