Types of Air Conditioners
Posted on February 8th, 2023Find the best option to stay cool during the hot summer days with latest Types of Air Conditioners available in the market today. In this article, learn the Pros and Cons of each and how to choose the best air conditioner type for your need.
Our ancestors used to live simple and natural life in mud structures where all the air conditioning happened naturally. The weather was not that harsh as the nature was there to take care of it.
However, with the advancement of technology there is a rise of Global warming and Concrete Forests! Now temperatures are breaking high record every year. Air Conditioners are responsible for 3.94% of global green house gas emissions, thus the solution making the problem worse.
I will discuss these types of air conditioners in detail :
- Ductless mini Air Conditioner
- Central Air Conditioners
- Window Air Conditioner
- Portable Air Conditioner
- Through-The-Wall Air Conditioner
- Geothermal Air Conditioner
- Swamp Cooler – Evaporation Ac
- How to Choose the Best Air Conditioner Type
- What alternate solutions you have?
Let me explain in detail :
In concrete city buildings, it becomes extremely uncomfortable to bear the heat or cold during extreme weather. So, there is always a need for an air conditioning to keep a healthy routine. Otherwise, you will end up dehydrated to the extreme, can not sleep, or catch cold in winter.
Ductless Split Air Conditioner :
The most popular Air Conditioning system in our list is a ductless mini split air conditioner. This system consists of an indoor unit that blows the air in the room, the outdoor unit condenser which has a compressor, and these two are connected with a conduit that carries the refrigerant pipes, electrical cables, and a drain pipe that empties accumulated moisture outdoors.
On average a mini-split installation costs between $2,000 and $14,500
Ductless Split air conditioner is useful if your home does not have ducts installed or there is an addition of a new room where ducts are not available. Furthermore, if there are remote areas of the house which are rarely used then it is better to use ductless split system.
Advantages
- Individually controlled units
- Helps reduce unnecessary energy costs
- Saves on floor space
Disadvantages
- Not suitable for cooling big rooms or whole homes
- High installation price
Central Air Conditioner :
One of the most common type of air conditioner is the central air conditioner. This system cools the entire home by forcing cool air through the ducts and pushes out hot air through the vents.
On average this system costs about $4,000 to $8,000 for the purchase and installation.
Central Air Conditioners are controlled with a thermostat which can be programmable. It’s smart capabilities allow the user to adjust the temperature, set cooling cycles, set schedules or simply turn it on or off.
Advantages
- Cools the whole home through the existing duct systems
- Relatively quiet indoor operation
- Can be controlled from the home thermostat
Disadvantages
- High initial purchase and installation cost
- The outdoor components are often loud and unattractive
Window Air Conditioner :
If you need a low cost option for your air conditioning needs, then window ac is a perfect solution. As the name suggests, window Ac sits inside the window with the front blowers indoors and the back outdoors. So, the window ac releases heat and condensation outside the window and brings in cool air in the room.
The purchase and installation cost of window ac is around $100 to $1,100
Window air conditioners are available in many sizes and if they have smart capabilities, they can be used with wireless remote controllers or wireless devices. If there is no central air conditioning system or they room is rarely used, window ac is a great option. However, it should be installed carefully as it may fall outdoor and someone walking beneath could get injured.
Advantages
- Low initial cost
- Relatively easy installation
- Saves on floor space
Disadvantages
- Obstructs the window while the unit is installed
- Loud operation and potential safety hazard
Portable Air Conditioner :
If you are living in a rental apartment or travel a lot, then portable air conditioner is a best option. Window ac can also be used but most tenants are required to install it professionally which may increase the cost. Aside from that, portable air conditioner provides greater mobility.
These air conditioners cost around $200 to $800
Portable air conditioners are a great alternate to window air conditioners as they require no installation and pose no threats. They are cheaper than most other solutions, however they do take up floor space.
The use of portable air conditioner is simple, just place it near the window where electrical socket is available. Put the exhaust pipe outside the window so it can throw the hot air outside while cooling down inside.
Advantages
- Cost-effective option
- Great for apartments, condos, and small homes
- Easy to set up
Disadvantages
- Takes up floor space in the home
- Very noisy during operation
Through-The-Wall Air Conditioner :
This type of air conditioner is similar to mini split air conditioner except the use of ducts. The indoor and outdoor units are directly connected instead of using electrical and refrigerant pipes. They are also good for isolated parts of the home and cooling small rooms.
The installation and purchase cost is around $850 and $3,000.
They are also known as floor-mounted air conditioners, they are installed at the bottom of the wall on the floor. However, they are not very popular as the wall needs to be cut down to make a hole as big as the size of air conditioner.
Advantages
- Low mounting location improves accessibility
- Relatively quiet indoor operation
- Saves space with wall-mounted design
Disadvantages
- Large hole in the wall is required for installation
- Obstacles like furniture can block airflow
Geothermal Air Conditioner :
This is the most environmental friendly solution to cool or heat the concrete building. In a Geothermal air conditioning an electric powered pump cycles fluid, usually water or refrigerant, through long loops of underground pipes.
The initial installation cost of this system is very high, but running cost are very low.
In summers, ground temperature is cool, so the pump pushes down the hot water in and bring up the cool water from underground. Using this cool water or fluid, the compressor does the cooling. During winters the process is reverse, when the ground temperature is higher.
Advantages
- Cools the whole home through the existing duct systems
- High efficiency keeps cooling costs down
- Longer lifespan than other cooling systems
Disadvantages
- High initial purchase and installation cost
- Not suitable for apartments, condos, or homes with limited yard space
Swamp Cooler :
This method is in use for thousands of years and it works by using water moisture for cooling instead of refrigerant. This is much cheaper to use and buy, however, it can only be used when humidity levels are low as it raise humidity in the house.
Advantages
- Available as portable or whole-home units
- Doesn’t rely on harmful chemicals, like freon, for cooling
- Increases humidity to help improve dry, arid conditions
Disadvantages
- Cooling power falls short of standard air conditioners
- Increased humidity can be a problem for some
- Ice and/or water needs to be regularly monitored and refilled
How to Choose Air Conditioner :
- Learn about the technologies available
- Check Cooling Capacity BTU
- Check energy efficiency rating EER
- Estimate the ongoing running expenses in terms of utility bills
- Decide as per your budget
A high initial investment may be a cheaper one for a longer period
What alternate solutions you have?
Solutions for existing houses :
- Insulate walls, floor and the ceiling
- Install double glazed windows
- Use curtains on windows
- Insulate roof water tank
Solutions when building :
- Keep windows on North Face to get Sunshine inside the house during winters
- Insulate walls, floor, pipes and the ceiling
- Use rammed earth for building, which is the most reliable multi story ancient structure.
- Cob house is another great option for a small house, it is assumed to be the solution for poor, but now you can see many beautiful modern cob houses.
- If you think above methods are not reliable or hard to implement, then use earth blocks ( bricks ) for building
- Another solution is to make double outer walls and fill insulation in it, or fill it with mud.
- Keep the house well ventilated, but doors and windows should be air tight when closed.
- Having marble tiles outside the wall will help to reflect heat
Other Interesting Articles :
- Types of Air Conditioners in 2023 : The Definite Guide
- Find the Best Ac Temperature for Sleeping and Best Sleep Tips
- How to Turn ON Ac without Remote Controller
Do you have any questions or suggestions ? feel free to let me know in the comments, i will reply within 2 days
