On one side, there are different types of air conditioners, each with its perks and drawbacks. On the other hand of the equation, various factors make an air conditioner ideal for you.

The best type of air conditioner for your household is a function of both halves of the equation.

Statistics support that air conditioners are one of the most popular appliances in Canadian homes. Therefore, you’ll be joining a host of existing users from whom you can get reviews on which brand to purchase.

We understand every home has unique cooling needs. Therefore, we’ve made a compilation of types of air conditioners. Each listing will provide you with pointers that’ll determine if an air conditioner type is best for you.

In other words, you’ll have adequate knowledge of air conditioner types after reading this piece. So let’s get into it!

Best Types of Air Conditioners You Can Choose

You’ll find different air conditioners on the market. But choosing the best type for your home is a crucial decision.

But, don’t worry. We’ll take you through some of the best types of air conditioners and help you make the best decision.

You’ll find eight major types of air conditioners in AC stores. Every one of them has specific features and designs for different spaces. The following list contains some of the best A/C systems:

Central Air Conditioner
Floor Mounted AC
Hybrid / Dual Fuel Air Conditioner
Geothermal Air Conditioner
Ductless Mini-Split
Window Air Conditioner
Portable Air Conditioner
Smart Air Conditioner

Also, you need to consider some factors when choosing which air conditioner to install for your home. We’ll break them down in the latter parts of this article. But, for highlights, see them below:

Budget
Space Requirements & Maintenance
Energy Consumption
Cooling Capacity

Now, let’s have a breakdown of the best types of air-conditioners.

1. Central Air Conditioner

Central Air Conditioner is great for you if you reside in a big space. It’s even more perfect if you aim to cool different rooms simultaneously.

In a central air conditioner, you’ll find a split system. This system controls air through the duct installation in your residence, via a mechanism known as a ducted system.

In addition, the split part shows the system as a combination of two major units — the outdoor unit packs in the compressor and condenser. On the other hand, the indoor unit consists of the air handler and the evaporator coils.

Typical of every air conditioner, central air conditioners use refrigerants to extract heat from a space’s atmosphere. The cooling system removes the room’s hot hot temperature and sends cold air through the ducts.

Meanwhile, auto-thermostats can sync with central air conditioners for a smart home experience that leverages modern HVAC tech.

Pros of a Central AC System

It simultaneously cools every room in connection to the ducts. Therefore, the house’s temperature is even at every point.
The simultaneous cooling happens at a fast rate. Therefore, the environment becomes conducive for everyone in each room simultaneously.

Cons of a Central Air Conditioner

Its energy consumption rate is very high. Therefore, your energy bill accumulation rate can be alarming.
Your central air conditioner can deteriorate if there’s a slight issue with your ducts.
The outdoor unit has poor aesthetics. If you have an eye for aesthetic improvements, you may not want this unit in your home despite its performance potential.

2. Floor Mounted Air Conditioner

A floor mounted AC’s indoor unit rests on the floor. Meanwhile, its outer unit also doesn’t need any significant preparation for installation. These characteristics make a floor-mounted air conditioner the best type if you want a mini-split but don’t have the wall space for a wall-mounted unit.

Floor-mounted air conditioners are great if your home has irregular walls or walls of delicate materials like glass. Also, this unit’s installation is raisable up to 6 inches higher from the floor. It also has a connection to the outdoor unit through a tiny hole in the wall.

A great perk of this air conditioner placement is the access it gives you to its air filters. This feature is fantastic for persons who struggle with respiratory problems and need to keep the indoor air at a premium level. Easy access to the air filters mean you can switch them easily.

Floor-mounted air conditioners are known to cool the room faster than any mounting AC unit. This function is possible because the fan blows the air right at your level.

Working floor-mounted air conditioners need free space in every direction around them. This freedom allows them to function best. Therefore, ensure the air conditioner has no obstruction in its way.

Pros of Floor Mounted ACs

It’s great for residences with older adults due to its accessibility.
Its installation is effortless too.
They are great when you need to maximize space because they don’t take up significant space.

Cons of Floor Mounted ACs

The possibility of airflow compromise is high because almost every home has furniture or other unintentional ‘obstacles.’
It’s not great for large rooms due to its inability to evenly distribute air for such expanse.

