If you’ve ever suffered through a summer without air conditioning, a wall mounted AC unit can feel like a lifesaver. Wall mounted air conditioners have become increasingly popular in homes worldwide due to their easy installation and high efficiency. These wall mounted AC units are also known as ductless AC or mini-split AC systems.
Unlike a standard central AC system, in which cool air flows to various rooms through ductwork, these units take a different approach. The wall mounted unit emits air directly into the room instead of passing the air through a network of ducts. Eliminating the ductwork prevents these systems from losing cold air in the air ducts and enables them to be installed in homes that don’t have space for ductwork.
Wall mounted AC units have three main components. Understanding each of them is the first step to understanding how a wall mounted air conditioner works. See our HVAC diagram for more information on how an HVAC system works.
Wall Mounted Units
The wall mounted unit is responsible for creating cold air inside your home. There is a coil inside of your wall mounted unit containing refrigerant. Refrigerant inside that coil will expand and evaporate causing the refrigerant to get very cold. Air is then blown over the coil creating cold air. It is actually kind of amazing 🙂
The wall mounted unit also contains drain tubing to ensure that all condensed moisture is drained effectively and doesn’t leak inside of your home.
Refrigerant Tubing
This tubing carries refrigerant into and out of your home and between the wall mounted AC unit and the outdoor unit. One of the tubes is generally cold and can condensate the moisture in the air causing leaks if it isn’t properly insulated.
Outdoor Unit
The AC box outside of your home is the outdoor AC unit. That box contains the compressor, the fan and the condenser coil. The condenser coil, which is responsible for removing heat from the refrigerant, surrounds the fan and is attached to all of the tini fins that you see on the outside fot he box.
What are the alternatives to wall mounted AC units?
If you don’t like the look of a wall mounted unit, you don’t have to have one. There are two great ductless alternatives to wall mounted units, both of which can act as heat pumps as well.
Ceiling Cassette
Ceiling Cassettes fits inside of a ceiling so that they are more hidden from view. They can be more expensive and less powerful, but they are great options for homes that have a deep enough ceiling and don’t want to see a wall mounted unit.
Floor Mounted Unit
Floor mounted units look similar to a radiator heater and are often great replacements for radiators. They are especially good for heating a room, but they aren’t always as good at cooling a room.
Are wall mounted units easy to install?
Yes, for most professional HVAC technicians, a wall mounted AC system is the easiest system to install. AC systems that need ductwork are generally much more difficult to install.
Wall mounted units can become difficult to install when they are part of a large, multi zone, air conditioning system. In multi zone systems, it is important to contact a professional HVAC company with experience in system design. Incorrectly place units can result in an ugly, noisy, or ineffective AC system.
If you are considering installing a wall mounted AC system, call Colt Home Services for a free consultation. You can also read our article on maximizing your Mass Save rebates.
