What was thought to be a luxury a generation or two ago is considered a necessity for the majority of homes and businesses within the United States. Air conditioning not only adds to our general comfort but also helps in maintaining a healthy indoor environment by reducing humidity and the likelihood of mold and mildew flourishing.

Air conditioning is one of those amenities that is easy to take for granted if you have it, and on a hot, humid summer afternoon, easy to wish for it if you don’t. In fact, in relatively warm climates, central air conditioners have become more the standard than the exception.

Air conditioners come in four main types: window units, through the wall units, portable units and whole house/central air units. Window units come in three main flavors: double-hung windows, sliding windows and casement windows.

Window units will usually convert between types with special hardware, which is often included. Small through the wall units will often convert into window units. Large through the wall, and central air units usually require professional installation, which adds to the cost.

For those who aren’t familiar with the terms, a central air conditioner works from a central location to distribute conditioned air throughout the entire house. Unlike a small, window or wall-mounted room air conditioner, designed to cool a small area, a central air conditioner borrows a central air handling unit such as a forced air furnace or heat pump and ductwork for whole-house delivery. The related heat pump is essentially a central air conditioner that can be reversed in winter to heat a house.

The small window units discussed are primarily used in apartment buildings, small offices and older homes that obviously do not have central air conditioning. The benefits of these smaller units are that they cool a room in a short amount of time, and they are very cost efficient to purchase, however not very cost efficient to run! The biggest complaint about these units is the amount of noise they make, but I guess as with anything, you get used to the noise. The higher the BTU’s, the larger the space it will cool.

Article written by Gary Nave of http://www.air—conditioners.com

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Gary Nave writes for www.air—conditioners.com

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