Domestic / Residential Air Conditioning

There are eight main types of air conditioning equipment out there in the market. Each type of air conditioner is designed for a certain space & fulfills a certain purpose. The different AC types are as follows:

1. Central Air Conditioner
2. Ductless Mini-Split
3. Window Air Conditioner
4. Portable Air Conditioner
5. Floor Mounted AC
6. Hybrid / Dual Fuel Air Conditioner
7. Smart Air Conditioner
8. Geothermal Air Conditioner

1. Central Air Conditioner

If you have a large home & wish to cool multiple rooms at once then this type of air conditioning is best suited for you. A central air conditioning unit uses a split system that regulates air through ducts installed in your home. It is also known as a ducted system.

The split aspect implies that the system is a combination of two main units. The outdoor unit packs in the condenser and compressor. While the indoor unit comprises the evaporator coils & air handler. Like any typical air conditioner, central air conditioning also uses refrigerant in removing heat from the indoor air. This heat is pulled outdoors & cool air is pushed in through the ducts.

Utilizing modern HVAC technology, programmable thermostats can be coupled with central air conditioners for a smart home experience.

Advantages of a central AC system:

• It cools all the rooms connected to ducts at once, thus creating a cooler & regulated environment around the house in minimum time.
• Since cool air is circulated in all rooms, humidity is reduced around the house, making the overall environment more comfortable.

Disadvantages of a central air conditioning system:

• It consumes a lot of energy resulting in higher energy bills.
• Such units may lose efficiency & effectiveness in case a problem arises in the ducts.
• Some find the outdoor unit to be unattractive but you can always creatively hide your air conditioning unit in your backyard.

2. Ductless Mini-Split

If you want better efficiency, or you want to do away with a lot of ducting, or you simply just want a portion of your home to be cooled, then opting for ductless mini-split air conditioners is a great choice.

Such type of an air conditioner is a combination of an outdoor unit comprising of a compressor & a condenser that comes along with one or more indoor units. These indoor units are mounted on a wall and equipped with air blowers. The indoor & outdoor units are connected through tubing and refrigerant circulates through them in variation depending on the type of usage.

Since these indoor units are small and compact, each room usually gets its unit installed that can either be used for heating or cooling purposes. Such types of air conditioners are regarded much more efficient in energy consumption compared to some of the other options available out there but can also be heavy on the pocket if you plan on installing one in each room to cover the entire house.

Ductless mini-splits come with a remote control but coupled with a smart AC controller you can operate them using your phone, from anywhere!

Advantages of ductless mini-splits:

• It can be installed anywhere easily without a lot of hassle and ductwork.
• It can control the temperature of each room individually.

Disadvantages of ductless mini-splits:

• A single ductless mini-split unit is not enough for cooling large homes.
• Since the Indoor unit of a ductless mini-split is wall-mounted, therefore, it will be visible to the naked eye.

3. Window Air Conditioner

Since Window air conditioners come in different sizes, they would be suitable if you’re looking to cool a single room or a small area. If you go for a large window air conditioner you can even cool a small home considering it is a single story or one open space. Window air conditioners, since the beginning, have been labeled as champions of cooling smaller spaces & regarded as the most common type of air conditioner.

A window air conditioner is a single unit with all of its components enclosed inside. It ejects heat out of its outdoor side and blows cool air into the room on the indoor side. As the name suggests, it is installed in a window or by making a hole in the wall. Such air conditioners have a filter that slides out so that it can be cleaned regularly for full AC efficiency. These air conditioners have controls on the unit & may also come with a remote.

Advantages of Window ACs:

• Window units are typically less costly and cheaper to operate
• Simple to install
• Easy to maintain
• Do not take up your floor space

Disadvantages of Window ACs:

• Can be noisy during operation & are visible from outside the home.
• They obscure the view from a window and must be located close to a suitable electrical outlet.
• Not all windows support airconditioners, some window ACs are not suitable for casement or irregularly shaped windows.

4. Portable Air Conditioner

Portable air conditioners are similar to window air conditioners. They are also placed in a single unit with all its components enclosed inside but the difference is that it is a free-standing unit and therefore can be moved from room to room. All it requires is a power outlet to power it up & access to a window where the unit’s air can be exhausted from using its funnel.

You can opt for a portable air conditioner if you want temporary space cooling or wherever it’s not practical to install a window or split air conditioner. They are very handy and smaller versions can even be used for kennels or bathrooms. Portable ACs can be singl- hose that takes in air from inside a room and expel it outdoors. Or, dual-hose which pulls air from the outdoors using one hose, this air cools the compressor and is then exhausted outdoors from the other hose.

