How to choose a home air conditioner
The choice of climate technology for home improvement is a multifaceted task complicated by the presence on the market of a mass of equivalent options with similar functionality. How to find the best of them in the sea of equal offers, how to choose an air conditioner for the home that does an excellent job of creating favorable conditions for the owner? To obtain answers to these questions, some theoretical preparation is required, which allows you to form your own opinion, independent of the arguments of the seller, persistently touting the goods sold by him.
Content
- Monoblock or split system?
- How to calculate the power of the air conditioner?
- How air conditioning and ventilation are interconnected?
- We select additional functions for the unit
- What do we get as a result?
Monoblock or split system?
The type of air conditioning system is the starting point of choice. It is determined on the basis of the tasks set by a particular consumer and such important aspects as:
- necessary and sufficient structural complexity;
- power;
- the possibility of self-installation;
- range of additional functions;
- mobility;
- dimensions;
- estimated location.
The choice of an air conditioner for a home is focused on its power, design, dimensions, the intended installation location, an important aspect is the possibility of self-installation
Brief description of monoblocks
The simplest air conditioning for the home is a budget window, roof or mobile candy bar, in the housing of which all functional parts are located. The elementary design determines the democratic value. The place to place them can be judged from the name. Those who wish to use one unit for processing air in different rooms will use mobile equipment. In principle, it will not be difficult to transfer to another room or transport to the country, for example, a window type. The priority of monoblocks is simple installation, without any problems done by yourself.
Important. Before purchasing a window option, you must pay attention to its width: this window opening size should be bigger.
Basically, monoblocks only cool the air, rare modifications can heat and clean it. Since all working parts are mounted in a single housing, monoblocks are among the most “noisy” climate systems. They will also not be engaged in ventilation and systematic mixing of fresh air..
The principle of operation, connection and device of the simplest mobile candy bar
More about split systems
Regardless of the location predefined by the name, all split systems have a similar design. They include two separate units, the noisiest of them being mounted outside the building. It is connected to the indoor unit by an electric wire and copper tubes, through which freon circulates from block to block. The latest modifications of channel, wall, cassette and other split systems are equipped with LCD displays, controlled by remotes, equipped with timers and control devices, protection devices, cleaning and air flow adjustment.
The outer part of the split system is installed outside the building, professional installation is recommended
Wall type – the best air conditioning for the home, having the parameters of household equipment. All others, including column and ceiling modifications, belong to semi-industrial equipment and are used to equip production and large public premises.
Multisystems, as a more complex type of split-type air conditioners, are rarely installed in housing. Its difference is that one outdoor unit serves several internal parts, which, however, would be very suitable for a large multi-storey suburban mansion.
Indoor unit of a wall split system with devices for monitoring, protection, control and with a liquid crystal display
How to calculate the power of the air conditioner?
The primitive calculation of equipment power is extremely simple: 1 kW of equipment will cool an area of 10 m?.
True, there are several nuances that force you to buy air conditioners with more than the basic performance calculation suggests, this:
- the presence of household appliances in the treated room;
- the arrangement of rooms under the roof, increasing the transfer of heat from the outside and outside;
- glazing area, i.e. size and number of windows.
It will require increasing the power of the selected system by 0.5 kW if, for example, only a TV will work in a room with a cooling system. If both the computer and the audio center are turned on, you will have to add 1 kW. It is taken into account on which side the window openings “look”; for air conditioning the “northern” rooms, a device with a lower power will be required.
Attention. Do not confuse the power consumed by the air conditioning system with its operating power. It consumes equipment three times less than it produces. A standard household air conditioner supplying 2.5 kW requires only 800 watts.
How air conditioning and ventilation are interconnected?
Household models of air conditioners are designed for cooling and for heating the air mass without ventilation. Window type can contribute to the outward discharge of 10% of the recycled air. Through loosely fitted frames and doors, approximately the same amount may enter. If you are interested in replacing the spent mass with fresh air, it is preferable to direct the choice of an air conditioner for a house to channel equipment. However, it is used very rarely for home improvement due to its large size, complicated wiring of air ducts and difficult installation. Often they are replaced with supply fans, which are especially necessary for equipping rooms with sealed double-glazed windows.
If the owner is interested in the implementation of ventilation and in the supply of fresh air instead of the exhaust mass, they recommend a channel type of air conditioner
The technical parameters of the air conditioner given by the manufacturer characterize its operation with the windows closed. Using air vents in the process of equipment functionality will increase the load due to air intake from the outside and, accordingly, increase energy consumption. Supply ventilation units can work together with air conditioners, as they provide an opportunity to calculate how much more powerful the system is needed. It is impossible to normalize air entering through a window spontaneously.
To avoid overloading the unit and excessive energy consumption during operation of the air conditioner, it is better not to open the vents.
Those who wish to buy an air conditioner with automatic power control are usually recommended to use inverter modifications. They automatically switch to low-speed modes as soon as the room temperature reaches a user-programmed value. The inverter air conditioner will not “overload” even with the window open, and when the window is closed tightly, it will save up to 40% of energy.
We select additional functions for the unit
All air conditioners of an equivalent class are equipped with an almost equivalent set of additional features. Elite category systems can heat air in winter, drain and clean the treated stream. The equipment of the middle class has fewer options, budget options generally perform only the main function. So the solution to the question “what to choose the air conditioner for home” is recommended to focus on checking the availability of protection systems against improper use and operation in adverse conditions for the equipment, and choose well-known brands whose manufacturers were able to recommend themselves from the best side.
Almost all modifications of the equivalent price category are equipped with a similar set of additional functions: cleaning devices, remote control, etc., special attention should be paid to the presence of protection systems
What do we get as a result?
- For a stationary installation, a low-noise split system will be optimal.
- Inverters are recommended for users who want to save energy..
- Do you want to use one unit of equipment both at home and in the country? Buy a simple mobile or window air conditioner.
- Do not get involved in too complicated equipment, requiring a lot of investment in installation and maintenance.
- Prefer mid-range systems from a trusted, reputable manufacturer with an excellent reputation..
And the main thing. Having decided on an independent installation, strictly follow the rules listed in the manufacturer’s instructions and observe the operating mode regulated by it.
