Welcome everyone to the Kondicionershik website! Today I will tell you how to choose an air conditioner for your home and where it is better to install it.
Air conditioners on the market not only cool the air, but also heat, clean and dry it to the required parameters. It is difficult for the average buyer to make a choice. Therefore, I recommend first deciding on a budget and then choosing a model. You will need to learn more about the brand and the features you need.
The most important criteria are the reliability and performance of the device. This year, models with ionizers, self-cleaning and self-diagnosis systems are popular. Manufacturers do not stand still, and every year they release new and improved models. To make sense of it all, I have prepared only the most important information.
What types of air conditioners are suitable for a private home?
The choice of air conditioner for a private home depends on the owner’s preferences - but only two types of devices are most suitable, which we will discuss later. More often, buyers choose wall-mounted split systems.
Wall split systems
Compact, wall-mounted units are practical, conveniently located, affordable, and ideal for air conditioning a single room or specific area of the home.
These air conditioners fit into the interior of any room. A typical split system for a home consists of a compressor, which is installed outside, and an indoor unit. The market offers a wide selection of climate control equipment models at different prices, so you can choose a model according to your requirements.
Experienced installers install and launch the system within 3-4 hours. Only specialized companies have everything that is required for installing wall-mounted air conditioners. But before buying a device in large supermarkets, check all the installation details (what materials are included in the price and how professional the installers are).
Duct air conditioners
Very rarely such systems are installed in houses, but if the ceiling height allows and you really want to get rid of the internal units, then you can install ducted air conditioners. Their indoor unit is usually located in the ceiling or attic, with the outdoor unit in a suitable location outside the home. Conditioned air circulates through a network of ducts from the indoor unit, exiting into rooms where only ventilation grilles or anemostats are visible. Temperature and operating hours are controlled by the control panel. But ducted devices are much more expensive than wall-mounted split systems.
Ducted air conditioning systems for home
They consist of an external compressor unit, a high-performance internal device and an extensive network of diffusers and grilles through which air is taken in and supplied.
Advantages:
- maintenance of a large house with dozens of rooms
- the ability to design a system to suit any user design requirements
Flaws:
- high cost of installation and equipment
- the same temperature in all rooms (it is not possible to configure individual parameters)
- high noise level
- Difficulties with access during maintenance
- installation must begin at the construction/renovation stage of the building
Most ducted systems are recirculation with the addition of street air, so for additional heating of the premises an additional heater or recuperator is inserted into the system.
Which is better to choose an air conditioner for your home: inverter or non-inverter?
Split systems are divided into traditional and inverter.
- Non-inverter devices operate on the on/off principle. To maintain a certain temperature, the device periodically turns on and off, which increases power consumption.
Inverter ones are gradually replacing their counterparts. Although their price is higher, the optimal operating mode can reduce energy costs by up to 40%, and they are also quieter and maintain temperature more accurately. Read more about these technologies in a separate article.
The best time to install any “conder” in a private house is after the construction of the house or during the preparation of all communications. Pipes and cables can be hidden in walls or ceilings for a cleaner installation. If you install air conditioners upon completion of repairs, then all communications are hidden in a box (cable duct).
Other climate control alternatives
Multi split systems are several indoor units that are connected to one outdoor unit. There are usually
used in houses with a non-standard layout, where the owners do not want to place several external units throughout the house. The indoor units operate independently of each other (the temperature in different rooms can be set differently). The price of multi-systems is an order of magnitude more expensive than conventional air conditioners. Their installation is also very expensive. Therefore, it is much more convenient to install separate splits in each room.
- A floor-mounted home air conditioner is usually purchased for temporary use. It is easy to move from room to room, or take it with you to the country house. These models are especially popular among owners of rental housing. Modern floor-mounted air conditioners have customizable or automatic modes to set the desired temperature, but in comparison with wall-mounted “splits” they are in many ways inferior to the latter.
