Keeping Your Home Cool and Comfortable - Different Air Conditioner TypesIf you're currently exploring different cooling options for your home or workplace, it's important to consider all of your available cooling options as well as their benefits and costs. Becoming fully informed about all aspects of cooling, including window air conditioners, portable air conditioners, and central air conditioners, is the key to choosing the right cooling system. Below is a quick overview on some of the most popular air conditioner and cooling products: Central Air Conditioners: A central AC is a type of air conditioner that works from a central location to distribute air throughout a home or building. This type of cooling system is essentially a split system; some components are installed indoors and other components are located outdoors. Central air conditioners are designed to cool entire homes and buildings. While effective, they're often costly to install and run. Window Air Conditioners: A window air conditioner is a type of AC that's installed into a window of a room and designed to cool that specific room. They use the same technology as refrigerators. An evaporator coil cools the interior while a condenser coil releases hot air outside. Window air conditioners are much easier to install than central units, but some buildings such as apartments or offices may not be able to accommodate them. Split Air Conditioners: A split air conditioner is another type of AC. Like a central air conditioner, a split air conditioner utilizes a split design but it's significantly easier and less expensive to install than a central system. A split AC has at least one unit that sits inside a building (usually the air handler) with the compressor located outside. Because a split air conditioner's compressor sits outside, it's usually very quiet and efficient. Moreover, since a mini split air conditioner is considered a ductless system, it usually avoids the energy losses associated with central forced air systems. Portable Air Conditioners: Portable ACs are compact, fully moveable air conditioning units that don't require permanent installation. They usually have carrying handles and casters for portability and can be easily moved from room to room to provide spot or supplemental cooling. The great thing about these air conditioners is that they set up in minutes and are fully portable. Like all air conditioners, they also work as dehumidifiers and work great in hoat, humid climates. Evaporative Coolers: Evaporative coolers, also known as a swamp or air coolers, use the simple process of evaporating water into the air to provide a natural and energy-efficient means of cooling. Although they can be up to 75% more energy efficient than traditional air conditioning systems, they're really best suited for hot, dry areas with low humidity. Electric Fans: These low-tech appliances first made their appearance in the 1800's. Although simple, electric fans are still commonly used in many parts of the world to provide cooling and ventilation. They're more energy efficient than refrigerated cooling and are often used for supplemental or spot cooling.
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