How to choose an air conditioner: which one is better for an apartment, for a house

How to choose an air conditioner is a multifaceted task, the solution of which, given the variety of climate equipment on the market, is more correct to entrust to professionals. However, the advice of the Vencon specialists will help everyone who intends to buy an air conditioner to freely operate with the key parameters of choosing a unit.

So, you have to choose an air conditioner. First of all, decide on its power, type and additional features (functions).

Calculation and selection of air conditioner power

The main «indicator» of the efficiency of any air conditioner is its power. The quality of the resulting cooling, the smooth operation of the equipment and the service life depend on the correct choice of the power of the climatic device.

It would seem that there is nothing complicated: an area of ​​​​12 m² will require a unit with an indicator of 1 kW. However, taking into account only the area of ​​u200bu200bthe room is wrong. Work efficiency will also be affected by:

• Type of property and its purpose. If the operation is for commercial purposes (for example, a fitness center or cinema), models with higher performance should be preferred.
• Design features of the room (the presence of windows, doors, ceiling height, number of storeys). These features also affect the choice of power in the direction of its increase.
• The number of people and equipment. Working devices generate additional heat, so do not miss this fact when buying an air conditioning device.

Each air conditioner has technical documentation, which indicates such an indicator as BTU / h. This parameter is responsible for the cooling capacity and can be displayed in the model name. Today, there is such a classification of capacities:

• Meaning «five» (5). The power of BTU / h is 5000. In kilowatts, this is 1.47. Models of air conditioners with such a capacity are designed for an area of ​​u200bu200bno more than 15 m².
• Meaning «seven» (7). This device is purchased for areas not exceeding 21 m². The BTU power index is 7000, and in kW it is 2.05.
• Meanings «nine», «twelve», «eighteen» and «twenty-four» (9, 12,18,24 respectively). Each model has its own BTU / h power rating. To determine how much it is in kilowatts, you must apply the formula: 1 BTU / h * 0.293. The result is 2.64 kW (row model 9), 3.52 kW (model row 12), 5.28 kW (model row 18) and 7.0 kW (model row 24).

For more convenience, you can use the following list:

The choice of air conditioning devices is a complex task and requires an individual approach. The purchase of a high-quality and economical air conditioner should be entrusted to professionals.

How to choose an air conditioner for an apartment: power determines a lot

To select an air conditioner, power is the initial parameter. Not only how comfortable it will be in the room depends on the correct selection of power, but also whether the unit can stably and reliably cope with its duties. Lack of power will force the air conditioner to work virtually constantly, which will increase energy consumption and is guaranteed to lead to premature equipment failure.

• In order to choose the right air conditioner, use the preliminary calculation formula: 1 kW of power per 10 m² of area (based on a ceiling height of about 2.8-3 m).

In addition, when calculating the required power of the air conditioner, you should additionally take into account:

• Sunny side. We add approximately 25-30% to the initial power of the unit.
• Availability of household appliances. For one heat emitter (computer, TV, satellite receiver), we add about 0.2-0.3 kW.
• A large number of people. Each person who is constantly in the room generates excess heat, which will require another 100 watts of power to compensate.

Based on the obtained value of the most important parameter — power, you can easily determine which air conditioner you should buy.

Types of air conditioners: which air conditioner fits where

Depending on the place of application and power, air conditioners are divided into types:

Household air conditioners — power in the range of 1.5-8 kW. Such units are designed mainly to work in one separate room of a house, apartment, cottage or office. Household units can be monoblock (window and mobile models). The most common wall-mounted split systems or multi-split systems.

Semi-industrial air conditioners. Units with a power of up to 30 kW are designed for installation in cottages (country houses), large apartments, small shops and offices with an area of ​​u200bu200bno more than 300 m². They are distinguished by increased reliability and a longer resource than household models. There are channel, ceiling, cassette, wall and combined (internal blocks of different types are switched to one external unit) models.

Industrial air conditioners — chiller-fan coil systems, precision, rooftop, cabinet, central models and VRF (VRV) multizone systems. Installation of industrial air conditioners is carried out in shopping centers, office complexes, sports facilities, server and office buildings. The power of some chillers reaches 10,000 kW.

Types of air conditioners by type of location

The variety of air conditioners allows you to purchase the most suitable model, depending on the area of ​​u200bu200bthe room, the method of attachment and design.

Wall mounted air conditioners

The most popular are wall-mounted split system air conditioners. Such units are produced for everyday (household) and semi-industrial operation. Wall-mounted climate control equipment is the choice of 90% of customers.

This climatic device consists of indoor and outdoor units (split system). The inner part is mounted under the ceiling and often near the window. This allows you to reduce the material and labor costs for installation by several times. The operation of the air conditioner is controlled using a remote or wall panel.

The external part of the split system is located outside — this is an advantage, since this unit is quite noisy in operation.

Cassette air conditioners

This type of climate control equipment is usually installed in industrial buildings. This is due to the fact that a sufficient ceiling height is required for installation — 3 meters or more — because the device is mounted in the inter-ceiling space.

