The time has arrived again when the sun is burning and the winds are listless. You are drenched in sweat, and your breath becomes heavy from just lying around in your very warm bed.

Yes, we are talking about summers if you have not already guessed it.

The heat becomes unbearable during summers. There is no way of surviving it other than getting an air conditioning unit in your house.

After a hectic day at work or outdoors, coming home to a house that has stored heat in every inch of its being is unpleasant. This also has adverse effects on your physical and mental well-being.

Air conditioning (AC) reduces stress caused by the heat. And protects from heat exposure by providing indoor thermal comfort to prevent heat-related health issues.

Given the urgent need, air conditioners have become the most used and bought electrical appliances. They can be energy efficient if you buy the right kind.

Wondering which type of air conditioner to buy? Let’s discuss this in detail.

Types of Air Conditioners

There are several different categories of air conditioners. Each has different advantages and qualities.

These include;

1.    Central Air Conditioner

Central Air Conditioning units are excellent for large spaces where you wish to cool multiple rooms. A split system is used with a central air conditioning unit, which regulates air through ducts installed in your home. This system is also called a ducted system.

As the name suggests, the air conditioner comprises two main components. The outdoor component further consists of a condenser and a compressor. Whereas the indoor unit of the split system has evaporator coils and an air handler.

As is the case with any air conditioner, this split one also uses a refrigerant that removes heat from the indoor air. This heat is then expelled out while the cool air is thrust inside the ducts.

The central air conditioner can be coupled with programmable thermostats that use modern HVAC technology to provide an innovative home experience.

Some of the advantages and disadvantages of a central air conditioning unit are as follows:

Advantages It effectively cools all the rooms at once, creating a cooler and regulated atmosphere around the house in less time. It helps reduce humidity across the house by circulating cool air making the overall atmosphere of the house very comfortable.

Disadvantages A central air conditioner uses excessive energy, which results in higher electricity bills making it not as cost-efficient. It will lose efficiency and effectiveness as soon as a problem arises

 

2.    Ductless Mini Split

If a ductless system is what you aim for, this unit might be for you. Ductless mini-split air conditioners are best if you want to cool just a portion of your house instead of a central air conditioning unit.

It consists of two central units, and the outdoor unit comes with a condenser and a compressor. There may be one or two indoor units depending upon the size of the air conditioner.

The indoor units are fixed on the wall and come equipped with several air blowers. Both the units are linked via tubing. A refrigerant also circulates air through this tubing, which varies according to usage.

These ductless systems are very compact and save a lot of space. For this reason, each room has a separate air conditioner installed, which can be used for cooling and heating purposes.

The ductless mini-split air conditioner systems can conserve a lot of energy. Still, since you have to install separate units for every room you want, it can be expensive.

Advantages They are easy to install They can be installed anywhere without a worry since there is no ductwork The temperature of each room is controlled individually Gives a cleaner look since they do not use ducts

Disadvantages These systems are not very cost-efficient as they require many units to cool the entire house. The indoor units are mounted on the wall so they are visible and might affect the aesthetics of a space.  It is not a good option for large houses

 

3.    Window Air Conditioner

This one is from back in the day. Since the beginning, it has been considered the best when it comes to efficiency in cooling.

 

Window air conditioners are best suited for small spaces. You can even cool a small house with a window air conditioner, provided it is a single story. These air conditioners are most commonly used in households to cool a space very efficiently.

This air conditioner comes as a single unit with all its parts fitted inside. The outdoor side of the unit ejects the heat out while the indoor part blows cool air into the room.

This air conditioner is installed in a window. It can also be placed inside a wall by making a hole. You can even clean it regularly with the slide-out filter attachment. The controls for using this AC are present on the unit itself.

 

Advantages These units are inexpensive to buy and cheaper to maintain They can be installed without any hassle. The maintenance of the unit does not require much effort These units do not occupy floor space

Disadvantage It makes a lot of noise when it’s being used It is visible from the outside, which makes the house look unappealing Since they are installed on a window, so they obscure the view They need to be installed near an electrical socket

 

4.    Portable Air Conditioner

Portable air conditioners are similar to window ACs. They come as a single unit with all of their components fixed inside this single unit. The difference between the two can be guessed from the name.

 

It comes as a free-standing unit, making it portable as opposed to the traditional window AC. You only require two things to make a portable AC work. The first one is obvious: plug the unit into a socket. Secondly, you will have to place it near a window so that it can eject the warm air out through its funnel.