3. Hybrid / Dual Fuel Air Conditioner

This system is the best type of air conditioner if your aim is a cost-effective and efficiently performing unit that can heat & cool.

A hybrid air conditioner syncs a gas furnace with an electric air-source heat pump. This synchronization offers the capacity for heating and cooling purposes.

The system design is such that it switches between electricity usage and burning fossil fuel depending on the temperature outdoors.

During hot seasons, the heat pump functions by extracting hot air from your home and disposing of it outdoors. During cold seasons, it does the reverse.

Pros of Hybrid Air Conditioning

It helps with the maximization of indoor comfortability and reduction of utility bill costs.
You reduce your carbon footprint.

Cons of Hybrid Air Conditioning

It costs a fortune for the first setup.
With time, breakeven may happen.

4. Geothermal Air Conditioning System

This air conditioning system is a relatively new one in the market. Geothermal cooling works using the earth’s insulating elements.

The Earth’s temperature from 12-40 feet below remains the same throughout the year. And that’s regardless of weather changes or fluctuations that may occur. Therefore, geothermal tech latches on this constant factor to cool your residence better.

A geothermal aircon system has piping that comprises a loop which distributes water between your house, a heat pump, and land. These units need intensive work to install underground. However, it’s the best type of air conditioner considering energy conservation.

Pros of a Geothermal AC System

It’s very efficient when it comes to energy conservation.
It promises more longevity than other cooling units can imagine.

Cons of a Geothermal AC System

You can’t install it in every place. This drawback is because its installation loops are in the ground.
Setting up a Geothermal AC system is significantly expensive.

5. Ductless Mini-Split

A ductless mini-split is the best type of air conditioner for house owners who want:

Better air conditioner efficiency
To avoid ducting issues
Or you look too cool in just one room.

Ductless mini-split air conditioners are a combo of an outdoor unit consisting of a condenser & a compressor. They often come with an indoor unit. This unit is the best air-con for modern homes.

Generally, indoor units are mounted on a wall. Also, the outdoor and indoor units often share a connection through the tubing. Additionally, refrigerant spreads through them in a variation dependent on usage type.

Usually, these indoor units are small, making it easy to install the air conditioner in your Vaughan home.

Ductless mini-split air conditioners are the best for deriving more efficiency in energy consumption. It’s also important to know the upfront cost of installing multiple units in different rooms is on the high side.

Ductless mini-splits aircons are contemporary AC designs. Therefore, they come with remote controls. Advanced models come with a virtual AC controller you can operate using your smartphone anywhere.

Pros of Ductless Mini-splits

You can easily install it without thinking of ducts or encountering issues.
It can independently control room temperature.

Cons of Ductless Mini-splits

One ductless mini-split air conditioner selfishly cools only one room. Therefore, it’s unfit for large houses.
Its indoor unit is easily noticeable because of its mount on the wall. Therefore, you may not like its sight if you don’t like obstructions on your walls.

6. Window Air Conditioner

A window unit is the best type of air conditioner to cool a small room or small home. This variation is because window air conditioners come in different sizes. And each respective size can fit either of the two spaces.

For example, a small window air conditioner is perfect for cooling a small room or area. But you may need a large window air conditioner if you’re looking to cool a small home with an open flor plan.

For a long time, window air conditioners have been flying as the best for small room cooling. Likewise, they’re known as the most familiar type of air conditioner.

It pushes out heat through its outdoor part and injects cool air through its indoor component. Unlike most other ACs, window air conditioners are single units. And their enclosures contain all their components.

Also, window air conditioner installations are in windows or deliberately dug holes in walls. These cooling units also have filters that slide out to enable regular cleaning. And this cleaning ensures the unit works efficiently.

Additionally, you’ll find controls on most window air conditioners. And some of them come with remotes too.

Pros of Window ACs

Window air conditioners are usually cheaper than other AC types.
They’re pretty easy to install.
Maintenance isn’t tedious.
It gives you free floor space.

Cons of Window ACs

Window ACs are noticeable from outside your home. Additionally, they may be too noisy during operation.
Installation through a window means you can’t clearly see through it anymore.
You must install them in a window near the appropriate power outlet.
Sometimes it’s impossible to install these ACs in your window due to window size or shape. And you may not want to break your walls considering plastering costs and future purposes.