Since a portable unit sits indoors, its evaporator fan runs continuously to evaporate the condensed moisture that is collected inside the unit.

Advantages of portable ACs are:

• Quick and simple to set up
• They can be easily moved around the house
• They do not require any permanent installation
• An effective option for spot cooling
• Easy to store when not needed

Disadvantages of portable ACs are:

• Such units are noisy during operation
• Cooling larger rooms is a problem
• Portable units that come with a hose have to be placed near a window and the hose also obstructs the lower part of your window

5. Floor Mounted Air Conditioner

Floor mounted air conditioners are designed for convenience if you prefer a mini-split but lack the required space for a wall mounted unit. The indoor unit of floor-mounted AC rests on the floor, and the outer unit can be installed without major site preparation or any ductwork. This arrangement is also ideal for spaces with tilted walls such as attics or building constructed by fragile materials such as glass.

The unit can be installed up to 6 inches higher than the floor, and through a small hole in the wall it is connected to the outdoor unit.

An amazing benefit of the placement of this AC is that it allows you to very easily check the air filters!

Easy access to the air filters makes floor-mounted air conditioners ideal for individuals with respiratory issues or people who are keen on keeping their indoor air quality as clean as possible.

Floor mounted systems cool/heat the room quicker than any other mounting system as the fan blows the air directly at your level. On the contrary, units that are mounted high up on the wall can often face difficulties cooling the room uniformly and efficiently. Floor units need free space around them though to function efficiently and circulate the air adequately. Make sure the unit is not obstructed by furniture or walls.

Advantages of floor mounted ACs:

• Perfect for elderly people living in the house due to accessibility

• Can be installed easily

• An excellent choice for difficult and small areas as they do not take much space

Disadvantages of floor mounted air conditioners:

• Airflow can be compromised because of the obstacles in the room, i.e., furniture

• Not suitable for big rooms due to uneven and localized distribution of airflow

6. Smart Air Conditioner

Smart air conditioners are a type of mini-split, window or portable air conditioner that are IoT enabled. These ACs are connected to the Wi-Fi and come with a native app providing global control through a smartphone.

Depending on the manufacturer, these air conditioners come with numerous functionalities. Some of these include weekly scheduling, geofencing, comfy mode, temperature range control, and numerous other features. Utilizing these, you can achieve great comfort coupled with energy savings.

Smart AC controllers are also available in the market that provides all the functionalities of a smart AC to any conventional ducted unit. They work like programmable thermostats and come at a fraction of the cost compared to smart ACs.

Advantages of smart air conditioners:

• Provide comfort & convenience with numerous features
• Help save energy

Disadvantages of smart air conditioners:

• More expensive than regular units.
• Wi-Fi connectivity is necessary to utilize all the features

7. Geothermal Air Conditioning System

Geothermal heating & cooling is considered a relatively new method, it works by utilizing the insulating properties of the earth. Since the temperatures under 4 to 6 feet of land remain consistent all year regardless of the weather, geothermal technology takes advantage of this to heat & cool your home more efficiently.

This system has piping that consists of a loop that circulates water between your home, a heat pump & the ground. They require intensive work to set up underground.

Advantages of a geothermal AC system:

• Highly efficient in terms of energy usage
• It has relatively a longer lifespan than other types of heating & cooling equipment

Disadvantages of a geothermal AC system:

• Installation depends on the location as loops are installed in the ground
• The setup cost is very high
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8. Hybrid / Dual Fuel Air Conditioner

A hybrid system is one that combines a gas furnace with an electric air-source heat pump to deliver a cost-effective & efficient performance in terms of heating & cooling. Depending on the temperature outdoors, the system automatically switches between burning fossil fuels and the usage of electricity. You program the temperature at which the system switches from heat pump to furnace or you can make the manual switch too.

During the summer season, the heat pump works as it is functioned to, pulling hot air from inside your home and throwing it outdoors. During the winters, this process is reversed and heat is distributed throughout your home. When the temperature is too cold for a heat pump to function efficiently, the furnace kicks in.

Advantages of hybrid air conditioning:

• Maximize indoor comfort and minimize the cost of utility bills
• Lower your carbon footprint

Disadvantages of hybrid air conditioning:

• The high cost of initial setup
• Breakeven may occur in the long run