Choosing an air conditioner for your home or apartment is an important decision that affects the comfort, energy consumption, and durability of the equipment. The modern market offers many models with different characteristics and functions, so when choosing an air conditioner, it is important to consider factors such as the area of the room, the power of the device, the noise level, and other functions.
These considerations can also vary depending on the climate in your region. For example, the requirements for air conditioner installation in San Diego are different from those in colder areas, where the needs aren’t the same.
How to Choose an Air Conditioner by Type?
There are three main types of air conditioners. They differ from each other not only and not so much in functions but in the permissible area of the rooms:.
- Standard household option. These are wall-mounted systems with indoor and outdoor units, also known as split systems. Their choice on the market is extremely wide, most of them are quite suitable for spaces of 30-50 m².
- If the room is small in area or there is no possibility of installing a wall-mounted model, it is easier to choose a mobile floor-standing air conditioner on wheels. It is easy to move and store in a closet.
- For spacious rooms from 50 m², cassette systems are commonly used. They require high ceilings because they are mounted behind hanging panels.
- If different rooms require different temperatures, you can choose a multi-split system. But this will require, firstly, a fairly large budget and, secondly, a relatively large amount of work on drilling internal and external walls.
Alternatively, you can consider a combination of a split system and a mobile model. Then, in the main rooms, you can maintain an acceptable temperature for all residents and additionally allocate a cool or, conversely, warmer zone.
The power range of household models allows this. Also, depending on your tasks, you can choose a set of air conditioners with different characteristics and additional features for different rooms.
What Characteristics Should You Pay Attention?
There are eight main parameters that are important to consider. If one of them doesn’t meet your needs, it might not be noticeable at first, but if several are overlooked, the air conditioner may quickly feel unsuitable.
Cooling Capacity
The larger the area of the room, the more powerful the device should be. With a ceiling height of up to 3 m, we proceed from 1 kW for every 10 m². That is, for a room of 15 m², at least 1.5 kW will be required.
However, you usually do not have to do the calculations yourself – the manufacturer immediately indicates what area the model is designed for. An air conditioner with a power reserve is often considered in two situations:
- Computers and other electrical appliances that generate heat are operating in the room.
- The windows face south, which is why the sun heats the space more strongly.
- In such situations, it is common to add up to 5 m² to the actual area when calculating the required equipment capacity.
Energy Consumption Level
The energy efficiency class is designated by letters — from the highest A to the lowest G. Pluses (+) are also used, which reflect the differences in efficiency within the class. Sometimes, equipment corresponds to different classes depending on the operating mode. For example, A++ is for cooling, and A+ is for heating.
The more economical the device, the more expensive it is, and in practice, overpaying is not always rational. For example, A+++ models for areas up to 20 m² consume from 400 W, and similar A++ – from 600 W, but can cost half as much.
However, it is important not to overdo it with savings. Household air conditioners of classes B, C, and D cost slightly less than their category A counterparts. At the same time, the savings quickly come to naught due to increased energy consumption.
Noise Level
Depends on the power of the device and is measured in decibels (dB). A level of 20 dB corresponds to the barely audible noise of the wind in the treetops.
But such quiet models are relatively expensive. Budget models produce noise of up to 30–50 dB during operation — this forces you to speak louder to hear the other person and turn up the volume when watching a video. Many people find this noise disturbing when sleeping comfortably.
Dimensions
There are no general recommendations here, each one proceeds from the size and layout of the room. But you should not buy a miniature air conditioner without studying its characteristics: such models are designed for rooms up to 5–10 m².
Control System
Most often, you can find one of four types of control:.
- Buttons on the body;
- Remote control, which is supplied in the kit;
- Smartphone application;
- Integration into the smart home system.
It is convenient when information about the operation of the equipment is displayed not only on the body but also on the remote control or smartphone. The most technologically advanced modern models allow you to remotely monitor the microclimate and control it at your own discretion. Buying and installing such an air conditioner will cost more.
Filters
All models are equipped with coarse filters that collect large dust. They need to be cleaned at least monthly.
Additionally, you can install anti-allergy and antibacterial filters and deodorizing elements to eliminate unpleasant odors, such as cigarette odors. In relatively expensive air conditioners, such features are provided initially.
Availability of Additional Functions
Additional functions in air conditioners can be varied. Among the most important ones that may be needed:.
- Automatic restart after a failure;
- Self-cleaning, which prevents mold;
- Night mode with reduced noise level;
- Ability to change the direction of the air flow;
- Humidification and active operation mode (turbo);
- Heating;
- Drying;
- Ventilation;
- Ionization.
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Conclusion
The choice of air conditioner provides a comfortable microclimate, energy savings, and durability of the device. It is important to consider the features of the room, the power of the system, and additional functions. It is also equally important to entrust the installation to specialists to avoid problems with the operation of the equipment.
