What Type of Aircon Should You Get for Your Home?

Many Filipinos know how important it is to have a trusty cooling system in their homes. After all, the tropical weather brings sweltering hot days even after the summer months are over. However, it’s not enough to buy just any air conditioner in the appliance store. You’ll want to ensure that your unit is highly efficient and appropriate for the space you want to place it in.

While shopping, you’re likely to encounter two common types of air conditioning units: the window type and the split type. Choosing between the two will depend on your needs, budget, and room size. If you need some help with deciding whether to buy a window type aircon or a split type aircon, below is a simple guide to help you make the right choice.

Distinguishing Between Window and Split Type Aircons

Air conditioners are composed of four main parts: an evaporator, a fan, a condenser, and a compressor. The evaporator and fan create the cold air that’s distributed within the space, which is why these parts are always located inside your home. The condenser and compressor, on the other hand, pump the refrigerant gas that’s used for cooling. Since they expel heat and make a lot of noise, they’re usually located outdoors.

Window type aircons combine all these parts into a single unit, with the indoor section facing inside and the outdoor section facing outside. Meanwhile, split type aircons separate the indoor and outdoor sections. The section with the evaporator and fan is kept inside a space and connected with a hose to the section with the condenser and compressor that is kept outside—usually 50 to 100 feet away.

Apart from the design differences between these two types of air conditioners, there are a few factors that you should consider when choosing what kind of aircon to get. Determining these details before making a purchase can help you select the right aircon for your needs.

Size

Bigger spaces require more cooling power compared to smaller ones. Installing a small aircon in a large space can result in inefficient performance and mechanical problems. Meanwhile, installing a large aircon in a small space can raise your energy consumption considerably.

The size of your aircon should be directly proportional to the size of your space. As window type aircons tend to be smaller than split type ones, they’re best suited for cooling smaller rooms. Conversely, split type air conditioners are ideal for bigger rooms due to their larger size.

Horse Power

Apart from the size of your air conditioner, it’s also important to determine the capacity needed to cool the space it will be placed in. This is called horsepower, or HP. Bigger spaces require aircons with a higher HP, while smaller spaces require aircons with a lower HP. For example, an aircon with 0.5 HP is best for spaces up to 11 square meters, while large rooms of up to 40 square meters will need a 2.5 HP aircon.

Factors like ceiling height, sunlight exposure, shade, and number of occupants can also increase or decrease your required HP. Keeping this in mind, both split and window type air conditioners are capable of possessing low or high HP, so it’s best to check the specific HP of a unit before buying it.

Pricing

So which among the two AC types is the most affordable? Usually, window type aircons are sold at lower prices due to their simpler designs. The price difference between the two types of aircons can range from 5,000 to 10,000 pesos. However, do note that prices will still depend on the brand and features of an air conditioner.

Ease of Installation

Since the parts of a window type aircon are combined into a single unit, it’s generally easier to install. It only requires a hole in your wall that can accommodate it and some brackets to hold it in place. On the other hand, installing a split type aircon is more complicated due to the configuration of its separate parts. Hence, you will need professional assistance during installation.

Ease of Maintenance

The simple and unified design of window type air conditioners also makes them easier to maintain. In fact, it’s quite possible to do some repairs yourself, though it’s still recommended that you hire a technician. Contrariwise, split type air conditioners require professional maintenance due to their complex parts—for this reason, having them serviced does tend to be costlier.

Energy Efficiency

Both split and window type air conditioners consume similar amounts of energy. However, on a technical level, split type aircons may have a slight upper hand. This is because most split type units on the market contain inverters. Inverters are mechanisms that can control the frequency of electrical currents, which automatically vary the speed of an aircon’s compressor. As a result, more energy is saved in the long run.

Appearance and Noise Level

In terms of appearance and noise level, split type aircons are more quiet and understated. Their sleek designs look refined, and since they’re mounted higher up on the wall, they don’t attract much attention. In addition, their noisiest part—the compressor—is placed at a distance, which allows them to operate quietly. On the other hand, window type aircons are quite bulky due to their consolidated design. They’re also noisier, since their compressor is located within the same unit.

It’s important to note that neither of the air conditioners discussed above is superior to the other. Ultimately, the kind of aircon you should buy will depend on a variety of factors. By familiarizing yourself with the capabilities and pitfalls of both aircon types, you can purchase the best unit for you and your family’s needs.

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