Place the main unit of the air conditioner (one or more) usually in the center of the ceiling. It is unobtrusive and is able to supply air flows in several directions at the same time.

It is advantageous to purchase cassette air conditioners for large rooms — this is the only way material investments will be economically justified.

The essential advantages of this unit: the possibility of fresh air from outside and the heating function. These options are available on most models.

Duct air conditioners

Channel conditioners, as well as cassette, are placed between the main and decorative ceilings. Powerful and productive devices require special design and installation. Therefore, before purchasing this unit, it is necessary to get high-quality advice and develop a draft climate system.

This type of air conditioner is ideal for rooms where there are often a large number of people. It has an outer and inner part, as well as air ducts through which the conditioned air is distributed throughout the room. Important: one such system is able to cope with many tasks — dehumidification, cleaning or heating. In addition, just one ducted air conditioner can effectively cool large rooms.

Floor-to-ceiling air conditioners

The main positive characteristics of floor and ceiling air conditioning devices include:

• Easy, low-cost installation (both on the ceiling and on the floor) and noiseless.
• Soft and uniform distribution of air flows (due to design features).
• The ability to use the device not only to lower the temperature in the room, but also to increase it. There are models with the heating function that works effectively even at an outside temperature of -20°C.
• The presence of various options — ionization, dehumidification, air purification, etc.
• The small dimensions of the body, thanks to which the air conditioner harmoniously fits into any interior.

The cost of floor-to-ceiling air conditioners is high, but justified by the quality.

Floor air conditioners

A characteristic difference of the floor air conditioner is its local placement — on the floor. This simplifies installation and maintenance by eliminating the need for special tools to access the equipment.

The floor-mounted climate unit is no different from a standard split system: it has indoor and outdoor units, identical functions and a wide range of models. Ideal when using the heating function.

Mobile air conditioners

The possibility of free movement is an indisputable advantage of a mobile air conditioner. This model has all the same options as the standard split system. For installation, only an opening in the wall (or in a window) is required for installing the corrugated pipe. This is necessary for the release of heated air. The mobile air conditioner is powered by the mains.

As for the functions: the possibilities of mobile units are quite wide. In most models there is filtration, air ionization, heating.

Specific differences include noise and high cost. In addition, almost all models have low power, which negatively affects performance. Despite this, a mobile air conditioner is an indispensable climatic device when it is not possible to install a stationary one.

Column air conditioners

The column-type air conditioner has a rectangular shape, is mounted on the floor and is able to cool / heat up to 170 m². Outwardly, it looks bulky, so it is installed in spacious rooms: catering kitchens, cinema halls, gyms.

The principle of conditioning column units is the same as in traditional split systems. The advantage of column type air conditioners is simplicity and, at the same time, high performance.

Window air conditioners

A distinctive feature of a window air conditioner is its design. The product consists of one block, which combines all the necessary functions. Thanks to this, the air conditioner is compact and simple. The device is mounted in a window or wall opening with access to the street.

Despite the fact that the unit is designed for small spaces, it is in great demand. This is due to its low price, and the possibility of reinstallation.

Choosing a household air conditioner in an apartment or house: about split systems

When planning to buy an air conditioner in Kyiv, most consumers opt for split systems, which optimally combine such parameters as price, efficiency, ease of installation and operation.

• The split system, which is today the classic version of the air conditioner, consists of two blocks — internal (mounted indoors), and external, respectively, installed outdoors. Unit blocks are connected by freon ducts and electrical cables.

This design allows you to take out the compressor — the most noisy and voluminous part of the unit, leaving a compact (often very stylish) wall-mounted unit in the room. At the same time, in addition to the wall-mounted unit, indoor units of various modifications can be switched to the external unit — cassette, floor, channel or ceiling.

• Multisplit system is a logical development of a split system. In this case, several (up to 5-7) indoor units are connected to one powerful outdoor unit, which can differ in both power (2-5 kW) and type (wall-mounted, channel, etc.). Installing a multi-split system allows you to maintain the external visual appeal of the building and save space.

Knowing how to choose an air conditioner by type and power, it is important to remember the following: household units do not ventilate (there is no outside air flow)! Household air conditioners use only the air that is in the room, and the efficiency of their work directly depends on its tightness.

How to choose an air conditioner: a variety of functionality

Buying an air conditioner today means getting at your disposal a multifunctional air conditioning unit with many additional options:

• Ventilation. The mode is in demand in winter, when warm air accumulating under the ceiling should be evenly distributed throughout the entire volume of the room.
• Air cleaning. Before the heat exchanger, the air passes through a filter system. Household air conditioners can be equipped with coarse filters (retain large dust) and fine filters, which trap particles of dust, smoke and plant pollen. Odor-removing carbon filters, electrostatic filters that capture microparticles, as well as the finest HEPA filters that trap dust nanoparticles are also installed.
• Dehumidification — reduction of air humidity.
• Ionization is the saturation of air with anions.
• Humidification — the indoor air receives all the moisture from the outdoor air.
• Change of flow direction. The option allows you to deflect the air flow in the desired direction, avoiding the cold air jet directly hitting people.
• Automatic mode — the air conditioner independently selects the mode and intensity of work.

