What Are the Different Types of Air Conditioning Units?
What Are the Different Types of Air Conditioning Units?
There are enough different types of AC units that you could try a completely different type each day of the week—but you’d run out of days. And, considering the number of manufacturers covering this space, you could actually go about 100 days, without repeating the same combination of AC unit type and manufacturer!
And, check this out: If you further complicate the math by considering the four main types of HVAC systems (see our blog post for that: What are the four main types of HVAC systems? ) you could darn near try something different each day of the year. Amazing!
NOTE: The HVAC Heating & Air Conditioning Pros California State Directory has thousands of state-licensed contractors listed, and it can be found at http://airconditioninghvaccalifornia.com
Quick Question: Remember those Four Main Types of HVAC Systems?
Hint: Duct-free (mini-split) system; Hybrid split system; Heating and cooling split systems; Packaged systems – heating and air conditioning. Just checking.
What are the eight different types of AC units? In no particular order:
Hybrid / Dual Fuel AC
Central air conditioner
Ductless mini-split
Floor mounted AC
Geothermal AC
Portable AC
Window AC
Smart AC
A 2-Second Summary of the different types of AC units
Hybrid/Dual Fuel AC: another name for a heat pump with backup heating; cooling is by electric & heating by gas
Central AC: most whole-house systems; removes heat from air and replaces with cool
Ductless mini-split: a smaller AC unit installed in each room; uses no ducts
Floor mounted AC: AC unit having its components contained within the body of the AC instead of outside.
Geothermal AC: electric heat pump cycles water or refrigerant thru loops of long underground pipes in the cooler earth, which removes the heat.
Portable AC: similar to heat pumps, it collects heat from inside a room and sends it outside, either thru a window or other vent.
Window AC: simplest type of AC, all parts contained in one window-mounted unit.
Smart AC: any air conditioning unit which can be adjusted remotely by an app.
How Much Does an Air Conditioner Cost?
This question doesn’t get answered in “two seconds” like our summary of the different types of AC units. Several reasons why pricing depends upon:
Quality of the manufacturing process. Higher standards & tolerances, longer warranties, better quality of materials, type of air which needs to be conditioned, and the environmental factors surrounding it all come into effect.
Also to be considered is the importance of initial cost, as opposed to lifetime cost. For instance, a portable air conditioning unit might only cost a few hundred dollars and can be installed in a DIY project by a homeowner. However, portables usually cool smaller areas and the cost of the operating process can be higher per BTU than other, larger systems.
Geothermal AC has the potential to be the lowest cost since the cool of the earth does the “work” of removing heat. However, geothermal arrives at its lowest cost of installation only at the very beginning of a project, so that all the necessary trenching for the loops can be done prior to the beginning of any landscaping and hardscaping.
Space is a prime consideration. Some homes and buildings are severely restricted by available space to accommodate the unit, and so it becomes the driving factor.
Whether the AC unit is also going to be a part of the heating solution, and the types of weather encountered during the winter is important. Natural gas still has the edge with cost of operation, particularly as temperatures dip. Dual fuel is an advantage here.
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Regardless of the system you choose, always choose a state of California licensed hvac contractor to properly and safely install your new or replacement system—or even to repair or service your existing system. Check the Pro List at The HVAC – Heating & Air Conditioning Pros California State Directory. You can find it by clicking the following link: https://www.airconditioninghvaccalifornia.com
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