< Return to Blog If you’re shopping around for a new central air conditioner for your home, you’ve probably seen that there are two main types: But do you know which one your home has or why? In this blog you’ll learn: The differences between these two systems The pros and cons of each How to know which one fits your home’s needs Split air conditioning system What it is: In a split-system central air conditioner there are two parts an outdoor metal cabinet and an indoor cabinet. That’s why it’s called a “split” system. The outdoor cabinet contains the condenser and compressor and typically sits on a concrete slab outside your home. The indoor cabinet contains the evaporator and is usually located in the attic or a closet. The indoor cabinet also typically includes a furnace (or the inside part of a heat pump). The indoor and outdoor units are connected by a refrigerant line. Here’s a simple diagram of a split system: Greater energy efficiency possibilities - Split air conditioning systems have SEER ratings from 13 to 23.

Labor costs - Labor costs more because you are installing a unit outside the house and also inside (usually in the attic or crawlspace, depending on the type of air handler). Also, the system can’t be charged with refrigerant until it has been set in place, which adds to the cost. When you’d want this: It’s a more cost efficient choice if your home already has a furnace, and you are purchasing a new air conditioning unit or replacing an older unit.car air conditioning repair manual Learn more about this on Energy.gov’s website.air conditioning unit tips Packaged air conditioning systemroom ac and heat units What it is: The evaporator, condenser, and compressor are all located in one cabinet and thus “packaged” together.

This single cabinet is usually placed on a roof. Some packaged air conditioners can include electric heating coils or a natural gas furnace. That means you won’t need a separate furnace inside. Space efficiency - Unlike split-system units, the package unit has all the components in one place. Cheaper installation - Since packaged units can come pre-charged with refrigerant, and they are only installed outside, installation is cheaper than a split unit. Limited energy efficiency: Packaged units typically have a SEER rating from 10 to 18. A packaged system is ideal for situations where indoor space is limited and therefore important. This is usually the case for mobile homes and homes with a crawl space. The biggest factor to consider is the construction of your home. Most newer homes were built with split central air conditioning because it’s much more cost-efficient to run over time. However, if you live in an older or smaller home or a mobile home, you probably have a packaged unit because of space restrictions.

If you need help determining the type of air conditioner that’s right for your Arizona home, ask one of Pitzer’s experts for help. From the General Manager Let's get some housekeeping topics out of the way before we tackle the unique components that make up a standard air conditioner. The biggest job an air conditioner has to do is to cool the indoor air. That's not all it does, though. Air conditioners monitor and regulate the air temperature via a thermostat. They also have an onboard filter that removes airborne particulates from the circulating air. Air conditioners function as dehumidifiers. Because temperature is a key component of relative humidity, reducing the temperature of a volume of humid air causes it to release a portion of its moisture. That's why there are drains and moisture-collecting pans near or attached to air conditioners, and why air conditioners discharge water when they operate on humid days. Still, the major parts of an air conditioner manage refrigerant and move air in two directions: indoors and outside:

Evaporator -Condenser -Expansion valve -Compressor - The cold side of an air conditioner contains the evaporator and a fan that blows air over the chilled coils and into the room. The hot side contains the compressor, condenser and another fan to vent hot air coming off the compressed refrigerant to the outdoors. In between the two sets of coils, there's an expansion valve. It regulates the amount of compressed liquid refrigerant moving into the evaporator. Once in the evaporator, the refrigerant experiences a pressure drop, expands and changes back into a gas. The compressor is actually a large electric pump that pressurizes the refrigerant gas as part of the process of turning it back into a liquid. There are some additional sensors, timers and valves, but the evaporator, compressor, condenser and expansion valve are the main components of an air conditioner. Although this is a conventional setup for an air conditioner, there are a couple of variations you should know about.

Window air conditioners have all these components mounted into a relatively small metal box that installs into a window opening. The hot air vents from the back of the unit, while the condenser coils and a fan cool and re-circulate indoor air. Bigger air conditioners work a little differently: Central air conditioners share a control thermostat with a home's heating system, and the compressor and condenser, the hot side of the unit, isn't even in the house. It's in a separate all-weather housing outdoors. In very large buildings, like hotels and hospitals, the exterior condensing unit is often mounted somewhere on the roof. Universal Light-Duty Air Conditioner Support Window AC Unit Support Bracket 1 9000 - 36000 BTU Outdoor Wall Mounting Bracket for Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps 1/4 in. x 3/8 in. x 15 ft. Universal Piping Assembly for Ductless Mini-Split Wall Case for LG Built-In Air Conditioner 3 in. x 7.5 ft. Cover Kit for Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Line Sets - Ductless Mini Split or Central