DIY Heating/Cooling Air Conditioning Air Conditioners: The Basics and Types of Air Conditioners
Air Conditioners: The Basics and Types of Air Conditioners Print E-mail
Written by Frank W.   

Air conditioners are used by many to keep them cool during those scorching hot summer months.  There are actually many different types of air conditioners that you can choose from if you are looking to either install a new unit or upgrade to a new type.  Either way, with all the different types of air conditioners available, they all have one thing in common.  That is to keep you cool. Be sure to see other good articles on Air Conditioning.

Basics on how Air Conditioners Work

Many people think that air conditioners simply pump cool air into their homes.  In reality, the warm air is being taken out of your house and cycled back in as cooler air. This is a cycle that continues until the pre-selected temperature is reached on the thermostat.

­Air conditioners use the evaporation of a refrigerant, such as Freon, to provide the cooling.  This evaporation goes through a cycle.  The cycle starts by compressing the cool Freon gas.  This will cause it to become hot and high pressured gas.    The Freon runs through an expansion valve.  It then evaporates into cold, low pressure Freon gas.  The cold gas then runs through coils where the gas absorbs heat and cools down the air inside your home.

Benefits of Air Conditioners

Aside from the obvious benefit that air conditioners cool you down, there are some other benefits of air conditioners.  Indoor air conditioners generally have filters that help to catch dust, pollen, mold spores, and other allergens.  This can include smoke and other things found in the air.

Air conditioners can also act as dehumidifiers in that they take excess water from the air and actually use it to cool the unit before it gets rid of the water through a hose.

Cooling Capacity Units of Measure – BTUs and SEERs

Many air conditioners are measured according to their BTUs or SEER.   A BTU (British Thermal Unit) is a unit of measure of thermal (heat) energy.  A SEER is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.  Air conditioners range from 5,000 BTUs to 24,000 BTUs or must have a SEER number of 13 or higher.  New standards have been set for the SEER, as it used to be set at a SEER of 10.  The SEER should now be 13, which is 30% more energy efficient.

Different Types of Air Conditioners

There are four main types of air conditioners to choose from.  They all have their pros and cons, but they all have one thing in common, which is to cool your home.  The type of air conditioner you choose will depend on your individual needs.  Here are the four different types of air conditioners to choose from:

  • Window Air Conditioner – These are good for homes that have windows that can accommodate a window air conditioner and want to cool one or two rooms that are close by each other.  There are many stylish window air conditioners available.

  • Wall Air Conditioner – These are good for homes that do not have a small enough window to accommodate a window air conditioner.  They are also great for those who want to free up their window in case they want to open them up during cooler periods in the summer.

  • Portable Air Conditioner – This is the perfect air conditioner for those who need to cool a room and who cannot accommodate a window or wall air conditioner.  These are perfect for offices, bedrooms, dorms, etc.  They are also lightweight and easy to transfer from room to room.

  • Central Air Conditioning Unit- This is the ultimate cooling unit.  These air conditioners can actually cool an entire home by using the ducts in your home to transport the air.

Air conditioners are evolving every day.  It is recommended that you consider upgrading to more energy efficient air conditioners to save you money and help the environment.

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