Fixed or mobile air conditioning, reversible air conditioning, monobloc or split model… It’s not easy to choose the right system to keep your house or apartment cool during the summer. Discover all our advice for finding the air conditioning suited to your needs, improving your comfort and effectively combating extreme heat.
THE air conditioning the most widespread work with the split system which consists of evacuating heat from the room while producing cold. They can be either mobile either fixed. These are more difficult to install yourself. It should also be noted that there are air conditioning reversible which can produce both heat and cold. This is precisely the principle of real air conditioning which will allow you to manage an ideal temperature all year round, either by producing cold or heat.
The different types of air conditioning
There are several types of air conditioners:
- there mobile air conditioning comes in the form of a compact block that can be moved from one room to another. To operate, the air conditioner requires the passage of a duct through an opening to the outside. This is how the heat can be evacuated. It can refresh a small room. It should also be noted that the portable air conditioner is a little noisier than other models.
- THE wall mounted air conditioner is particularly appreciated for its reduced size. It is installed high and fixed to the wall.
- THE console air conditioner looks like a radiator and is placed on the floor, against a wall.
- THE cassette air conditioner is the one often found in shops and offices. This is a grid that is installed in a false ceiling.
Several systems are possible, we then speak of monobloc, split or multisplit type of air conditioning. This type of installation will be chosen according to your air conditioning needs, in one or more rooms but also the technical possibilities and your budget:
- There monobloc air conditioning presents, as its name suggests, a single unit which can be mobile or fixed. It has the advantage of being easy to install.
- THE split and multisplit air conditioning consist of an outdoor unit and one or more indoor units. They allow powerful and quieter air conditioning since one of the modules is located outside the home. The installation of this type of air conditioning will require the intervention of a professional. Note that several rooms can be refreshed at the same time.
Finally, there are also systems based on the circulation of cold water, such as fan coils, rare among individuals, and the cooling floor. Like reversible air conditioning, its cycle can be reversed to diffuse heat. But, here again, the installation can only be done when a new construction or major renovation is planned because the entire network must be poured into the slab.
What are the criteria for choosing the right air conditioning?
Choosing air conditioning is not easy. It all depends on the volume of the room, the number of windows, the exposure, the number of occupants. It is therefore better to call a professional. Whatever the case, it must be remembered that the mobile air conditioners only have one low yield : they can only lower the temperature of a room by a few degrees. Not to mention that they cause noise pollution. They can therefore only be used as a supplement. Furthermore, the installation of fixed air conditioning devices requires heavier work: drilling into walls and installing units outside. Which can pose a problem in a co-ownership.
- For your comfort, choose equipment with a sound level below 30 dB, knowing that mobile air conditioners, the noisiest, emit a sound volume of at least 45 dB. Some models may feature a silent feature, ideal for nighttime use. You will find the decibels of the device on the energy label.
- In terms of power, you should plan on around 100W per m2 so that the air conditioning is efficient enough for the room.
The price of air conditioning
When purchasing, the cheapest are mobile air conditioningwhich can be found from 200 euros in supermarkets. We will count on 200 to 3,000 euros for a monobloc air conditioning and from 350 to 5,000 euros in the case of split or multisplit air conditioning (from 1,500 euros). In addition, you should know that the prices of reversible air conditioners have become very competitive: they are not more expensive than models that only produce cold. In addition, they are very efficient: their efficiency in heating mode is almost four times higher than that of a simple electric radiator, for the same consumption. In general, manufacturers have made a lot of effort to reduce energy consumption. Everyone is required, today, to display the consumption level of each appliance, according to the classification used for refrigerators.
More options
Manufacturers now offer systems which, in addition to cooling, purify the air. There are anti-odor, anti-bacterial or ionizing systems. Their efforts also focused on theaesthetic by trying to soften the shapes and making the models more compact so that the air conditioning is more discreet, whether on balconies or in homes. Some manufacturers offer interior units that look like modern paintings and which fit very well into contemporary decoration.
(Thanks to Claude Fayet, climate engineering expert, for his advice)