When choosing an air conditioner, special attention should be paid to the availability and quality of the protection system. As a rule, household air conditioners of the budget segment have a minimum set of protective functions. With the growth of the class of the unit, its protection system becomes more complete and more reliable. For example, «Restart» allows the air conditioner not only to turn on after an emergency power outage, but also to return to the previous mode. It will not be superfluous to control the leakage of freon and the condition of the filters. Current protection will allow diagnosing the state of the device, and automatic defrosting will prevent the block from icing when operating in a temperature regime close to zero.

Which company to choose air conditioner

The HVAC segment is large and diverse. Air conditioners occupy not the last place in it. Depending on the functions, there are:

• inverter air conditioners. Models are presented by various brands and are available to a wide range of customers.
• Air conditioners with heating function. This option is available in each unit, but with possible restrictions on the air temperature outside the window (for example, up to -5°C).
• Air conditioners with dehumidification function. Most models with this option are presented in the middle price segment.

The entire range can be divided into three categories:

• Premium air conditioners;
• Climatic devices in the middle price range;
• budget units.

Air conditioners “Premium”

• Daikin brand. The world-class company has a network of production facilities in Germany, Turkey, the Czech Republic and other countries. The climatic equipment produced by these factories has characteristic features: constant improvement of devices, adaptation to modern domestic and industrial needs, inverter control (not in all models, but in most), high-quality filtration, high efficiency. Daikin air conditioners are appliances with maximum comfort. To date, Daikin is recognized as the best manufacturer of climate systems and devices.
• Air conditioners Mitsubishi Electric, manufactured in Thailand, have a stylish design and high quality. The produced models are able to heat / cool various types of premises — both domestic and industrial. A distinctive feature of the Mitsubishi Electric air conditioner is its operation on the principle of “fuzzy logic”. Its essence lies in the fact that the system automatically determines the temperature, based on the wishes of the user and based on the data received by the system (t, humidity).

The most popular air conditioners (average price)

• Gree air conditioners have all the necessary functions for human comfort in any room. The equipment gained its popularity due to its smooth operation, simple operation and affordable price. Almost all new models work not only in cooling mode, but also in heating. The filter elements of the unit purify the air from dust, fungi and allergens. Gree air conditioners have a self-diagnosis function and in case of minor problems they fix everything on their own — this greatly facilitates use.
• Cooper&Hunter air conditioners are the best choice in the climate technology market. C&H’s designers and engineers work closely with Daikin and often use Daikin’s components in their products. Cooper&Hunter air conditioners rarely break down. The lineup is decent. The price range is also very diverse — from 7,000 to 80,000 UAH, which allows you to make a choice based on the possibilities.

Budget air conditioners

• Kentatsu air conditioners are divided into simple and advanced models. Therefore, this is reflected in the cost. Inverter control, high cooling capacity, efficiency, the possibility of heating at -15 ° C, air intake from the street — all this is inherent in more expensive Kentatsu models. However, if air conditioning is needed for infrequent domestic use, a budget unit is also suitable. Another advantage is the availability of service centers in Ukraine, which greatly simplifies repair or maintenance.
• Midea air conditioners are one of the most frequently encountered. This is due to the wide range and affordable price. The devices supply air in two directions, which ensures comfort while being in a cooled room. Silent air conditioners in the bedroom fit perfectly, even in Turbo mode. Filtration, automatic diagnostics, smooth operation are the basic necessary functions of an air conditioner. Despite its simplicity, Midea climate control equipment has proven itself well and is in demand.

We have selected the most interesting and popular models of air conditioners. For more detailed specifications, please contact our specialists.

Inverter air conditioners: real savings

Inverter air conditioners, the price of which is slightly higher than conventional models, have an important advantage — they consume up to 30% less electricity during operation! This can be achieved by smoothly changing the frequency (speed) of the compressor revolutions.

• The rejection of alternating compressor on / off in favor of constant and continuous power adjustment allows the inverter air conditioner not only to reduce (significantly!) Energy consumption and noise level, but also to accurately maintain user-defined temperature parameters.

Moreover, buying an inverter air conditioner means purchasing a unit that runs on heat in the winter! For example, at Vencon you can choose an air conditioner that can operate at temperatures down to -20°C.

«Venkon»: minimum prices, comprehensive service

Choosing an air conditioner is fundamentally different from choosing, for example, a refrigerator or a TV. And the point here is not only in specific parameters. Just buying an air conditioner in Kyiv with the necessary characteristics is not enough.

Good, even the best parameters, advanced technologies and multiple functions in themselves do not guarantee uninterrupted correct operation of the unit. The key to quality work and maintaining the manufacturer’s warranty obligations in full is the installation of an air conditioner, carried out at a professional level.

The Vencon online store offers the best prices in Kyiv and the region, as well as comprehensive service for purchased units:

«Venkon» — the quality and reliability of the air conditioner at the best price!

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