Air conditioners come in three basic types. There are packaged central air conditioners, room air conditioners and split-system central air conditioners. Air conditioners work on the same principal as a refrigerator, but on a larger scale.

Packaged Central Air Conditioners

Packaged central air conditioners are used in both small businesses and privat residences. The unit is enclosed in a cabinet that is normally beside the building or on its roof.

Split-System Central Air Conditioner

Split-system units are housed in two cabinets. One cabinet is outside and holds the condenser and the compressor. The other cabinet sits inside, usually in a basement or closet, and holds the evaporator.

Room Air Conditioners

Room air conditioners are a single unit, normally placed in a window. Technically speaking these are not central air conditioners. These are meant to cool smaller areas, or to supplement a larger unit in a particular room of a building.

Size

Factors to determine size include: How large and well insulated is your home? How many people live there? How many appliances are in the home? Does your home have shade, or windbreaks? How many windows, and how efficient are they?

Options

Consider energy efficiency ratings, availability and space for the unit. This helps determine which air conditioner is right for your needs.

Source:

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