- Window devices were once very popular, but are now outdated. They can still be found on sale, but they are not in demand.
Other types of air conditioners are practically not used in homes.
Air conditioners are sold in specialized companies, in the household appliance departments of hypermarkets and in online stores. The first option remains the most correct for purchase, as it allows you to get a competent selection and high-quality installation. You can ask questions to the managers and, based on this, decide which air conditioner to buy for your home.
Climate equipment market and seasonal factors
Nowadays, it is unfashionable to waste energy thoughtlessly, meanwhile, a classic air conditioner is one of the most “voracious” household consumers of electricity. As a result, in recent years, marked by a significant increase in energy prices, sales of climate control equipment for private homes in temperate climate areas have been steadily declining, and leading air conditioner manufacturers have reduced supplies of equipment for household consumers and switched to the development of industrial systems - for commercial facilities, offices and shopping centers.
True, in the abnormally hot summer of 2010, climate control equipment was swept away from suppliers' warehouses in a matter of days. In many regions of Russia that year, temperature maximums were updated, which once again made users think about the coming global warming and tools to combat the scourge. But there was no “finest hour” for suppliers of household split systems: the next summer was not hot, so sales of equipment that cools the air in residential premises returned to normal. Moreover, this trend continues in European countries, and the main consumers of air conditioning systems in our time remain regions with a tropical climate.
However, the question of whether air conditioners are needed in a modern country house in central Russia remains open. The main disadvantages of modern climate control technology are energy-consuming operation, as well as high cost of installation and maintenance. However, it has undeniable advantages, as well as situations when air conditioning is indispensable.
Recommendations for the best installation locations in the home
It is better to install low-power air conditioners in living rooms. The bedroom has priority in this regard. If it is not possible to install a split system in the aisle, place it on the wall where the head of the bed is located (rather than opposite the bed). The flow of cold air is dispersed throughout the room, but its movement is felt stronger directly opposite the block. If a stream of cooled air is directed at a person, it can lead to a cold.
It is not advisable to install split systems in corridors, since this option will not allow achieving the desired temperature in the rooms.
In case of weather anomalies
Nobody believes long-term weather forecasts in our area. But even in a cool summer, there are two or three weeks of heat, when the thermometer in the shade exceeds thirty degrees and you feel an unbearable desire for coolness. At the same time, a country house with classical zoning, in which bedrooms and individual living rooms are located in attics, under a roof scorched by the sun, on such days does not cope with the tasks of ensuring comfort.
The fact is that a modern cottage that claims to be energy saving is usually a hermetically sealed structure. And in a democratic home, issues of heat conservation are often sacrificed to ventilation systems and comfortable air exchange. If the microclimate in the premises was not taken care of at the design stage, then you will definitely have to think about installing an air conditioner. This can be a household split system, or a mobile air conditioner that does not require special installation (only a flexible air duct leading out into the window). Several years ago, the role of a “patch” in the climate system of attic rooms was often played by cheap window air conditioners (and in a country house, unlike a city apartment, it is usually possible to make a “special” window for such equipment). However, today such a decision does not make sense: air conditioner manufacturers have reduced the production of “window” units, and their prices have become equal to the cost of available “splits”.
Selection options
Please pay attention to the following parameters:
- Reliability. Low reliability rating for cheap unknown Chinese models. They are often produced with manufacturing defects and suffer from improper transportation. The most expensive luxury devices from well-known European and Japanese manufacturers can be purchased from specialized companies or online stores. They are rarely sold in household appliance departments.
- Power. To cool the air in a room of 15 m², 1.5 kW of cold is enough. The power index (expressed in BTU) is indicated in the marking; for a room up to 20 m² in size, a model with a value of 07 is needed. The larger the area, the more powerful the device is needed.
- Noise level indicator. Split systems should have a low noise level in the quietest mode, 20–24 dB. Powerful household models make a lot of noise when operating in high power mode.
