Nowadays due to global warming and also pollution, temperature is increasing day by day, but thanks to technology we have air conditioners to survive in this heat.
Air conditioning systems can be expensive, yet they’re necessary looking at their benefits such as maintaining comfortable temperature, humidity and also Indoor Air Quality.
It also helps reduce the risk of heat stroke, dehydration and other heat-related illnesses.
But most important question is how to choose best AC from available options???
It’s a good idea to do some research into this before making a purchase. This article helps you to choose best AC for your home or office.
There are multiple options available in market, will discuss few of them:
Contents
The Different Types of Air Conditioners
There are various types of ACs available for different applications such as
- Room AC Segment – Mainly for residential and cabins and small offices or shops. The products covered under this segment are:
- Window AC
- Split AC
2. Light Commercial Segment – These types of AC s are good for small to medium size of offices, restaurants, shopping areas, Nursing homes, education institutes etc. And these are:
- Cassette Type Split AC
- Ductable Type split AC
- Tower Type Split AC
3. Commercial Segment – This is the segment which caters to large premises such as Malls, Hospitals, Hotels, Industrial Applications and they include
- Central AC system
- VRF System
Types of Air Conditioners – Explained
From most commonly used options, There are two main types of air conditioners:
– Window Type AC
– Split AC – Hi wall Type
The difference between the two types of ACs comes down to convenience.
Window AC is easier to install, but they take up more space and can be a hassle if you live in an apartment building or if you don’t have many windows.
Wall-mounted ACs commonly known as Split AC can be installed on any wall at a height of approx 8 ft, but they require professional installation as the unit is spilt in two parts – Indoor Unit : which cools the place and Outdoor Unit : That throws the heat out in atmosphere.
These ACs are good for Areas between 70 sqft to 300 sqft , but can cater to larger areas if used in multiple numbers.
Typically available in 0.8 Tr, 1 Tr, 1.5 Tr and 2 Tr capacity
While Hi-Wall Type Split AC is most common but the indoor units can be in different shapes and mounting arrangements which bring in following categories:
A Tower AC is a type of air conditioner that is designed to cool the entire room. It is a floor standing unit occupying approximately 2-3 sq ft area and can be kept in one corner of room
These units can cool upto 600 sqft of room area
These are available in 2 ton, 3 ton and 4 ton capacity.
Cassette AC
Cassette ACs is a form of indoor unit which is mounted on a ceiling and is visible. The most common of Cassette AC is 4 Way cassette AC , in these air comes out from all four sides of AC.
Cassette AC is also One Way and Two Way or even Corner AC.
Cassette AC s are available in. 1.5 ton, 2.0 ton., 3 ton and 4 ton capacity.
A Ductable AC is installed in the ceiling and generally hidden and that’s why they are also known as Concealed Units or Furred In Unit or Hideaway Units.
These units come with different power (Static) fans such as Low Static , Medium Static and Hi Static.
Since Medium and Hi Static units have more power so Air can be carried to longer distances thru a duct from them. That’s why they are called Ductable AC.
These units are available in 1.5 ton, 2.0 ton, 3.0 ton, 4 ton, 5 ton, 5.5 ton, 7.5 ton, 8.5 ton, 11 ton and 17 ton capacity.
We hear, a lot of VRF or VRV systems , these are units with variable flow of refrigerant and come in single or modular capacities. So the capacity of each module can be increased by adding more units.
These modular units are connected by way of refrigerant piping known as copper piping as well to various indoor units. Type of indoor unit can be as explained above.
These units save power and also save installed capacity required.
The cooling capacity of these units is typically referred in HP and not ton. (But for ease of conversion 1 HP = 0.8 ton)
These units can start as Low as 6 HP and can go up-to 48 HP module or more .
Central Air-conditioners
These are units which are installed on terraces or basement of building. These machines First cool water and such cold water is circulated in the building for cooling each area thru various type of indoor units ( Indoor units can be of type explained above )
These units start from 15 ton capacity and can go upto over 1000 ton as well
These are units used in Hotels, Malls, Factories, District Cooling etc.
We understand AC consumes a lot of power so what options do we have to save power?
Yes, AC is a high electricity consumption equipment. But if the size is correct all AC s go off when desired temperature is achieved and this is off cycle of compressor which is main component consuming high power.
The on & off type AC s are called Fix speed or Non Inverter type.
Since the AC capacity requirement keeps changing during various hours of day and also year due to outside temperature , it’s advisable to have variable speed AC – these are called Inverter AC .
All AC s are available in Inverter and Non Inverter types except window type AC.
I have heard ACs are not Environment friendly, which AC should we buy to save planet ?
Yes ,AC used CFC – Chloro Floro Carbon & HCFC – Hydro Chloro Floro Carbon gas which harm Ozone Layer and hence add to global warming. These gases are called R12 and R22. While R12 use is already ban , R22 is still in use for few more years.
But with the invention of HFC – Hydro Floro Carbons we have new refrigerants and all above type of ACs are available with such gas, such as R410, R404 and R32.
We should try and use such AC s .
Budget:
The cost of an air conditioning unit varies depending on its features, technology and refrigerant used.
While the cheapest AC would be Non Inverter with R22 gas , the expensive ones will be Inverter type and having safe refrigerant.
Inverter ACs save power and hence pay back the differential cost after some use (Period depends on daily usage)