Portable ACs are great for spaces where split systems cannot be installed. They can also be used in areas that experience heat for a shorter period, so you don’t have to pay hefty amounts to install a central system.

They come in various sizes, so the smaller ones can even be used in bathrooms. Portable ACs can come with a single hose or a double one. With a single hose, the inlet and outlet are the same. While with a dual hose, one is used as an inlet and the other as an outlet.

 

Advantages These units do not require much time and effort to set up They can be moved around the house with ease There is no worry about making a permanent change to your house with this unit.  It can also be stored when not in use

Disadvantages They are very noisy when in use ·These units are not efficient in cooling large rooms They need window space

 

5.    Geothermal Air Conditioning System

This system is a relatively new method of heating and cooling spaces. It makes use of the earth’s energy to fuel the system. The land temperature under 4 to 6 feet remains constant despite the weather.

Therefore, the geothermal system takes advantage of it to heat and cool your spaces.

This system comes with pipes that consist of a loop. This loop then circulates water between your home, a heat pump & the ground. The whole unit requires a significant amount of work to set up underground.

Advantages It is environment friendly It uses energy very efficiently This system lasts much longer as compared to other AC units

Disadvantages It is heavily dependent on the location of the building since the loops are installed underground. It’s not as cost-efficient as it is energy-efficient

Essential Factors When Selecting the Best Type of Air Conditioner for Your Home

Now that we have discussed the different types of air conditioning units available, we should look into which one is the best for your house. The best is subjective since it depends on what you look out for when buying an air conditioning unit.

• Money is the key

If you are looking to stay within budget, your best bet is the window AC. It is the cheapest of the lot. Ductless mini-splits are great options, too, in terms of prices.

However, these options only work well if you want to cool single, compact spaces.

• Energy Consumption

If your air conditioning unit is energy efficient, it will help you save a lot on electricity bills.

The EER rating shows the energy efficiency of a unit. The higher the EER rating is, the more energy-efficient the air conditioning unit will be.

• Easy Maintenance

Your air conditioner unit will last long if it does not require heavy-duty maintenance. It will also save you effort, time, and money.

• Space Saving Units

You should also look for a unit that is the perfect size for your room. There are units available in various sizes, so you can easily buy one best suited for your space.

• Cooling Power

The cooling capacity of an AC unit is determined by the BTUs. BTU or British Thermal Units measure an air conditioning unit’s heating and cooling power.

 However, this is only applicable to innovative ACs, so you need not worry about it if you want to buy a regular one.

Health Benefits of Air Conditioners

1.     Air conditioners keep the humidity level of your house to a low, thus, maintaining a less damp environment. This also prevents dust mites, mold, heatstroke, and dehydration.
2.       Air conditioners can help reduce asthma attacks by filtering out air that contains dust particles, allergens, and pollutants. These pollutants can irritate your lungs and provoke an asthma attack.
3.     These AC units also help improve the quality of the air in your homes. They do this by removing dust and bacteria from the air resulting from poor ventilation and overheating.
4.       Most of the water inside your body is lost through sweat. When you are constantly in a warm environment, you will sweat a lot, making you lose plenty of water. This can cause dehydration. With an air conditioning unit installed in your home, you will not have to worry about it.
5.       Air conditioning can also help reduce parasites and insects from invading your space. Once your room gets cooled down, the insects that like warmth will stay out. Moreover, your body temperature also drops, so the insects will stay away from you.
6.       Air conditioners can reduce stress because they help cool you down. Your peace of mind will be maintained, and you will be more productive.

Conclusion

Air conditioning is the only answer to the scorching heat. The summers have become unbearable, and it is near impossible to live on just fans. An air conditioning unit is rather a necessity than a luxury. 

A good AC provides you respite from the summer heat and allows you purified air all year round, less humidity during the monsoon, and warmth during the winters.

There are so many options available in the market, and it is easy to get lost in them but knowing what you need is where you start looking from.

Depending upon the size of your room, your budget, and energy efficiency, you can opt from several different types. The types mainly include window AC, split AC, and portable AC.

Each one of them comes with various benefits as well as disadvantages. With quick research on these, you can quickly determine which one is the right fit for your space.

So, don’t let the heat affect your everyday routine. Get one today and enjoy the comfort of cool air.