Three-quarters of all homes in America use air conditioning to maintain a constant temperature in the home. With this in mind, you can understand that there might be a large number of options when it comes to different devices. So how do know if you need, for example, a wall air conditioner vs a window air conditioner?
Below, we discuss some of the differences between these two options for air conditioner placement and what the pros and cons are for each. By the end of the article, you should have a much better idea of which of the two you will need in your own home. Learn today, and you know the information that you need buy the right one for your purposes tomorrow.
What Is a Window Air Conditioner?
A window air conditioner is often considered to be the simplest form of air conditioner unit. Within the air conditioner world, these are easy to install. They do not have a permanent position within the home and pull air from outside a window into the home after cooling it.
The window AC also comes with a standard wall plug. You can plug this into a wall socket to draw its power rather than needing any more integrated form of circuitry in the home.
These do not need specialist installation, being portable units in comparison to wall air conditioners. Instead, you need to hook up an intake to an outdoor area and the unit does the rest of the work. Or, you need to set the air conditioner on the window sill for the air to transfer through the window itself through the power of the device.
This portability is a fantastic boon, as it means that if there is any reason that you want to move where it is in the house, you can do so without difficulty. You only need to unplug it and move it to a different window instead, where it will continue to work to cool the home.
Or, you can get a window air conditioner that attaches straight to a window and does not have an airflow hose. If you get one of these, you will have to measure your window to ensure that it fits.
These air conditioners tend to cover smaller areas and are often bought for homes. Although larger units exist that organizations tend to buy for larger events and can cover over 1,500 square feet of space. This is around double what a wall air conditioner can cover, although these begin to get expensive at such high power.
What Is a Wall Air Conditioner?
Separate from a window air conditioner, a wall air conditioner is a dedicated piece of equipment that needs installation in the home. Instead of hooking up to an external window, a wall air conditioner needs you to cut a specially-made hole into the wall itself. They are then mounted onto this hole to pull air through into the living space.
Because of this installation method, you cannot move them once you have installed them without leaving a large hole behind. This means that you need to take greater care when placing the air conditioner to avoid mishaps or awkward air flow within the home.
Unlike a window air conditioner, you must be much more careful of the room around a wall-mounted device. You can move a window air conditioner to where a cupboard or pile of clothes does not cover any air vents. With a wall air conditioner, though, you are unable to move the unit itself, meaning that you must place items in the room in a way that avoids blockages.
Much like a window-mounted air conditioner, the wall air conditioner draws in air from the room to start the cooling process. It then pushes the air over a condenser, which cools the air down because of a cooling fluid called a refrigerant. After this, any cold air releases back into the room while the unit ejects any remaining hot air outside.
These air conditioners tend to sit in a mid-range between industrial units and small home window air conditioners. The largest of them will cover around 800 square feet of a home, much less than the largest window air con, although that is large enough for most people. If necessary, you can install many of these in different locations around a house’s walls.
Air Conditioner Guide
When you are buying any air con, especially a window air conditioner, you must be careful to get something that matches the kind of space that you have. Not only that, but you should be aware of the space’s size (if installing straight on a window, for example). Also, take care to pay attention to the BTUs (British Thermal Units) of the unit, and the type of plug that you have.
Window type. If you head to a shop to discuss buying a window air conditioner, you are going to want to take a picture of the window that you have. There are many different styles of windows that may affect the AC you buy, and these include:
- Standard windows that slide up and down
- Slider windows that slide to the left or right
- Casement windows that swing inwards or outwards
Different air conditioning units will fit each of these windows. For example, wide air conditioners tend to fit standard windows. Whereas thinner versions of air conditioners will fit other windows.
BTUs. These will reflect the power that your air conditioner has. A larger air conditioner will need more BTUs, and you must find something that matches your home size.
Companies such as Armstrong AC Repair can talk to you about your air conditioning needs. They will be able to recommend an appropriate BTU amount for your home. Any wall air conditioner guide would tell you the same.
Window size. Of course, the size of your window will determine if you can install an air conditioner there. While different air conditioners will fit specific window sizes, some may not be able to fit at all due to the window being too small.
Of course, if that is the case, you can always opt for an airflow hose that goes from the air conditioner to the outside world.
The Plug. As with all electrical goods, you should ensure that the voltage and amperage of the socket you plug into match what the circuitry can handle. Look at the details on the plug or in the air conditioner’s manual and compare them to your outlet’s technical specifications.
Pros of a Window Air Conditioner
Installation. If you are not installing this straight in a window, these are very easy to install. You only need to plug them in, put them in the right room, and run an air hose outside.
Of course, if you want to install them into a window frame, you will need a little bit more expertise. You should talk to an air conditioning expert about how to go about doing this.
Price. A window air conditioner is cheaper to buy than a wall air conditioner. While the most expensive of these can put a large dent in your wallet, the low bar of entry means most people start here.
Relocation. Once you have placed the air conditioning unit, you can choose to move it once more. It does not need to stay in the same place as where it starts, giving you flexibility in how you arrange your home.
Pros of a Wall Air Conditioner
Noise. Wall air conditioners are often well-mounted and firmly in place. This means that they have less ability to move around and shudder, creating less noise in the home.
Aesthetic. A wall air conditioner is rarely taking up window space with a unit or an airflow pipe. Thus, you can have the assurance of more natural light in a room and no large air conditioner taking up visual space in the window.
On top of this, if you do not have space in your windows you would otherwise have to have the unit in the room. A wall air conditioner prevents this from being a problem.
Long-term. If you choose a highly-skilled engineer to choose and install a wall-mounted air conditioner, you are likely to have fewer problems. These often come with standard parts to a fixed size, meaning that you can get them repaired easier than window-mounted units.
Wall Air Conditioner vs Window Air Conditioner
You should now understand the differences between a wall air conditioner vs a window air conditioner. Either you are ready to select the one for you, or you might have more questions about which would be best suited for your own home. Either way, there may be more for you to learn.
Lucky for you, our site offers many more opportunities to learn. Many of our articles bear a relation to air conditioning or home climate handling, and what you might need to know. So, open up our blog and keep on reading, you never know what you might find.
