Types of Air Conditioners
Did you ever wonder why they're called air 'conditioners'? Shouldn't they be called air coolers, or air chillers, or maybe even air cooler downers? Okay, that one sounds pretty bad, but you get the point. After all, they do cool down the air, right? Nope! The fact is that air conditioners don't add coolness to the room; they actually draw heat out of it. Then, when the heat is pulled out of the room, the air conditioner ... you guessed it ... conditions the air that's left in the room. Sure beats those old fans, doesn't it?! You know the type. Your grandparents probably had one of those fans that moved back and forth, and you were only cool when the darn thing passed by you. How dreadful!
Yes, it's the job of your air conditioner to distribute that air as evenly as possible, making the entire room nice and cool. But that's not all it does. Your air conditioner even cleanses the air, making it more healthy. Isn't that nice of it?! And, now that you know a little about air conditioners and what they do, let's take a look at the different types, so you can choose which one is best for you and your home.
Window units
Window units are among the most common and popular type of air conditioner. Window air conditioners are typically used in apartments and in homes where people want to cool only one or two rooms at a time. Studio apartments are also an ideal place to install window air conditioning units because they're small and typically contain only one room. Window air conditioners are self-contained housing units that have all the parts located in a single box-type structure. The hot air is sucked out of the end that goes out the window, and then the cool air is blown back into the part of the unit that fits into the room. These are typically heavy, but they can usually be easily placed into windows by one or two people.
Central units
Once used mostly in large buildings such as factories and theaters, central air conditioning units have become popular for buildings and homes of all sizes. Central air conditioners are considered more of a home cooling system because they include several large pieces. A large condensing unit goes on the outside the house, and then an evaporative unit is placed in the furnace in order to use the home's existing ductwork. These two units are then connected by refrigerant tubing. Central air systems come in many sizes, to fit in small homes to larger homes and large buildings. These units are much more difficult to install, and they should be installed by professionals who are licensed and know what they're doing, especially since central air conditioners must be connected to your home's ductwork. Depending on the size of your home, a central air conditioning system can save you money on your home cooling bills.
Portable units
Portable air conditioners are neat gadgets that have wheels and can be moved from one room to another, depending on where the cool needs to be. Portable units don't have to be installed in a window or connected to your home's ductwork. Portable units can be noisy, however. Additionally, they create water that needs to be disposed of somehow, or it can flow back into the room and cause water damage.
Wall units
Wall air conditioners are a lot like window air conditioners. They are self-contained units that house all of the components in a box. Additionally, they are good for cooling single rooms or even smaller apartments. However, unlike window units, wall units are installed directly into a wall. They use a sleeve for installation that is capable of holding the weight of the unit. Because they're installed in the wall, they're great for rooms whose windows can't hold an air conditioner. They are also ideal for people who don't want to block the view of a window with a window air conditioner.
Now you know the difference between the various types of air conditioners. And if you've spent just one steamy, humid summer in Summit, you know just how important an air conditioner can be to the cool comfort of you and your family!
Yes, it's the job of your air conditioner to distribute that air as evenly as possible, making the entire room nice and cool. But that's not all it does. Your air conditioner even cleanses the air, making it more healthy. Isn't that nice of it?! And, now that you know a little about air conditioners and what they do, let's take a look at the different types, so you can choose which one is best for you and your home.
Window units
Window units are among the most common and popular type of air conditioner. Window air conditioners are typically used in apartments and in homes where people want to cool only one or two rooms at a time. Studio apartments are also an ideal place to install window air conditioning units because they're small and typically contain only one room. Window air conditioners are self-contained housing units that have all the parts located in a single box-type structure. The hot air is sucked out of the end that goes out the window, and then the cool air is blown back into the part of the unit that fits into the room. These are typically heavy, but they can usually be easily placed into windows by one or two people.
Central units
Once used mostly in large buildings such as factories and theaters, central air conditioning units have become popular for buildings and homes of all sizes. Central air conditioners are considered more of a home cooling system because they include several large pieces. A large condensing unit goes on the outside the house, and then an evaporative unit is placed in the furnace in order to use the home's existing ductwork. These two units are then connected by refrigerant tubing. Central air systems come in many sizes, to fit in small homes to larger homes and large buildings. These units are much more difficult to install, and they should be installed by professionals who are licensed and know what they're doing, especially since central air conditioners must be connected to your home's ductwork. Depending on the size of your home, a central air conditioning system can save you money on your home cooling bills.
Portable units
Portable air conditioners are neat gadgets that have wheels and can be moved from one room to another, depending on where the cool needs to be. Portable units don't have to be installed in a window or connected to your home's ductwork. Portable units can be noisy, however. Additionally, they create water that needs to be disposed of somehow, or it can flow back into the room and cause water damage.
Wall units
Wall air conditioners are a lot like window air conditioners. They are self-contained units that house all of the components in a box. Additionally, they are good for cooling single rooms or even smaller apartments. However, unlike window units, wall units are installed directly into a wall. They use a sleeve for installation that is capable of holding the weight of the unit. Because they're installed in the wall, they're great for rooms whose windows can't hold an air conditioner. They are also ideal for people who don't want to block the view of a window with a window air conditioner.
Now you know the difference between the various types of air conditioners. And if you've spent just one steamy, humid summer in Summit, you know just how important an air conditioner can be to the cool comfort of you and your family!