Air conditioners are of two types. There are the window air conditioners and the split air conditioners. Functionally speaking, there is no major difference between a window air conditioner and a split air conditioner. Both are used to cool rooms. However, there are some differences technically.
A window air conditioner is a single unit. All the parts of the air conditioner reside within that one unit, including the compressor. In a split air conditioner, as the name suggests, the parts of the air conditioner are split.
The condenser is usually fitted outside the house or the room in which the indoor unit is installed. The condenser also contains the compressor. Refrigerator coils and PVC lines run from the condenser to the indoor unit.
A window air conditioner is fitted on a window or a space made by cutting the wall. Once the window air conditioner has been installed, the surrounding areas are sealed off properly so that there is no leakage of cold air. The indoor unit of a split air conditioner is fitted on the wall, at a height specified by the manufacturers.
There is no need to cut any window or any part of the wall, although some holes are made for the refrigerator coils and the PVC line. Apart from these differences, the way these air conditioners work is similar. Both have refrigerator coils that absorb heated and humid air from the room and replace it with cooled and dehumidified air.
Among all electrical appliances, air conditioners consume the maximum amount of power. With the general increase in global temperature, more and more consumers are now buying air conditioners. Air conditioners have now moved from luxury items to essential items. However, most users get a chock when they receive their first electricity bill after using the air conditioner.
An air conditioner is rated by the number of British Thermal Unites (BTU). BTU is used to gauge the energy efficiency ratio of an air conditioner. The energy efficiency ratio lists the number of BTU the air conditioner removes for each unit of power it draws to function. For split air conditioners, the energy efficiency ratio is called seasonal energy efficiency ratio.
It is common knowledge that more the energy efficiency ration more is the amount of power saved. Windows air conditioners consume less power than split air conditioners with the same BTU. However, it all depends on the positioning of the unit. A windows air conditioner that is not positioned to work at its best may end up consuming more power than a properly positioned split air conditioner with the same BTU.
It is a common misperception that a bigger air conditioner cools more.
Effective cooling
Contrary to this myth, effective cooling depends upon the positioning of the unit. However, the fact is that windows air conditioners work better in smaller rooms and split air conditioners are better for larger rooms. If someone buys a big house, the best option is to go for a ductless central air conditioning system.
People, who don’t want to invest so much, usually go for a normal split air conditioner or a windows air conditioner. If the rooms in the house are very large, then for effective cooling, a split air conditioner is a better option. But they are more expensive then windows air conditioners.
So, people may want to go for a mix and match solution and install split air conditioners in the drawing rooms and windows air conditioners in the bedrooms. However, another aspect of split air conditioners is that they are very quiet and may be installed in bedrooms if someone has trouble sleeping with noise around.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
•What can I do to keep my utility bills down?
Keep your filters clean! Homeowners often do not realize that a dirty filter raises the static pressure in the system making it use more electricity to do its job. Even more importantly, a dirty filter reduces air flow to all the outlets and cause a unit to be cut off by built in safety devices, but worst of all it can cause condensation leaks. Do not believe the hype about only changing filters once a year. Those are written for a national audience and we are in Texas where it is hot! Your system runs more than most other places. The most time between changes is probably about 2 months for a one inch filter…but keep an eye on its conditions with visual inspections at the filter grille. If you have duct mounted filter (media or electronic air cleaner) they can usually go approximately 6 months before servicing or replacing. By the way, do not buy over a MERV 8 filter for one inch return air filter. Anything higher has higher resistance and your system was not sized for higher one inch MERV ratings. If you think you want to spend money on higher MERV rated filters you need to check with an air conditioning contractor to see about adding more return air to the system. You can also keep blinds and drapes closed to block out direct sunlight and to reduce heat transfer through the glass. Do not let grass or shrubs grow up around your condenser outside. Use programmable thermostats programming feature to set back the temperatures when the home is unoccupied. Have your system serviced by a reputable service company two times a year. Working parts need maintenance (just like a car or truck). Raise your thermostat setting and run ceiling fans in the summer. The physiological effect of higher air movement from a ceiling fan is as much as three to five degrees on the surface of the skin. A relatively new residential upgrade is a dehumidifier. Austin summers have high humidity; a dehumidifier control (called a humidistat) lowers the humidity in a house. Lower humidity feels cooler. This would be especially helpful along the Highland Lakes with waterfront homes. Be sure to run exhaust fans in bathrooms when showering (and for up to 30 minutes after turning off the water). Have an audit done of your home. We can check for whole air leakage and duct leakage. Many older homes have, by today’s standards, poor structure sealing and high ratesof duct leakage.