One of the most efficient ways to cool a house down during the warmer months on a large scale is a central air conditioning unit. These large units consist of an outdoor air compressor and an indoor air handler. They work together to pull warm air from the house and push cooler air back in, effectively lowering the overall temperature. Central A/C units, however, are costly to install, as well as invasive. There are also many situations in which a central unit is not a plausible or sensible cooling option. Thankfully, wall air conditioners are able to meet many of the needs that a central system may not be able to.
What Are Wall Mounted Air Conditioners?
A wall mounted air conditioner is a compact version of a standard air conditioning system. It works by exposing coils filled freon to internal fan systems. The freon is changed into a liquid inside the coil which eventually evaporates and creates a gas. The cold freon gas then pulls in the warmer air from outdoors, blending with it to greatly reduce its temperature. The colder air is pushed into the room, lowering the temperature inside the house. As an added benefit, this cooling process helps to remove humidity from the air which, in turn, creates a cooler environment as well.
What Makes A Wall Mount Air Conditioner Different?
A wall mounted air conditioner is designed to be slightly more permanent than a portable air conditioner and slightly more effective as well. Unlike a portable air conditioner, which can be moved from one room to another, depending on the needs of the household, most models of wall mount air conditioners are designed to be permanent installations. Wall unit air conditioners can be installed in a variety of ways including through the wall, mounted on the wall, or in a window. The best way to determine which style and size wall unit air conditioner best meets your needs it to familiarize yourself with the three basic installation types, as well as the ratings used to determine the size unit you will need.
Through Wall Air Conditioners (aka In Wall Air Conditioners)
A through wall air conditioner is a compact air conditioning unit designed to mount into the wall of a room. Once the proper sized hole has been cut into the wall, a support sleeve is installed into the hole. The support sleeve acts as a frame for the unit inside the room as well as a weight support system within the walls. Another smaller hole is cut into the external wall of the house which will house the exhaust vent for the unit. The exhaust system fora through the wall air conditioner is connected to the vent and the unit itself is then fit into the sleeve. Once installed, the system is connected to a power outlet and is ready to go. Professional installation is typically recommended for through the wall air conditioners, however, if you have intermediate to advanced knowledge of home repairs, you should be able to perform the installation yourself. Because of their installation method, these units are sometimes referred to as in wall air conditioners. For the most part, however, the name used depends solely on the manufacturer preference since the two terms are interchangeable.
Wall Mounted Air Conditioners
A wall mounted air conditioner is similar in function to a through the wall unit, however, it is comprised of two primary components instead of one. Similar to a standard central unit, a wall mounted system has an outdoor component as well as an indoor component.
The two pieces are connected through the wall via a small duct. The benefit of a wall mounted unit, as compared to an in wall unit, is the installation process is far less invasive. Since the internal unit does not have to be fitted into the wall, the only hole that has to be cut, both indoors and outdoors, is the smaller opening to accommodate the duct line. In order to utilize a wall mount unit, however, you need to make sure your external wall is able to support the weight of the outdoor component of the system. Even though the overall mounting is less significant than that of a in wall unit, wall mounted systems are still designed to be permanent installations. Just like an in wall unit, professional installation is recommended unless you have a solid skill set with regards to similar home improvement projects.
Window Wall Air Conditioners
A window wall air conditioner is the least complicated system with regards to installation. It is also the most portable of the three basic types of wall units. Just as the name implies, the unit is designed to mount into a window. This eliminates the need for any major interior or exterior wall modification, while also allowing the unit to be stored when not in use during the Fall and Winter months. The unit incorporates its own support frame into the design which is placed into an open window. The window is then closed as far as possible to hold the unit in place. The sides of the unit are typically expandable, allowing them to be stretched to connect with both sides of the window, creating a seal to prevent drafts. Unlike the other two models, window units can be installed as a do it yourself project with only minimal home improvement experience.
BTUs And SEER Ratings Explained
Once you have decided which style of wall air conditioner is best for your needs, you need to determine the size and strength of the unit that will work best for you.
BTUs
Portable air conditioners are given two ratings, BTUs and SEER ratings. BTUs stand for British Thermal Unit and refers to the amount of energy it would take to raise one pound of water by one degree in temperature. While this may seem odd to use for rating an air conditioner, it is used more as a general measurement of the cooling power capacity of the unit. Portable units typically start at 5,000 BTU and go up as high as 18,000 BTU. The correct BTU rating needed is determined by the size of the room you wish to cool. There are numerous conversion charts online and in stores that will help calculate this number for you once you have determined the square footage of the room.
SEER
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ration, or SEER, is a rating scale created by the US government to measure the effectiveness of an electrical device based on how much energy it uses to perform its task. The higher a product’s SEER rating is, the less energy it utilizes to do its job. The system was designed to allow consumers to better judge the energy efficiency of the appliances and other devices they were buying in an effort to make the public more aware of the importance of energy conservation. If an air conditioner is given a SEER rating of 14 or higher, it is considered an Energy Star appliance. This means it falls within the top 25% of the overall energy efficiency rating scale. Energy Star rated appliances are, by their nature, more expensive to purchase, but, in the long run, less costly to operate.
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