With the popularity of wall mounted air conditioners on the rise, there’s a good chance you’ve come across these in either a residential or commercial setting.
While it may catch you off-guard at first, since you’re not expecting to see it, once you understand how these units work you’ll be impressed.
A wall mounted air conditioner is part of what is known as a ductless AC or mini-split AC.
Unlike conventional central air, in which cold air is delivered to rooms via ductwork, these systems take a different approach. Air is delivered to each room or zone through a wall mounted unit, which is connected to a condenser.
To better understand how a wall mounted air conditioner works, you must first have some knowledge of the three primary components:
Wall Mounted Units
This is the indoor unit that is responsible for delivering the cold air to a room or zone. They do this by taking in the warm air, absorbing the moisture and heat, and then delivering cold air.
As the cold air is delivered, the unit dispenses of the moisture and heat through a conduit.
Note: you’ll have a wall mounted unit inside every room or zone you want to cool. The number that you need depends on the size of the room, size of the home, and power provided by the system.
Conduit
This is critical to the performance of a mini-split AC system, as it contains three important components:
- Refrigerant tubing
- Condensate drain
- Power cable
Without this, your wall mounted units are unable to properly move moisture and heat from inside your home to outside.
Outside Unit
Known as a condenser, this is the outside unit that receives the moisture and warm air from the conduit that runs to the indoor units.
When working properly, the outdoor unit is able to efficiently accept and disperse the moisture and hot air into the outdoor air.
Are They Easy to Install?
Generally speaking, the answer is yes. When compared to central air, the ductless setup makes it much easier to install.
There are two primary questions to answer:
- Where will you place the condenser outside your home?
- Where will you install the wall mounted units?
The first question is easier to answer, as you can place it almost anywhere outside your home. As long as it has a few feet of space around it to breathe, it’ll probably work.
The second question, however, takes a bit more planning. You must carefully choose where you install wall mounted units, with both functionality and aesthetics in mind.
Your units should be a minimum of six feet off the floor, without any obstructions – such as furniture or tall plants – in the way. Also, consider where you can place the units so they’re out of your visual path, such as above doorways.
If you have any questions about how a wall mounted AC works or what the installation process entails, contact us to schedule a consultation at your home. One of our professionals can visit your property, assess its layout, and help you decide what type of system is best.