7. Portable Air Conditioner

These ACs are almost like window air conditioners. They’re also in a single unit with their components in the same enclosure.

The only difference is a portable air-con is an independently standing unit.

Therefore, their mobility is seamless between different positions in the house. Usually, they only need two things at every positioning — electrical outlets for powering and windows to exhaust the unit’s air via its funnel.

A portable air conditioner is the best type for you if you want temporal cooling in a room. Or maybe you want to cool a space where it’s not feasible to fix a split or window air conditioner.

A portable air con comes in different sizes. Therefore, they’re installable in places like bathrooms or kennels.

Portable air conditioners usually come as single-hose or dual-hose. The former sucks air in from a room and ejects it outdoors. While the latter traps air from outside using one hose and cools the compressor with the air. Afterwards, it exhausts the air outdoors through the second hose.

Portable air conditioners stay indoors. As such, their evaporator fan runs non-stop during operation. This continuous work is for evaporating moisture condensation that usually gathers in the cooling unit.

Pros of Portable ACs

Fast and easy to install.
They come with a feature of seamless mobility.
They need no permanent installation whatsoever.
They’re great for cooling different spots in your home.
They’re easy to keep when not in use.

Cons of Portable ACs

Portable units usually make loud noises while working.
They can’t cool large spaces.
Portable air conditioners usually come with a hose. Unfortunately, these hose will likely obstruct your window area because you have to pass them out.

8. Smart Air Conditioner

If you’re looking for which air conditioner to install that has IoT enablement, Smart AC is your best bet. This unit is the best type of air conditioner for people who want window, mini-split, or portable ACs but with the edge of IoT.

Smart air conditioners usually come with a personal app and can connect to Wi-Fi. These features allow you to control your air conditioner through your smartphone.

You’ll find different functions in these air conditioner types. But the functions are dependent on which brand you purchase.

Some of these functions are geofencing, temperature level control, weekly scheduling, and so on. With these functions, you can do a lot and save energy too.

You can also purchase Smart AC controllers to provide most of these smart functions to any regular AC with ducts. They’re simple, like programmable thermostats, and are pretty affordable compared to buying smart ACs.

Pros of Smart Air Conditioners

They give a blend of convenience and physical comfort with their generous features.
They help conserve energy.

Cons of Smart Air Conditioners

They cost significantly more than other AC units.
You need a Wi-Fi connection to access most if not all of its features.

What To Consider When Choosing Your Air Conditioner

At this point, we understand you now know the different types of air conditioners available for your selection. But don’t be in haste to pick one. You need to consider some factors to ensure you select the best type of air conditioner for your home.

So, the following are how to choose the best air conditioner for you:

1. Budget

This factor is a significant determinant for your air conditioner purchase. Each air conditioner will cost differently, depending on its manufacturer and retailer. Therefore, be sure of which you want and compare prices before buying.

2. Space Requirements & Maintenance

Maintaining your air conditioner should be a paramount issue for you. This factor determines how long your air conditioner may last. Likewise, ensure to purchase an air conditioner that best suits your home’s space.

Many brands of ACs saturate the market. Therefore, be careful to know which best suits your house, budget, and maintenance capacity.

3. Energy Consumption

You need to ensure you’re buying an air conditioner that’ll conserve energy and ease what you have to pay in utility bills.

Therefore, it’s essential to check that the most cost-effective AC Option is the one you’re purchasing.

Energy efficiency ratio is similarly known as EER rating. So note that the higher the rating, the better the system promises.

4. Cooling Capacity / Power

British Thermal Units (BTUs) measure an AC’s heating or cooling capacity. The greater the thermal units, the greater heating or cooling power.

Summary

All air conditioners are great and have different specifications. But the best type of air conditioner is a function of your home or office space and its cooling needs.

And when you choose the best type of air conditioner, the next factor is ensuring you select the right installation method. Our expert AC technicians at ALP Heating can assess your space and decide on the best AC!

Plus, they’ll also install the air conditioning system while following all professionals and manufacturing guidelines. Contact us today!