Air-conditioners do not only cool the air, but can also heat it, dehumidify it and filter it.
So, if the climate in your area is unbearably hot and humid, or it is awfully cold; then installing an air-conditioner will go a long way to improving the level of comfort and the quality of the air inside your home. Air-conditioners are a great help to people who suffer from allergies – they purify the air, which helps ease hay fever and other allergy symptoms.
Air-conditioning systems are generally available in three different options, namely central air-conditioning, the smaller wall-mounted air-conditioning machines, and lastly, the portable units.
Central air-conditioning
Central air-conditioning works from a central location to distribute the conditioned air throughout the house. This unit uses a strong fan to move the cool air through a series of ducts in the ceiling, to all the rooms in the home. Each room will have a control, which will let as much cool or warm air into the room as required.
It is important to invest in the correct size machine to cool your home down to the preferred temperature. If the system is too large, you will be wasting a lot of energy and money. If the system is not strong enough for your needs, your home will not be sufficiently cooled down. With the ever rising cost of electricity, it is important to get the most economical air-conditioning system possible.
One of the advantages of the central-air conditioning unit is that the only thing you see on the inside of your house is the ceiling grill through which the cool air flows. The central air-conditioner does not always fit into every home however, and tends to be quite a bit more costly than its wall-mounted counterpart.
Wall-mounted air-conditioners
In many cases, not all the rooms in a home are unpleasantly hot. In double story homes for example, the hot areas tend to be located upstairs, and then very often, only one or two of the upstairs rooms are affected by the heat, depending on their orientation. In these instances, a wall-mounted air-conditioner is an ideal solution. It is also a great option for open-plan living areas, as the unit will be able to service the entire area and won't be hindered by dividing walls.
The wall-mounted system can be bought in many different sizes to handle certain areas. Once again, it is essential to carefully measure the area before going out to buy a unit to make sure you get the best suited size for your particular needs. These units are also available in under-ceiling or floor-mounted options. If you have two or three wall-mounted air-conditioners fitted in your home, then you only need to switch on the units when you are in that particular area, thus saving you electricity. Most air-conditioners have thermostats, so each room can be kept at a specified temperature.
To give wall-mounted units a more attractive aesthetic, many modern units come in various colours, mirror or metallic finishes, so that they can either blend in with their décor surrounds. However, in most cases, these units are available in an all-white finish.
Portable air-conditioning units
If you want the benefits of air-conditioning, but are on a tight budget, then the portable unit is the best solution. Portable units are the least expensive air-conditioning option on the market, they don't need installation, and they can be packed away when they are not needed. If you are working from home, you can have the unit in the office during the day and move it through to the lounge and bedroom at night. On the downside however, they are not the most streamlined or attractive option available, nor are they the most functional – with only limited cooling and warming capacity. - Antonella Dési
Pictures courtesy of:
LG Air-Conditioning
Knight Air
For more information click here to visit the LG Air-Conditioning website.
For more information click here to visit the Knight Air website.
Readers' Comments
Have a comment or question about this article? Email us now.