You might be surprised by the different types of residential air conditioning systems available on the market today. Aside from the classic window type unit, air conditioners units now come in different sizes and shapes.

For residential air conditioning units, your choice will depend on the space available for installation, the existing insulation in your home and the size of your home.

It pays to know the different types of residential air conditioners from a basic to the best mini split, as the knowledge will help you when you decide to purchase a new one.

If you live in Kent, get expert advice from a professional air conditioning Kent contractor.

Window air conditioning unit

In single rooms and small flats, this is the most common type of air conditioning unit they install. With all the parts contained in one unit, the air conditioner is compact and easily fits into a slot in the window or a wall. A window air conditioner is cheap, but its efficiency is lower compared to other types. Moreover, a window air conditioner can be noisy.  

Ductless mini-split air conditioner

For people who own their homes, they have the option to purchase a ductless mini-split air conditioner, which consists of two units, one for outdoor installation and one for indoors. The unit is much quieter, as the compressor, expansion valve, and the condenser are in the outdoor unit, while the evaporator, cooling fan, and cooling coils are installed on the wall.

A split air conditioner only requires a small hole for the connecting pipe. A mini-split has the advantage of avoiding the installation of ductwork. However, if you have several rooms that need cooling, you need to install one unit for each room.

With a ductless mini-split, there are no large units to mar your home’s aesthetics, as the indoor units are usually installed on ceilings or walls.

Packaged air conditioner

When you have a large house with several rooms, you have two options. You can purchase a packaged air conditioner where there is only a single unit, with the air distributed into the rooms via a series of ducts.

Another type is a multi-split air conditioner. It also has a single outdoor component, with up to nine indoor units for each room in the house connected to the outdoor compressor.

Evaporative coolers

Evaporative coolers are not very common, but this is a good alternative if you do not have enough budget to purchase an air conditioner. An evaporative cooler is excellent when you live in a very dry location. The unit works by drawing fresh air from the outside through the unit’s moist pads. These pads cool the air through evaporation. The unit is energy-efficient because the only part that uses electricity is its fan. It also costs less.

It is possible to lower the temperature of outside air by as much as 30 degrees by using an evaporative cooler, which also improves your home’s humidity level.

Knowing the different types of residential air conditioning units can prove beneficial later when you want to replace your home’s cooling system.

Jane