Air conditioning has become a must-have in the modern world that we live in. It provides us necessary relief from the scorching hot days of the summer months. If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, you probably have many questions. From the system you should purchase to the brand name that is of the highest quality, we’re going to help you to determine just what you need for this upcoming summer heat.
The Various Types Of Air Conditioners
According to Reliance Air Services, not all air conditioners are the same. There are various types of air conditioners on the market, and each has its specific benefits for certain cooling needs of consumers. Let’s take a look at the five different types of air conditioning units that are on the market so you can determine what one is best for you.
Central Air Conditioners
Many newer homes come with a central air conditioning unit. This is a combination of an outdoor compressor unit that is hooked up to ducts that run throughout the home. Central air works by having a single unit that houses the evaporator, condenser, and compressor in one big outside unit. This type of HVAC system can be combined with a furnace or heating coils so that you have both heat and air conditioning.
Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioners
Ductless systems are the new norm for homes that don’t have any existing ductwork running throughout them. This system has a combination of an outdoor compressor and indoor air handling units. These units are mounted on the wall and have a built-in blower so that the cool air can be introduced into the home. There is some tubing that connects the air handlers inside with the outdoor unit so that the refrigerant in the system can properly circulate.
Window Units
The window unit is what most people picture when they hear the term air conditioning. These units range in size, depending on the square footage that you need the unit to cover. Each comes with a thermostat gauge that is encapsulated into the boxed unit.
Portable Units
Somewhat similar to the window units, portable units are ideal when you don’t have a lot of window space and/or you want to move the unit often. These are freestanding units that can easily be moved from room to room. You simply need to have access to an outlet to power the unit and a window to funnel out the exhaust air.
Geothermal
Geothermal cooling is a fairly new type of air conditioning system. This works by extracting heat that is inside of your home and taking it back outdoors into the ground. This system has an intricate network of geothermal coils that are installed deep in the ground. This type of system works for heating your home as well.
Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what type of air conditioning system you’re going to need to have installed at your home. While some manufacturers specialize in producing different types of units, not all of them do. So, you need to have figured out what type of unit you’re looking for before you can determine what the best brand is going to be.
A Look At The Top Air Conditioning Brands
Now, since you know what type of system you’re going to have installed in your home, it’s time to determine what brand you should buy. There are numerous brands on the market that vary in quality and price. Finding a good balance between an affordable unit and a quality one is a necessity to ensure a comfortable temperature inside of your home in the future.
To start things off, let’s look at all the available brand names that are out there on the market today:
Heil
Heil provides a wide variety of air conditioners that are in the budget-oriented market. Their products are made with universal parts, which makes them easy to track down when needing repairs on your system. They offer a 10-year warranty on their general parts. Unlike other brands, they do offer a No Hassle Warranty where they will replace your entire air conditioner if the coil or compressor fails within the 10-year warranty period.
Goodman / Daikin
Prior to being bought by the parent company Daikin, Goodman had a reputation for low-cost products with high rates of mechanical failure. More recently, consumers have noticed a significant improvement in the quality of products offered by Goodman. They’re still in the affordable range, and they offer universal parts that are easy to repair. Goodman offers a 10-year warranty for most parts. However, they offer a lifetime warranty for their compressors.
Maytag
Maytag is a brand that is routinely overlooked in the air conditioner market as they’re well known for their other appliances. However, they offer affordable air conditioner units that utilize universal parts that are easy to repair. They provide a 12-year warranty for their system components. Maytag’s supply of units is more limited, depending on what type of air conditioner that you’re looking for.
Carrier / Bryant
One of the most popular air conditioner brands on the market today is Carrier. This is also known as Bryant and United Technologies Corporation (UTC). Alongside their ample reputation, Carrier has some of the highest price tags on the market today. They provide excellent quality when it comes to their products and only certified specialists are authorized to install them. This brand comes with a 10-year warranty and offers an extended warranty if you would like.
Trane / American Standard
Trane is known as a very reliable brand similar to Carrier. Their units are constructed with quality parts and may only be installed by factory-certified technicians. This brand offers a 10-year general warranty and a 12-year compressor unit warranty.
Mitsubishi
If you’re in the market for a ductless mini-split system, then Mitsubishi is your brand. They offer a large selection of these ductless units. Warranty is ten years for parts and 12 years for compressors. Mitsubishi doesn’t offer any other type of air conditioning unit.