What Are The Different Types Of Air Conditioners?

HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems include different components to regulate your house's indoor environment. This piece discusses one of the HVAC systems: air conditioning. Air conditioning uses various equipment to control air quality, humidity, and temperature in enclosed spaces in a building. It is an essential feature of a house as it helps in improving comfort by providing better air quality and controlled temperatures. You can install different types of air conditioners (ACs) on your property to achieve desired comfort levels. This piece discusses three common examples and their ideal application.

Dual Fuel or Hybrid Air Conditioners 

Dual fuel or hybrid air conditioners are modern AC systems that use gas furnaces and electric heat pumps as their powering mechanism. They automatically switch between electricity usage and fossil fuel depending on temperature levels and energy needs. For example, during hot seasons, it uses electricity to enable the quick pumping of cool air in the home. On the other hand, it switches to the gas furnace when the temperatures are too low, making the electric heat pump struggle to power up. Hybrid air conditioners are suitable if you're looking for an energy-efficient option, as switching from electricity to fuel furnace helps manage energy consumption. They also assist in minimizing carbon footprint since you don't use gas furnaces all the time.

Central Air Conditioners 

Central air conditioners are one of the most used AC systems in homes. They operate from two main areas, i.e., an indoor unit that consists of an air handler and evaporator and an exterior section that comprises the air compressor and condenser. Central air conditioners use ducts to connect the main operational interior and exterior units to regulate temperature and air quality in different rooms in a house. They're suitable for buildings with many rooms as they provide a uniform, cool, and regulated climate from a centralized location. That helps improve energy efficiency and saves you the cost of investing in several air conditioners for a building. 

Portable Air Conditioners 

Portable air conditioners operate as a single unit with all its components, e.g., the fan and air compressor enclosed inside the equipment. There are no exterior parts except the cable connecting to a power source. Portable air conditioners are small in size and give you the flexibility to move from one place to another. They are ideal for temporary cooling in a single area like the bedroom, personal office space, or hotel room. Moreover, they're simple and quick to set up, making them less costly than those needing a permanent installation process. 

Take Away 

Hybrid, central, and portable air conditioners are just a few of the many types of AC systems. Others include windrow, geothermal, mini-split, floor mounted, etc. Contact an HVAC contractor for more information. 

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