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Air Conditioner Types - Air Conditioners comprise a wide array of variety, types, and names. Below is a list used to describe these types of air conditioner systems in generic terms. Any one of the air conditioner units below can heat, cool, and have a combination of single-use depending on how they are specified at the factory and configuration.
Air Conditioner Types | HVAC Cooling
The end-user, the customer, usually specifies to the contractor what application they need to satisfy and the contractor orders the equipment from a local distributor or factory representative. Some equipment that has unique specifications has to be specially ordered from the factory and will require time for the manufacturing and shipping process.
Air Conditioner Types List
- Air Conditioner Types - Split Systems – found in all types of HVAC applications from residential to commercial to industrial. A typical setup is a condensing unit outside with an air handler inside. The two units typically share control voltage and have a copper line-set running between them to connect the evaporator to the condenser. Typically they have separate circuits for line voltage power. Split systems can be either heat pumps or air conditioner systems.
- Package Units – These are all in one unit. Everything is inside one metal box including the evaporator coil, the condenser coil, the compressor, the blower motor, gas components if it arranged as a gas furnace (referred to as a gas pack), and all the controls electrical circuits except for the thermostat. Found mainly in residential and light commercial HVAC applications. Package units can be either heat pumps or air conditioners with gas heat.
This Trane Condenser is a part of a heat pump split system
Roof Top Units – very similar to package units with slight variances. Rooftop units have all the components together in one package. These systems range from small residential systems all the way up to 100+ ton monsters for large commercial applications. These systems can be either heat pumps or air conditioner systems.
- Mini-splits – these are usually small units that heat, and/or cool, and/or condition the air. Ductwork not required. The indoor part of this system mounts on any wall and does not require a window. Mini-split systems do require a copper line-set between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. Sometimes referred to as ductless air conditioners or ductless heat pumps. Mini-splits can be either heat pumps units or air conditioners with electric heat backup.
- Window Units – these systems are cheap and very common in residential. Sometimes requires special circuits for power. Commonly, window unit air conditioners or heat pumps are only good for a single room. Bigger dwellings require multiple window air conditioners or heat pumps to be effective.
- High-Velocity Mini-Duct Systems – If you have tight spaces where it is impossible to run conventional ductwork High-Velocity Mini-Duct Systems are ideal. The main trunk duct is 7 inches with branch ducts being 2 inches. This high-velocity airflow system requires mufflers on the diffusers to eliminate air noise. The diffusers hide the mufflers so they are not visible. The diffusers are very small 2 to 4 inches in diameter.
- Through-the-Wall Units – Commonly referred to as through-the-wall units and technically called PTAC’s or Portable Terminal Air Conditioning Units. These systems can also be specified as heat pumps and are commonly used in hotel and motel units for maintaining individual room comfort. These systems can be either heat pumps or air conditioner systems that provide heating and cooling.
- Wall Mount Units – Wall mount units are commonly seen at cell phone tower sites and construction trailers and modular trailers. They come in a range of sizes and applications.
Air Conditioner Types
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