4 Basic Types of Air Conditioning Systems
The different types of air conditioning systems out there might have you thoroughly confused. What’s the difference between a central AC and a window AC? And what makes an AC portable or not? As you make the decision about which type of AC you’re going to buy, you should be sure to know exactly what differentiates one system from another.
Because having the right air conditioning system for your home is going to be the difference between enjoying a nice, cool summer and sweating away in the heat of the hottest summer day. Whether you’re looking for central air conditioning or any other type of AC, keep reading to educate yourself on the various types of air conditioning systems out there.
- Window Air Conditioner
First up, we have the window air conditioner. This type of AC is one of the most common for individual rooms. This one is pretty simple because all of the various air conditioning units all fit in one small box. As you can tell from the name, the window air conditioner will fit into the slit on the bottom half of your window.
It works by taking the air from outside and blowing cool air into your room, while dispelling the heat on the other end. It’s perfect if you just need to cool down one room in your house.
- Split or Ductless Air Conditioner
Right, so this type of AC is also pretty simple to understand because of its name. The split (or ductless) air conditioner is literally split into one inside unit and one outside unit. The indoor unit has the evaporator and cooling fan. The outer unit has the compressor, expansion valve, and condenser. These split conditioners are different from window ACs because they generally don’t take up as much as space in your window slot.
This is great if you don’t have enough space in your room to dedicate to a huge air conditioning unit.
- Portable Air Conditioner
A portable air conditioner is one of the least common systems for most people. This type of AC sits in the corner of your room and cools the room through an external house leading outside. A portable AC is going to much noisier than the other units, so it’s probably not going to be your first choice. However, it can cool even the most stubborn hot rooms during the worst of summer.
- Central Air Conditioner
Alright, so here we are at the central air conditioner. This option is best for larger houses and spaces that require a lot of power to cool down in the summer. This is the most practical choice because you don’t want to have to place individual units in every room – this is going to get much more expensive and frustrating.
A central air conditioning system uses a large compressor to get the job done. The condensing unit can be found outside the building. Everything will be unified under one system. However, it should be noted that a central air conditioning system is going to be quite a bit more expensive than one or two units in a couple of rooms. That’s why you should determine what kind of AC you need first before making an investment in a system this intensive.
You want to make sure you get the right kind of AC for your home or building. If you get the wrong system, you could find yourself not having enough cool air pumped into your home or too much. And in the heat of summer, you definitely want to be comfortable, so make sure you’re properly educated before heading out to the AC store.
