How to Choose the Right Air Conditioner
- HADDADVS
- Sep 5, 2021
- 9 min read
Updated: Nov 25, 2021
What are air conditioners and how do they work?
The concept of air conditioning began in ancient Rome, where water was circulated through the walls of some houses to cool it. With the passage of time and technical development, the air conditioner has become an indispensable device in homes, workplaces and all facilities.
Air conditioning is the process of creating and maintaining a specific temperature, relative humidity and purity of indoor air conditions for a high level of personal comfort, and is also used in industrial applications to ensure the correct operation of equipment or machinery.
Despite the variety and multiplicity of air conditioners, they are all similar in their basic working principle, as air conditioning and industrial refrigeration (such as home refrigerators) work with the same mechanism; Liquids such as water or air are cooled by the evaporation of another liquid called a refrigerant. The refrigeration circuit which consists of compressor, evaporator, condenser and expansion device is an integral part of both systems.
Calculate the appropriate volume of air conditioner for the room (ton)
You can calculate the appropriate air conditioner volume using the formula (length * width * height * 300), and then divide the result by 12000.
Example: If an air conditioner is selected for a room with a height of 3 meters, length of 9 meters and width of 5 meters, the cooling units can be calculated by:
Air conditioner cooling units: 3 * 8 * 5 * 300 = 36000 cooling units,
Thus, the appropriate air conditioner volume: 40500 / 12000 = 3 tons.
Types of Air Conditioners
There are several types of air conditioners, including:
Central air conditioner
Split air conditioner
Window air conditioner
Chilled-water conditioner
Concealed conditioner
Mini Split Air Conditioner
Desert air conditioner
In this article, we will talk about the three most popular types of air conditioners that are suitable for home use:
1. Central Air Conditioning
What is it and what are its advantages?
Among the different types of home air conditioners, this is the one that is most suitable for large homes, commercial places and companies, and it is considered the ideal cooling system in high temperature places such as the Arabian Gulf region, and countries with high humidity, due to its ability to cool efficiently and effectively.
The central air conditioner allows you to fully control the air flow and adjust the temperature of each room independently of the others, regardless of the number of rooms present. You can also turn off the cooling for any room you want and leave the rest of the rooms to work with the cooling. And not only that, but it also contains a dehumidifier to provide more comfort in the place.
In addition, it provides you with a mild climate in the summer and a warm climate in the winter if you prefer to operate it on hot air if you are in a country with a low temperature.
Finally, the presence of central air conditioning in your home gives it luxury and enhances its purchasing value if you are thinking of selling the house later.
The way it works:
Central air conditioners work through the central unit, which is often on the roof of the house, where cold air is pumped out of it through a group of insulated metal ducts (Ducts) located in the wall or floors, to deliver cold air to multiple rooms on different floors. Hot air through separate ducts.
Structural and Architectural Requirements:
The installation of a central air conditioning system requires a lot of planning and preparation, as it requires locating the feeding and intake holes and places for the passage of air ducts, pipes and air outlets (ventilation grilles), then making vertical holes in the concrete before pouring and also making horizontal holes in the walls for the passage of air ducts ( duct).
It also requires increasing the height of the building due to the need for a suspended ceiling in the building.
Suitable space for Implementation:
If you have a large house and need air conditioning in more than three rooms of it, central air conditioning is the ideal choice for you.
Execution and Installation Cost
One of the biggest disadvantages of the central adaptation system is the high cost of implementation and installation, as it requires accurate implementation plans and requires the presence of air ducts, insulators and cladding (metal to cover the external parts of the machine and the interior of the building), and it also needs specialized companies to implement it.
The cost of central air conditioning for a single floor with an area of approximately 350 meters may reach 90,000 Saudi riyals, including the price of equipment, extensions and installation cost.
Operation cost, electricity consumption and maintenance:
The central air conditioner has the advantage that it cools all the rooms of the house or the entire place through one machine, so the operating cost is less than the cost of operating an air conditioner for each room separately. In addition to saving maintenance costs instead of maintaining several devices will be only one device.
Its Effect on the General Appearance
One of the most important features of the central air conditioner is that it adds an aesthetic touch to the place unlike other types of air conditioners that negatively affect the general appearance of the place, because it is pipes that have been extended so that they are buried underground or directly under the concrete ceiling and covered with the suspended ceiling as well as the indoor unit is also covered by the ceiling commentator.
As for the central outdoor unit, you can hide it out of sight on the rooftop, patio or in a remote part of the garden.
Air Distribution in Place
The central air conditioner creates an equal distribution of air in all rooms of your home, whether it is the bedroom, living room, or even the office, so that there is no temperature difference in the house, which may lead to health problems for family members.
Periodic Maintenance:
The central air conditioner needs periodic maintenance every year, and the focus is on: filters, electrical wire coils, air conditioning fins, condensate water drainage, and good insulation of the air conditioning installation area from the outside.
Despite the high maintenance costs of the central air conditioner, it has the advantage that maintenance work is carried out outside the building, as the equipment is far from the place to be air-conditioned.
The Noise:
The central air conditioning system is the least in noise compared to other types of air conditioners that emit annoying sounds in the indoor unit.
The Life Span:
Central air conditioners have a long life span, so they are very widely used in heavy-duty commercial places. In addition, it is designed to operate 24 hours a day in public places.
2. Concealed air conditioning
What is it and what are its advantages?
