Picking the Right Air Conditioner Unit For House
If your air conditioner is nearing the end of its cycle or if your energy costs are high, it may be time to buy a new AC system. How do you pick the best one?
Air conditioners are sized according to the amount of BTUs they can remove from the air every hour. This is the first thing to examine.
Window units
Window air conditioners can be easily installed in homes without ducts. The unit simply fits into a window frame or opening in a wall and plugs into an electrical outlet. The unit is usually capable of cooling only one room, and offers various temperature and fan settings. It also has a drain line that directs excess water into a drip pan or directly outside the home. To ensure good heat transfer, it is important that the evaporator of your window AC is clean. The evaporator coil is clean when you regularly wash and clean the air filter.
Window units consume between 500 to 1,400 watts electricity when it is cooling your home. This is considerably less than central air systems that consume more than 3,500 watts to run.
Another benefit of window air conditioner is the ability to move from room to room as needed. This is especially useful in homes that have limited storage space. These units are easy to use and don’t require professional installation or maintenance. However, they do tend to wear out quickly and could be costly to replace. They are also not as energy-efficient as a ductless system, and you will still need to pay for HVAC maintenance in Gainesville.
The next type of air conditioning unit is a wall-mounted unit. These are also easy to install and move from room to room as necessary. They are more energy efficient than window units and are slightly quieter. However, they do not fit well into every home. They may not work with all wall materials, and you will need to make sure that the walls are able to support the weight of the unit.
If you’re seeking a more efficient air conditioning unit, think about a Mitsubishi mini-split. They’re not just more efficient than traditional ductless units, but can also be used as heating units in the winter. This will let you get the most from your air conditioning system in Florida and save money on heating bills.
Wall units
Consider installing an indoor unit if require a more durable cooling option than windows air conditioning systems. They are similar to central AC systems however they are more energy efficient since they only allow one room to be cooled at a given time. They come with internal thermometers that shut off the unit when the room reaches a certain temperature, which helps to save energy. These models are less disruptive than central air systems, because they do not require vents or ducts to be added in your home.
When you are looking for a through-the-wall unit, make sure you choose one with the correct BTU level to fit your space. BTU is an abbreviation for British Thermal Unit. It determines how much energy the unit uses to cool a space. Abt has a range of energy STAR certified products that can help you save money on your energy bills.
These units are great for smaller homes, where ductwork can be either too expensive or difficult to install. These units are perfect for rooms that only require to be cooled occasionally and aren’t used frequently. This would be a good option for an office that is only used by the owner and doesn’t need to be cooled at all times.
A wall-mounted air conditioner can be extremely cost-effective in these instances however, it does have its disadvantages. The most significant disadvantage is that it can’t cool the entire house efficiently. The cooled air is distributed in a circular pattern from the unit, cooling the room closest to it first, and then working outwards. This leads to a much less uniform temperature throughout the house than can be achieved using a central AC system.
Furthermore, a wall air conditioner must be maintained in order to function at its highest level. A properly maintained unit will last 10 years or more. You can help extend the life of your air conditioning unit by scheduling regular maintenance before the summer season arrives. A professional can check the unit and replace the air filter. They can also clean the evaporator coil and check the refrigerant level.
Split systems
Split system units are just one of the many types of HVAC systems available for installation at home. These systems separate the unit into outdoor and indoor units, in contrast to packaged units and window air conditioners which include the entire HVAC unit in one unit. The indoor and outdoor units are connected by refrigerant pipe and control wiring.
This system is perfect to cool large areas of your home. The indoor air handlers can be mounted to the wall and can be put in rooms that have no ceiling space available. The indoor air handlers pull in air from the room via an evaporator coil. It cools the air before returning it back to the room. The refrigerant contained in the air handlers changes form from liquid to gas that cools the evaporator and the room.
An alternative to a central split system is the ductless mini-split, which does not require ductwork. This system allows the connection of multiple air handlers in your home and control the temperature of each space separately. It is ideal for additions to your home or for homes that can’t accommodate ductwork, as it can help reduce the cost of energy and contractors.
Ductless mini-split systems have increased in popularity due to their high efficiency and ductless design, which eliminates air leaks that can increase the cost of energy. These systems can be paired up with a smart thermometer allowing you set and maintain specific temperature levels throughout your home.
A ducted system is paired with gas heaters. This allows you to cool your home in summer and heat it in the winter, which reduces the energy cost.
The primary drawback of a ducted system is the expense associated with the installation and the required maintenance. In addition to the initial expense, ductwork may become damaged as time passes, leading to costly repairs. The ducts can also be blocked, leading to lower performance. Additionally the ducting system requires more maintenance than a split system. It is recommended to consult an expert installer if are thinking about a split system.
Mini-splits
Mini splits are comprised of an outdoor compressor unit as well as an indoor air handling unit. The units are connected through refrigerant lines. The unit pumps cooled air into your home, and the Evaporator coil heats it up to warm the space. The heated air is returned to the outdoor unit, from where the heat energy is released to 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 electricity to circulate conditioned air. They also use less energy than traditional central HVAC systems and that’s why they can help cut your utility costs. In addition, a lot of models have high SEER ratings that exceed the federal standards. Gree’s mini-splits come with SEER ratings as high as 25.
Although most homeowners use ductless AC as a supplemental cooling system, these flexible HVAC systems are also capable of heating spaces in winter. A professional can suggest the best model for your home that can integrate with the existing ductwork.
The number of indoor handlers determines the heat-generating capacity of the system. This can vary between single-zone and multi-zone systems. Each indoor air handler is equipped with an evaporator, a fan and an air-filter that can be set to warm or cool air. You can alter the temperature by using an electronic remote control.
These systems are ductless and can be installed on areas that aren’t adequately cooling by central HVAC systems or spaces with limited ducting, such as basements or attics. A mini-split system that is zoned can save energy as well because it doesn’t need to send chilled air to rooms that aren’t in use.
In addition to offering better control of the temperature A mini-split ductless system can improve the quality of air in your home by removing contaminants that could be trapped in the ducts of your home. Furthermore, these systems do not produce strange smells or rely on fossil fuels for power, so they are environmentally friendly and quiet. If properly maintained they require minimal maintenance. Indoor units can last up to 20 years. However it is essential to check them on a regular basis for dirt and dust.