When selecting on the most appropriate air conditioner unit for your home, you need to keep in mind your home size, household needs, and lifestyle habits. The following factors are some things you need to consider before making a decision:
- Type of system
- Inverter or Non-Inverter
- Cooling capacity
- Energy Efficiency Rating
- Type of filter
- Noise level
- A reputable brand
- After sales service
- Design and colour
- Installation
“Homeowners need to decide if they want their entire home or specific rooms to be air conditioned as these factors affect the type of air conditioner that will meet their usage needs.” – Irene Ng, Vice-President, Marketing, Samsung Asia Pte Ltd
There are two types of air conditioning system:
Window air conditioner
Technically called a unitary air conditioning system, it consists of a self-contained air conditioning unit that is placed in a window or through a hole in an exterior wall. This is an affordable option for homes that need air conditioning only in one room.
“Choose an air-conditioner with the right cooling capacity for room. For example, calculation can be based on an estimated 60BTU/h for every square foot. Another factor to consider is if windows are tinted.” – Satoshi Umegaki, Senior Manager, International Operation Department, Air Conditioning System Group, Hitachi Appliances, Inc
Split system
The split system breaks the air conditioning system into two packages – the indoor unit and the outdoor compressor, with refrigerant tubing passing through the wall to connect the both. Some models come with multiple indoor units that will use one single compressor; this is known as the multi-split air conditioning system. This system is favoured by many homeowners as the installation of the air conditioner is not restricted to the exterior walls. It also allows them to place the outdoor compressor at a more convenient area.
This was adapted from an article originally written by Jasmine Goh that appeared in the April 2014 issue of SquareRooms