Concealed air conditioner is one of the types of split air conditioning systems, and it is considered one of the most popular and practical systems in the Kingdom and the most sought after by customers in recent times.
With one system consisting of two units and indoor air reaches all places, making it the perfect solution for air conditioning. It can even be used for heating if the equipment includes a heat pump, so we can use it in winter and summer, and it also contains filters to purify the air from microbes and is chemically treated against bacteria and various air damages.
The Way it Works:
The concealed air conditioner consists of two parts, an external unit (mostly placed on the roof of the house) and an internal unit, which are push fans.
Structural and Architectural Requirements:
The installation of a concealed air conditioning system also requires planning and preparation, but less than a central air conditioner, as the cooling area is less, as it requires laying plastic pipes during the stage of the structural structure through which it passes, then establishing water drainage pipes heading to the nearest toilet, then establishing extensions and locations of the thermostat The interior cooling units are then installed with Duct ducts, taking into account the design of the false ceiling and grille.
Suitable Space for Implementation:
Hidden air conditioners are installed within the limited spaces of homes (one or two rooms, halls) and the appropriate size is chosen according to the space.
And its installation inside open halls, majlis and living rooms is the most appropriate, as the air distribution it provides gives a wonderful impression.
The concealed air conditioner is available with capacities starting from 18,000 units (1.5 tons) up to 60,000 units (5 tons).
Execution and Installation Cost:
The hidden air conditioner is characterized by that the cost of its implementation is medium, as it is lower compared to the traditional central air conditioning, but it is more than 40-50% than the split air conditioner, because it requires costs of establishment in addition to the presence of air ducts.
Operation cost, electricity consumption and maintenance:
The operating cost and electricity consumption of the concealed air conditioner is lower than the central air conditioner, as it can install units of different sizes and operate each room as needed, thus reducing the energy wasted on air conditioning the empty rooms, which is more than that of the split air conditioner because it covers larger areas.
Its effect on the general appearance and appearance of the place
As in the case of the central air conditioner, one of the most important features of the concealed air conditioner is that it gives a magic solution for cooling and heating and providing perfect temperature control without affecting the interior aesthetics of the house.
Air Distribution in Place
The concealed air conditioner has the ability to direct the air to more than one area (distribution point) inside the place through the “Ducts” air ducts.
Periodic Maintenance:
The concealed air conditioner has a low maintenance cost compared to central air conditioning systems, and it does not require much maintenance work for the indoor unit, as it is inside the false ceiling away from sources of pollution and dust.
The Noise:
The concealed air conditioner is quiet during work, as the push fans are far from the room to be cooled and are usually placed in the ceilings of bathrooms and nearby corridors.
3. Split Conditioner
What is it what are its advantages?
Split air conditioning is the most popular and widespread air conditioner, as it is easy to control as you can control this device remotely, and it also has the ability to quickly cool the room.
The Way it Works:
It is an air conditioner that consists of two separate units (which is why it was called a split), one of which is placed inside the room to be cooled and called the evaporator “hung on the wall or installed in the ceiling of the room”, and the other unit, which is called the condensing unit, is placed outside the room “and this unit is the It contains mechanical parts and refrigeration devices such as a compressor, and it can be placed on the roof of the house or hung on the external wall of the house.” Then the two units are connected through gas pipes and electrical cables.
The principle of cooling in this type of air conditioner depends on the circulation of Freon gas within the refrigerating circuit, to obtain cool air in the end.
Structural and Architectural Requirements:
The separate air conditioner is distinguished from the previous types in that it does not require any previous structural and architectural requirements. When installing it, it only needs to make a small opening that is only sufficient for the passage of wires and pipes that connect between the two parts.
Suitable Space for Implementation:
These air conditioners are more widely used in bedrooms and relatively small rooms, and they are available in different sizes, some of them are designed for small rooms, and some are suitable for large rooms and warehouses, and the cooling capacities of these air conditioners range from 1 ton to 4 tons of cooling.
Execution and Installation Cost
One of the biggest advantages of a separate air conditioner is that the cost of installing it is lower than the previous types because it does not require previous structural and architectural requirements, as its installation is easy and takes only a few hours.
Operation cost, electricity consumption and maintenance:
Compared to the previous types, it is the lowest in operating costs, electricity consumption and energy saving. A special technology for split devices called an inverter has also been developed, which can save nearly 40% of energy consumption.
Its effect on the general appearance
Although the interior unit of the split air conditioner has a variety of designs, elegance, and aesthetics, it affects the decorations of gypsum ceilings and sometimes contradicts the decor of the curtains and distorts the general appearance of the place because it is clearly visible.
Air Distribution
This type of air conditioner distributes air only in the area around the indoor unit, so it is not suitable for large spaces such as open halls, majlis and living rooms.
Periodic Maintenance:
The split air conditioner is the easiest and least expensive to maintain. You can clean it yourself with ease, as it does not take much time to remove any of the dirt or dust on it
The Noise:
Split air conditioners are less noisy because the condensing unit is outside the house but it is close to the place, so this type of air conditioner is more noisy than the previous types.
In summary, the following table summarizes for you the features, advantages and disadvantages of the previous air conditioners, in order to make it easier for you to choose.
Disclaimer: All information contained in our blog is general information for indicative only and we do not make any representations or guarantees, either express or implied, about the reliability, accuracy, or availability of these data, numbers, or information contained in the blog.
Contact us now and get a free consultation on the type of air conditioner that is most suitable for your property
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