Choosing the best air conditioning unit for your home can be overwhelming but this easy guide can help you decide.
In the Philippines, where the weather can get uncomfortably hot and humid,
having an air conditioner at home is definitely a huge plus. However,
choosing an aircon unit is definitely not easy. There are plenty of factors
to think about, such as the room size, cooling capacity, wattage, and, of
course, the cost. You also have different types of air conditioners to
choose from, which can make choosing an aircon more challenging.
How To Choose The Best Air Conditioner For Your Home [Easy Guide]
An air conditioning unit is now a home essential
Gone are the days when installing an air conditioning unit at home is a
luxury. With congested cities, fewer trees, and global warming, temperatures
have soared to unbearable levels, especially in a tropical country like the
Philippines. Just the same, summer months in western countries can be
excruciating as well. As such, air conditioning at home is now viewed as a
necessity.
What’s good about air conditioning units these days is that they are more
energy-efficient, thus, more affordable because of less power consumption.
For families that have small kids, it’s really more advisable to have an air
conditioning unit at home so that they are comfortable especially during hot
days. The last thing that you want is a baby crying all night because of the
heat.
What are the different types of air conditioners?
The best way to start when choosing the best air conditioner for your home is
to know and understand the various air conditioner types.
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| Photo by Max Vakhtbovych from Pexels |
Below, we list some of the most common types of air conditioners available in the Philippines. We hope that this can help you decide which one is the best
for your home cooling needs.
1. Window Air Conditioner
“Window-type” aircons are the most common type of air conditioning in the
Philippines. They’re usually mounted in a window, which is the reason behind
their name. However, you can also make a hole in the wall to install this type
of aircon.
One of the advantages of a window-type air conditioner is that everything is
contained in one unit. As such, they are easier to install. A window aircon is
also more affordable compared to other types of air conditioners.
Cooling-wise, this model is perfect for smaller rooms. If you live in a small
studio apartment, a single-window air conditioner is most probably enough to
cool an entire space. A window aircon is also perfect for cooling a bedroom or
a small office.
Do note that there are also larger window aircons with higher horsepower that
can cool larger spaces (although they are also more expensive).
2. Split-Type Air Conditioner
A
split type aircon, like its name implies, is usually split into two parts: the condenser unit
and the blower. The condenser is installed outdoors, while the blower is
mounted inside. The ideal mounting height is about 7 to 10 feet from the
floor, depending on the height of the room.
What’s great about this type of aircon is that because the condenser is
outside, the noise level is lower inside. There are also models where you can
connect two or more blowers to one condenser, which is perfect if you need to
cool more than one room. Compared to window-type air conditioners, split-type
aircons can also cover a bigger space.
Cost-wise, split-type air conditioners are more expensive than window aircons.
Still, if you’re cooling a big space and if you spring for an inverter unit,
split-types are definitely more efficient.
3. Portable Air Conditioner
Like a window aircon, a portable air conditioner is a self-contained or
standalone unit. However, unlike a window aircon or even a split-type one, a
portable air conditioner doesn’t need to be permanently installed.
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| Photo by Max Vakhtbovych from Pexels |
Instead, it
comes with an exhaust hose that carries the hot air out of the room and blows
it out a window. If it’s inadvisable to install window or split-type aircons
in your home (e.g., you are renting and limited in how much you can modify the
space), a portable aircon is a good alternative.
Another advantage of a portable aircon is that it’s quite compact, so it’s
perfect for small spaces. You can also bring it from room to room if you want,
so you can cool down the space that needs it most. However, because it’s
small, a portable air conditioner also can’t cool a large area. If you need
more powerful cooling, it’s better to choose other types of aircons.
4. Evaporative Coolers
Evaporative coolers or air coolers aren’t true air conditioners, in the sense
that they don’t use a refrigerant. Instead, they use water to cool the air.
The machine pulls in hot air and makes it pass through cooling pads, which is
what provides the cooling action. It’s perfect for those “in-between” weather
conditions, where it’s too warm for just a fan but too cold for an aircon.
An evaporative cooler also uses less energy than a traditional aircon and is
also more eco-friendly because it doesn’t release harmful vapors. The downside
is that because it uses water for cooling the air, it’s not too ideal for
humid weather. It may also not be enough to cool down an entire room, so you
might ultimately have to purchase a split-type or window aircon.
5. Central Air Conditioning
Central air conditioning is not a common sight in Philippine homes, but it’s
still a viable choice if you want a system that can cool down an entire space
as quickly as possible. The cool air is sent through air ducts, which is then
blown through vents installed on the ceiling.
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| Photo by Rachel Claire from Pexels |
Obviously, because of the complicated installation and the amount of power it
requires, central air conditioning tends to be expensive. Another downside is
that there’s no individual temperature control.
6. Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner
There’s also PTAC or packaged terminal air conditioner. You’ve probably seen
one of these in a hotel, like a split aircon unit but placed near the floor. A
PTAC doesn’t have ducts (unlike central air conditioning), which makes them
more affordable and less complicated to install. If you need to cool a big
space but don’t need something as big as central cooling, this type of air
conditioner could be a good choice.
Epilogue
An air conditioning unit is now essential for homes. It’s become more
affordable for families to buy and maintain one over the years.
However, it can also be overwhelming to decide on which type of air
conditioning to get for your home that’s why it’s best to understand the
different types of air conditioners first.
How about you? Have you made a choice yet? Happy aircon shopping!
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Air conditioning is a must in Texas! I did a lot of research before finding one that would work best for us. You have some great advice.
ReplyDeleteGreat timing! My sister is looking to replace their AC. I think they want a split type. Will definitely send this to her!
ReplyDeleteHonestly I haven't thought much about air conditioners until this year, but I think it would make such a big difference to our home. Definitely something I am going to look into.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the market for an air condition, thanks for sharing this information.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that there's a portable type of aircon. It sounds perfect for me.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to know about the different types of aircon. Portable sounds good.
ReplyDeleteThis is SO HELPFUL! We recently moved to the west coast and I was honestly really shocked by the amount of people that don't use central AC. I've had to learn a lot more than I thought!
ReplyDeleteI think this is so important, especially in the hot summer months. We have central air and love it. It's been the best option for us.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great guide. We don't have air con but considered it this year. I think portable would work best for me.
ReplyDeleteAir conditioners are really needed in Summer and we use Portable Air Conditioners
ReplyDeleteYes selecting good Air conditioner is important. Thanks for sharing all these different kinds of Air conditioner.
ReplyDeletehaven't really had a need for an air conditioning . But this year, I really considered it and still doing my research
ReplyDeleteThank you for the guide. It's starting to get chilly here now and we don't need A/C anymore, but we might need to get a new one next year. -LYNNDEE
ReplyDeleteWe need to be prepared for summer. And the cold season is the best time to buy an air conditioner!
ReplyDeleteYes true that now adays an air conditioning unit is now essential for homes. It’s become more affordable and worth to invest in.
ReplyDeleteEspecially during summer its really great to have an air conditioner.
Thank you for sharing this 5 tips on how to choose the best air conditioner for our homes.
Thank you for sharing this we need it air conditioning
ReplyDeletethey are more energy-efficient, more affordable because of less power consumption. But it choose Portable Air Conditioner because a self-contained or standalone unit.
Thank you for sharing this tips po, okay tlga ung makakapili tayo kung ano tlga ang mganda para house natin .
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's a necessity na po, lalo na pag tag init we really need this. I don't have an idea actually with its types kaya naman I find this list very helpful. I appreciate that you differentiate each types.
ReplyDelete