0000002595 00000 n For example, central air conditioning is usually connected to your thermostat, and once you’ve set your ideal temperature, you’ll be able to leave it alone, and the system will do all of the work for you automatically.Other units such as portable or window units do not respond automatically, meaning you need to monitor them by hand. This is the fan that evaporates the collected condensation inside the unit.Also, these units have proven to be ineffective in rooms that are larger than 500 square feet.Because of the noise and relative weakness of these units, many see the portable air conditioner as a last resort in situations where a window unit is impractical. Electric power is being used, of course, to run the compressor, fan, and pump.Because of the sustainability of this method, geothermal heating and cooling is becoming more popular every year, especially in Europe. Many of the smaller portable and window units will use standard 120-volt plugs, but many larger units will use 240 or 250-volt plugs, which require special outlets.Before you purchase an air conditioner, check the plug to see if it looks like a standard plug or more like the large plug that you see on your dryer cable. (Package Units.DX System) Unitary A/C units are self contained with fan, refrigeration compressor, condenser, etc. use contain HCFC-22, which is being phased out globally and . Central air requires a professional to install and will be the most expensive system we look at here.These units are most commonly used in situations where either the design of a room or building rules and regulations prevent the installation of a window unit. The part you don’t see is that on the other side of the wall, the PTAC has an exhaust system sending warm air outside of the building.Although they are often used in commercial settings, they are also a viable option as a home air conditioning system.Like all air conditioners, PTACs send coolant through a compressor which cools the air, which is then re-directed into the room being cooled. Another advantage of the window unit is that they can be moved between rooms as necessary and removed altogether in colder months.One of the disadvantages of window air conditioners is losing the use of the window that it’s installed in, both in terms of access to fresh air and the amount light which enters the room. 2. That changed that summer.With an infant in the house, we had to get his room cool. The way these work is by cooling the air with a condenser coil contained inside the unit and then sending the warm air out through a large exhaust hose.The exhaust hose is a large tube which resembles a dryer vent and connects the unit to an airtight window kit, directing the exhaust outdoors. This is often the case with air conditioners that are putting out more than 15,000 BTUs.If you are purchasing one of these larger units, you’ll need to have an electrician install a special outlet for you, with a dedicated circuit to power your air conditioner.Every air conditioner you look at will have a SEER or EER rating.
The excessive noise is the result of the evaporator fan. Most air conditioners will list both.Simply stated, the higher the EER/SEER rating is, the more energy efficient your air conditioner will be.
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The trade-off comes over time when accounting for your electric bills, which higher EERs can reduce.Units that are marked with Energy Star labels are going to be manufactured according to strict guidelines which are set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as well as the U.S. Department of Energy.Now that you’re familiar with the different types of air conditioners available to you and know what factors to consider when shopping for an air conditioner, it’s time to take the leap of purchasing the system that’s right for your needs.For Central Air, or Through-the-Wall air conditioning systems, you’ll want to consult with an HVAC specialist or residential contractor before purchasing your system.For window units or portable air conditioners, here is our list of online suppliers:I admit it, I loved Married with Children TV show growing up. In many cases, a PTAC can be the elegant solution to a very specific problem.
Although it is not an exact measurement, basically for each additional person in a room, add 600 BTUs to your calculation.If you’re planning on using an air conditioner to cool your If the room you’re cooling gets a large amount of sunlight (like an indoor porch or Additional factors which can contribute to necessary BTU output to cool a room include Something else to take into account when deciding on the type of air conditioner you want is the type of control you want to use. A coil filled with refrigerant is used to cool the air, which is then blown by a fan and distributed throughout your house through your established ductwork.Using these supply and return ducts, central air conditioning circulates the cool air through a building while warm air is then carried back through the return system and pushed out of the house through an exhaust system.Because you’re dealing with the insides of your house, this type of system requires the most planning of any discussed here. 0000005057 00000 n These stand for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and Energy Efficiency Ratio, respectively.Both of these ratios are calculated by dividing the cooling output (in BTU) by the energy input (in watt-hours) under certain conditions.The difference is that EER is calculated at 95 degrees Fahrenheit, giving you a sense of your air conditioner’s efficiency during the summertime, when people use their systems the most. 0000002324 00000 n Compared with central systems, PTACs are not too difficult to install and also cost less up front.One of the main advantages to having a PTAC system is that in addition to being air conditioners, they often double as heating systems.PTAC systems are generally used to heat or cool a single room. 1. Imagine, for example; you’ve added a room to your house that is not connected to your central ductwork. These parts are connected via conduits, which carry the power and refrigerant lines.The advantage to split systems is that they can cool different rooms at different temperatures, as each compact unit is equipped with its own thermostat.
0000007260 00000 n 0000004126 00000 n In turn, units with higher EER ratings will usually be more expensive. Several important energy code requirements will be reviewed, including what to look for in the field or on plans.