Picking the Right Air Conditioner Unit For House
If your home’s cooling system is approaching the end of its life or your current energy bills are high, you may want to consider getting an entirely new AC unit. But how do you select the right one?
The size of an air conditioner is determined by the number of BTUs it is able to remove per hour from the air. This is the first thing to look at.
Window units
Installing window air conditioners into an existing home without ducts is straightforward. The unit can be fitted into a window frame or opening in a wall and plugs into a standard electrical outlet. It is typically able to cool a single room, and comes with several temperature and fan settings. The unit also has a drainage line that redirects any excess water to a drip pan or outside. It is important to make sure that the evaporator coil in your window AC is in good condition to obtain good heat transfer. The evaporator coil will remain clean by regularly washing and clean the air filter.
Window units consume between 500 and 1,400 watts to cool your home. This is significantly lower than central air units that consume up to 3,500 watts in order to operate.
Another advantage of a window air conditioner is the ability to move from room to room as required. This is especially useful in homes that have little storage space. These units are easy to use and do not require professional installation or maintenance. However, they tend to wear out quickly and could be costly to replace. They are also not as energy-efficient as a ductless system and you’ll need to pay for HVAC maintenance in Gainesville.
The next type of air conditioner is a wall mounted unit. They are easy to install and move around the room. They are more energy-efficient than window units and are slightly quieter. However, they do not fit well into every home. You might need to determine if the wall material is compatible.
If you are seeking a more efficient air conditioning unit, you should look into a Mitsubishi mini-split. They are not just more efficient than traditional ductless units but can also be used as heating units in the winter. This will allow you to get the most out of your air conditioning system in Florida and also reduce your heating costs.
Wall units
Consider installing an indoor unit if require a more durable cooling option than windows air conditioning systems. They function like a central AC system but are more energy efficient because they focus on one area at a time. These units are equipped with internal thermometers which stop the unit when the room reaches the temperature desired. This saves energy. These models are less intrusive than central air systems, because they do not require vents or ducts to be added in your home.
When shopping for a through-the-wall unit, make sure you choose one that has the right BTU level to suit your space. BTU is an abbreviation that stands for British Thermal Unit. It is the amount of energy that the unit uses to cool a room. Abt offers a variety of ENERGY STAR certified products that can save you money on your energy bills.
These units are ideal for smaller homes, where ductwork is either too expensive or difficult to install. These units are perfect for rooms that only need to be cooled periodically and aren’t used frequently. A great example would be an office that is used only by the owner and does not require to be kept cool all the time.
A wall-mounted air conditioner can be extremely economical in these instances however, it does have its own drawbacks. The biggest drawback is that it does not effectively cool the entire home effectively. The cooled air is distributed in a circular fashion 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 with central AC system.
A wall air conditioner must be maintained in order to function at its best. A well-maintained unit can last 10 years or more. You can prolong the life of your air conditioner by scheduling regular maintenance before summer. A professional can check the unit, replace the air filter, clean the evaporator coils, and examine the refrigerant levels.
Split systems
Split system units are just one of the many types of HVAC systems available for installation at home. These systems divide the HVAC system into indoor units and outdoor units. This is different from packaged units and window AC units that contain the entire HVAC unit in one package. The indoor and outdoor units can be connected using refrigerant pipes as well as control wiring.
This system is perfect for cooling large areas of your home. The indoor air handlers are able to be mounted on walls in rooms with no ceiling space. The indoor air handlers draw air from the room and cool it before returning it to the room. The refrigerant in the air handlers is transformed from a liquid into a gas that cools the evaporator and the surrounding area.
An alternative to a central split system is the ductless mini-split which does not require ductwork. This system allows you to connect multiple air handlers in your home and manage the temperature of each space separately. This is ideal for homes that recently been renovated or that are unable to accommodate ductwork. It also can save you money on contractor costs and energy bills.
Due to their efficiency, mini-splits made of ductless are becoming more popular. This is because they can eliminate air leaks that can lead to higher energy costs. These systems can be paired with a smart thermometer allowing you set and maintain a set temperature throughout your home.
A ducted system can be paired with gas heaters. This allows you to warm your home during the winter as well as cool it in the summer, reducing the overall energy consumption.
The main disadvantage to a ducted system are the expenses associated with installation and maintenance. The ductwork may become damaged over the years, leading to expensive repairs. The ducts may also be blocked, which can lead to an improvement in performance. In addition the ducting system requires more maintenance than a split system. It is recommended to speak with a professional installer if you are thinking about a split system.
Mini-splits
Mini splits consist of an outdoor compressor unit as well as an indoor air handling unit. They are connected via refrigerant lines. The unit pumps cool indoor air into your home. The evaporator coil heats the air to warm the room. The heated air is pulled back into the outdoor unit, where the thermal energy is released into the environment.
Mini-splits use electricity to pump heated indoor air, which is not the case with window and through-the wall units that rely on fossil fuels. They use less energy than central HVAC systems and can therefore aid in reducing your utility costs. Many models also have SEER ratings above federal requirements. Gree’s mini-splits for instance, have SEER ratings up to 25.
These flexible HVAC solutions can also be used to heat spaces in winter. A professional can recommend an option that is built for your home and that integrates into your existing ductwork.
The quantity of indoor air handlers within a system determines its heat-generating capacity, and this may be different between single-zone and multi-zone systems. Each of the indoor air handlers comes with a blower fan and an evaporator coil and an air filter which can be set to warm or cool air. You can switch the temperature with an electronic remote control.
Since they’re ductless, these systems can be placed within rooms that aren’t adequately cooled by central HVAC systems, or for spaces that have limited ducting, such as attics and basements. A zoned mini split system can also help save energy since it doesn’t require sending the conditioned air to rooms that aren’t being utilized.
A mini split ductless system is not just more effective in controlling the temperature inside your home, but it can also improve the quality of air inside by removing any contaminants that could be trapped in the ducts. Furthermore, these systems do not emit unpleasant smells or depend on fossil fuels to run which makes them environmentally friendly and quiet. They require little maintenance when properly maintained. Indoor units can last for up to 20 years before needing to be replaced, although it is crucial to check for dirt and debris on a regular basis.