The air conditioner provides the homeowner with a way to beat the heat during the toasty months of summer. It helps make the indoor environment bearable and comfortable by sucking heat out and ensuring a continuous flow of cool air. Some air conditioning units are designed to regulate indoor humidity, whereas others come as a complete system for heating and cooling. Most importantly, air conditioning systems differ in terms of design, size, capacity, and method operation, among other factors.
In this piece, we shall explore a few options to consider when choosing the ideal AC system for your home.
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The Most Important Factors to Consider
When choosing an AC for your home, you want something that will keep your home comfortable without inconveniences or high costs on repair and energy bills. You also want something that will give you the best bang for your buck in quality and longevity. This is why you should put the following factors into consideration before heading to your purchase:
- Cooling capacity required (based on the space that needs cooling)
- Energy-efficiency
- Space requirements
- Ease of maintenance
- Your budget
Choosing the ideal air-con unit between the following common options becomes an easier task with these in mind.
1. Central AC System
Also referred to as a ducted system, a central AC system uses a channel of ducts to supply cool air throughout your home. It is often ideal for larger homes where cooling is needed in multiple rooms simultaneously. The best perk about this system is that it can cool your home in the least amount of time. It also provides even cooling while reducing humidity around the entire indoor space.
However, central air conditioning systems are known to consume a significant lot of energy. If the ductwork gets jammed or develops leaks, cooling efficiency and effectiveness are also reduced over time.
2. Mini-Split Ductless AC
This one is perhaps the most common air conditioning option amongst homeowners these days. As you can tell from the name, mini split ductless air conditioning systems contain minimal to no ductwork, making them easier and cheaper to install. They are ideal for homes with small to moderate spaces that need cooling. With a qualified contractor, the air conditioning system can be installed in as little as a day.
3. Portable Air Conditioner
If you need the flexibility of cooling a single room individually when you need to, the portable AC can be ideal. As you may have guessed, the portable air conditioner is compact and lightweight, so you can move it around in your home with ease. It is perfect for times when you want temporary cooling in your indoor space or part of your home while saving energy. The unit can have one or two hoses, with the latter having separate hoses for inlet and exhaust air. The main downside is that these units won’t hack it when you want to cool larger spaces for extended durations
4. Window Air Conditioner
A window AC can also be ideal if you need cooling for single rooms or smaller indoor spaces. As you can tell from the name, the unit is installed basically at the window. Anyone who understands how air conditioners work can easily tell that hot air is ejected outside after being sucked from your indoor space. On the other hand, the indoor face supplies cool air into your house.
One of the reasons window ACs are incredibly popular is that they are quite affordable and easy to install. Maintenance is also fairly easy, not forgetting the compact design that saves space. However, some of these units are often noisy and may obstruct your window views or reduce natural light. Some units may also not fit the design or size of your windows, thus necessitating remodeling.
5. Dual Fuel or Hybrid Air Conditioner
Lastly, hybrid HVAC systems combine electricity and fossil fuel to keep your home cool or warm. The units feature a heat pump, which works to suck hot air from your indoor environment during summer, blowing it out to the exterior with the help of the blower fan. The system is designed to do the exact opposite during the chilly winter months, where hot air is circulated throughout your indoor space. It also features a furnace, which comes to the rescue if the heat pump is overwhelmed by the chilly weather.
On top of these, floor-mounted, geothermal, and smart air conditioners are also worth looking into. At the end of the day, the best AC system is the one that cools your home efficiently without high energy bills or hefty repair and maintenance costs. With the few tips above, choosing the right AC for your home just became a walk in the park.
Featured Photo by Max Vakhtbovych from Pexels
