Split Air Conditioner Comparison

Description

• Basic split-air cooling systems are composed of an outdoor and indoor section and account for the vast majority of residential air conditioning systems. The indoor coil is the evaporator coil and cools the air inside your home, while the outdoor coil contains a condenser and releases hot air outside. Smaller systems are often installed on a window, wall or floor while larger designs require extensive ducting throughout the home.

Features

• Split systems offer varying features and capacities. Some may be designed with a small cooling capacity for chilling just one room in a home. Centralized systems are capable of cooling an entire house.The efficiency of the appliance is measured in SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) for central air conditioners, and EER (Energy Efficiency Rating) for room air conditioners. Some products offer versatile features such as indoor furnaces, adjustable fan coils, timers and monitors. They can range in price from about $300 to more than $3,000, depending on their efficiency rating, capacity and other features.

Multi-Split Systems

• Systems that have separate coils but contain more than one evaporator coil are called multi-split or mini-split systems. These do not require ducting and are ideal for adding to existing homes because they are easier to install. They tend to have a smaller profile than regular split systems, and the indoor units mount to the floor or ceiling.

Central Air

• Central air systems tend to be the most efficient type of air conditioning system. The drawback is that they require their own 220-volt circuit and use more energy than room systems. Air conditioning systems without ducts are an easy alternative to central air conditioning and are perfect for homes such as apartments. These systems do not require invasion of ducting to install, but they do allow multiple cooling zones to exist.

Packaged Systems

• In packaged systems, the condenser, evaporator coil and compressor are all in one place, usually outside or on the roof. This design is often seen in commercial buildings and is less common in residences. These systems often incorporate an indoor furnace so a separate heating device does not need installation. Sometimes the extensive ductwork within packaged systems makes them less efficient due to the possibility of blockage.