How Wall Air Conditioning Units Work
Window type air conditioning models are not so preferred nowadays. They have been replaced with wall-mounted models due to some reasons.
Wall air conditioning units really make a difference in homes and offices all summer long. Just like any other air conditioner, it primarily aims to cool rooms down and allow homeowners or people in that building to survive the heat wave.
Wall air conditioners are obviously mounted on walls. Unlike window type, these models do not require window space and thus, it does not pose a danger as thieves do not have the window to enter. Moreover, wall air conditioning units are less expensive than central air conditioning units. These air conditioning systems provide cooling capabilities of up to 18,000 BTU per hour. These can cool a room as large as 1,000 square feet or even an entire small house, provided that their portable fans are properly placed and appropriate insulation is used.
How Does It Work?
The same way as window air conditioners, a wall-mounted air conditioner has two fans that blow air over hot and cold coils filled with refrigerant. The hot coils condense the refrigerant into liquid form which then goes through an expansion valve and eventually evaporates creating a cold gas. The cold gas then absorbs the warm air from the outside and cools it. After cooling, it blows it back into the room – and now you are enjoying the rooms’ lower temperature. The process also eliminates unnecessary humidity from the room that makes room temperature cooler and more comfortable.
Specifically, such a unit has a heat exchanger with a wide suction area to increase the air intake. This enables the unit to adjust to the room temperature quickly. Its output is a sweeping airflow that eliminates dead zones and improves the heating and cooling effect. Further, this has trapezoidal blades that cut the air diagonally to minimize air resistance and reduce noise.
What are its benefits?
Unlike the window type, wall air conditioners preserve the window view. These allow opening of the window on cool days. These also stay in place all year-round, offering easy and one-time installation.
Finally, it is a particularly good option in regions that experience all four seasons. It never leaves the wall so you do not need storing a bulky air conditioning unit in your attic or basement during the off-season.
How to install
Wall-mounted units can be situated on any outside-facing, sheetrock wall which does not have any electrical lines or pipes running through it. A hole is to be cut in the wall so a wall air conditioner cannot be mounted on a brick, stone, or concrete wall. The unit should be mounted near an electrical socket with either a 115-volt or 230-volt household circuit. A larger air conditioner should have its own circuit; a smaller unit may be plugged with a circuit used by smaller appliances (not refrigerators and dishwashers). As a reminder, always unplug the air conditioner when not in use to prevent it from consuming electricity and raising your electricity bill. By the way, choose a wall air conditioner with an Energy Star rating to be assured of the most energy efficient cooling and cost effective air conditioning.