Air conditioners for residential use are available in all shapes and sizes. Whether you live in a small apartment or a multi-leveled home, there is an HVAC system that matches your home’s requirements. Let’s take a look at the most popular types of air conditioners available today.
Central Air Conditioners
Central air conditioners are the most popular type of cooling system used in most homes. A single air conditioning unit is connected to a series of ducts that run throughout the house. Rooms are fitted with supply ducts, where cool air is supplied, as well as return registers, where warm air is filtered to remove moisture, dust, and dirt, and then fed into the air conditioner for cooling.
A split-system air conditioner is a type of central air conditioner that’s split into two units: an indoor evaporator unit, and an exterior condenser unit. The latter houses the compressor, which is basically the heart of the air conditioner, and is the component responsible for keeping the refrigerant cool. A packaged air conditioner is the single-unit counterpart of split systems and is typically installed on the roof or on a concrete slab.
Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioners
Ductless mini split air conditioners are functionally the same as split-system air conditioners but have a wall-mounted evaporator instead of being fed into ductwork. This type of air conditioner is available in a single configuration that can cool one room or small apartment as well as in multiple-evaporator units that connect into a single exterior condenser unit. The latter works best for average-sized homes that do not have existing ductwork.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are much like split-type air conditioners with one major difference: the compressor process is user-reversible. Instead of venting the heat generated by the refrigerant during condensation, it is fed into the ductwork (or indoor unit), effectively functioning as a combined heating and air conditioning system in one unit. Other kinds of heat pumps work like fans that vent or pull hot air depending on the weather.
The Right Air Conditioner Service for Your Home
Do you need help with choosing a certain kind of air conditioner for your home? Call O.K. Heating & Air Conditioning today at (925) 337-8319 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free estimate.