If you are planning on overhauling your air conditioning in the near future, then you have a couple of decisions to make. You might think that a central air conditioner is your only choice, but there is actually a pretty big variety out there. One of your options is to get a window-based air conditioner.
What is a window-based air conditioner?
Although you might have seen one of these before, you might not understand exactly how they work. In short, they can be installed in most vertically-opening windows, although you want to make sure that the window frame is the same size as the air conditioner. In order for the air conditioner to function, the window will essentially become unusable, since the window cannot be closed while the AC is set up.
The air conditioner pretty much acts like a membrane between the inside and outside of your home, adding cool air to your home and venting the heat waste outside your home. This is how a central air conditioner works as well, but window-based units work on a single room rather than cooling down an entire building.
What advantages does a window-based air conditioner bring to the table?
First of all, these units are a lot easier to install than central air conditioners. All you need is an available window frame and air conditioner, and you are ready to install the unit yourself. If you don't have ventilation already in place, then setting up a central AC system will cost a lot more than a window-based unit.
Similarly, if something does go wrong, then you will be able to easily access the AC and figure out what's wrong. With a central air conditioner, your problem could lie in the ventilation or in the central air conditioner itself. While looking into the central AC unit can be as simple as troubleshooting a window-based AC, the ventilation can be much more difficult to access. With a window-based unit, you eliminate the need for that ventilation, at least as far as air conditioning is concerned.
How efficient is a window-based air conditioner?
Furthermore, window-based units can actually be more efficient than central units in the right circumstances. For example, if you just want to cool down a single room and don't care about the temperature in the other rooms, then a window-based unit can fulfill your needs without wasting any power. On the other hand, a central unit would generate a ton of extra cold air in order to cool your other rooms, which will translate into high electrical bills. Contact a business that specializes in air conditioning repair if you have more information.
My name is Maura, and I am certified in HVAC installation and repair. I have many clients who call me in a panic because they have turned on their air conditioners and nothing has happened. Your air conditioning technician will get to you as soon as possible, but there are some steps you can take while you are waiting. You might just find that you are able to fix the problem on your own, although you will still want to have a professional assess the situation. In this blog I will take you through some common reasons your air conditioner might not be working and show you some easy temporary solutions.