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Are you in the market for an air conditioner? Before you rush off to make a hasty purchase, read this article to understand the factors you need to consider prior to buying a unit and also to learn about the different types of air conditioning units available. Time and effort spent on doing your homework thoroughly will never be wasted.
When you decide to buy an air conditioner, you should take into consideration the size of the room you want to cool, the number of persons in the room and the frequency of use of the unit. If you need an air conditioner for occasional use then a small window unit will fit the bill perfectly. If you need the unit to cool a big room on a permanent basis then a split unit or something larger will be more appropriate.
Another factor to be considered is energy consumption costs. Air conditioners use large amounts of power and when choosing a unit you should focus on finding the most energy efficient unit available. Compare models and check the British Thermal Units or BTUs, which will give you an idea about the energy efficiency of the unit - higher BTU means greater unit capacity. It's not enough to have a cool room, the utility bill has to be paid every month and it's going to hurt if it's a huge one!
When you are comparing unit prices, don't forget to check out delivery and professional installation options as well. It is not enough to opt for cheaper and then be stuck with the unit and no installation. Enquire about product discounts and any other benefits you can avail.
The different types of air conditioners available in the market today include:
Window air conditioners are the most popular type of unit as they are not very expensive and installation is hassle free. All the parts of the air conditioner are enclosed in a box and the unit is usually fitted in the window area, hence the name. The tonnage of the unit determines the cooling capacity and various parameters such as size of area to be cooled, size of the space the unit has to be installed in, etc. should be considered.
Split unit air conditioners have two parts: one part of the unit is fixed inside the room and the other part is fixed outside the house. The part that goes inside has the compressor, condenser and the expansion valve, while the outside unit has the cooling coil and fan. Split units are generally more pleasing to the eye and don't spoil the aesthetics of the room. The cooling capacity is generally larger as well.
Packaged air conditioners are usually needed to cool larger spaces, more than two rooms or an office. One model is where the compressor, expansion valve, condenser and evaporator are all housed in one box and the cooled air is passed out through ducts laid in the various rooms by a high capacity blower. The other model is one in which the compressor and condenser are packaged in one unit and the compressed gas is sent out through individual units located in the different rooms.
Central air conditioning units are generally used for big buildings, offices, hotels, theatres, malls and the like. Installing individual units in each room becomes an expensive exercise and it is far more viable to install central air conditioning in such cases.
If you are not sure, which unit to purchase, seek the help of a professional, it will save you money and a headache as well.