- Heating the room. Most modern split systems for homes act as both an air conditioner and a heater. Compared to heating devices, these devices consume less electricity and heat the air quickly and evenly, but they cannot replace heating devices in cold weather. “Conders” only supplement the heating system in the off-season.
- Air purification systems. The selected model should be equipped with at least the simplest filter, since room air is far from clean.
- Pay attention to models with built-in ionizers. Especially if the family has small children or people with allergies.
- Night mode. After turning it on, the fan begins to rotate at lower speeds.
- The built-in self-cleaning system dries the equipment from the inside after each shutdown, preventing the appearance of mold.
- Quality guarantee from the manufacturer for at least two years.
Checklist for going to the store
In order not to fall for the tricks of consultants before purchasing an air conditioner, it would be useful to draw up a kind of checklist. It should clearly answer the main question – how to choose an air conditioner.
Variety of air conditioners for home Source asertec.wordpress.com
As an example, here are five main points and their content:
- For installation in an apartment, the optimal choice would be a wall-mounted split system. They are sold in different price segments and are perfectly suited for use in different climatic zones.
- The purchase of a mobile air conditioner should be dictated only by the hopelessness of the situation. Such systems are purchased either for a summer residence, or for premises in which there is no other possibility for installing a stationary system.
- You should buy a cassette-type air conditioner only if you have a sufficiently large room with a suspended ceiling. If the usable area is less than 50 square meters, then there is no point in considering such models.
- Before purchasing, you should familiarize yourself with the list of supported functions and modes. The choice should fall on the device that has all the functionality you need.
- It is necessary to pay attention not only to the area that the air conditioner can effectively serve, but also to its energy efficiency class. Saving on cheaper models during their further use will not bring anything good for the budget.
Wide selection of systems, even from one manufacturer.
Source stroyklim.com By adhering to these rules, you can purchase a truly worthy device at a reasonable price corresponding to the intended functionality.
Popular air conditioners for home
The price depends on many factors - the power of the device, the presence of additional functions, brand recognition, and so on.
Budget models
In the segment up to 20,000 rubles, you can mainly find air conditioners made in China:
- Pioneer
- Airwell
- Aeronik
- Shivaki
- Royal Clima
- Hyundai
Inexpensive portable air conditioners are produced by: Hitachi, Pioneer, Airwell. Their price ranges from 12-20 thousand rubles.
When choosing a budget air conditioner costing up to 20,000, check whether the required service center is available in your city. It is better to buy models with a long warranty.
Middle class models
Middle-class air conditioners from 20,000 to 30,000 rubles are available to a wide range of consumers. They are reasonably priced and decent quality. At this price you can see climate control equipment from famous brands: Ballu, Hisense, Dantex, Electrolux, LG.
Elite models
Elite-level systems priced at 35,000 rubles and above are produced by well-known Japanese brands: Toshiba, Daikin, Mitsubishi. Their models have the highest build quality and wide functionality. They are equipped with the best compressors, electronics and other elements.
Additional costs will have to be incurred for the installation of air conditioners. In large cities, professional installers charge from 9,000 to 17,000 rubles for standard installation. If all installation rules are not followed, climate control equipment can quickly fail.
So I have collected some accumulated experience on home air conditioners in one article. If the information was useful to you, please leave comments. If you decide to buy an air conditioner in an online store, then look at the models on this site.
Designing a home air conditioning system
Professional design of a household air conditioning system is carried out on the basis of SNiP 41-1-2003.
At the first stage, specialists collect initial data and create a technical project (feasibility study). It describes:
- Air conditioning system type
- System Performance
- Refrigerant type
- Arrangement and selection of units
- Equipment characteristics
At this stage, you can calculate the total cost of the system itself and commissioning work. If the customer is satisfied with the proposed feasibility study, the design organization begins to develop working documentation (detailed drawings, specifications, etc.). The cost of a professional project depends on the complexity of the air conditioning system, while guaranteeing the reliability, performance of the system and your comfort during its operation.
