Air Conditioner Units 101: How to Cool Your Home

The heat of the summer can be very uncomfortable. Even if you turn on all the electric fans and open all the windows, the summer heat will just persist. Air conditioner units will solve your problem. However, there are important factors like form factor, type, size and power consumption. These should be considered before purchasing unit/s to have a power and cost efficient house cooling.

If you plan to cool just one room to rest in, the window or single type air conditioner is recommended for you. A window unit has a box form factor, usually enclosed in an aluminum case. All the important elements like the compressor, condenser, cooling coil and evaporator. It works by sucking warm air from the outside. Then, through heat exchangers, cool air will be pumped inside the room while warm air will be exhausted outside. The window air conditioner has a fan that disperses air inside the room.

It is called a window unit because it can be installed on the window sill. Just double check if the installation is sturdy, so that it won't fall outside the window. If you want continued use of the window, this type of air conditioner units can also be installed on a wall hole. However, wall installation is more effective.

If you want to cool your entire house with just one click of a button, you need a centralized air conditioning system. The bulk of this unit is usually installed on the attic. It uses an air vent system to circulate cool air on the house. Of course, this type is more expensive and it has a higher cost of installation. But it is highly efficient for large houses with multiple rooms. If you do not have an existing ventilation system, the overall cost may fall between $4000 and $10,000.

You can install window air conditioner units on your own. As for centralized units, it is recommended to hire an experienced contractor. Several factors like house insulation, difference of sunlight per room and thickness of walls must be considered first. Sometimes, it is more efficient to use multiple window units.