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Instead, ductless systems can have up to five indoor units for every one outdoor unit. Ductless systems also have an indoor and outdoor component, but unlike central cooling systems, this is not a 1:1 ratio. Ductless systems are inherently different from central cooling systems because the air flows through indoor units into individual rooms instead of ducts throughout the house.
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Ductless split systemsĭuctless systems are meant to cool just one room or portion of your home, rather than the entire house. Minimum SEER ratings in the United States are at least 14, according to the Department of Energy, so while central AC can cool your entire home, they’re not always the most energy-efficient option and can come with high energy costs. These kinds of units can reach up to 22 SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, which is a measure of how energy efficient an air conditioner is during the spring and summer months.
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The smallest possible size for a central air conditioner is 1.5 tons. Central air conditioners have one outdoor portion and one indoor portion that are connected by copper tubes, unless it’s a packaged unit which is located completely outside the home.īecause central cooling systems cool entire homes, the units take up more space than ductless systems (we’ll get to those in a second!). To do this, they distribute cool air through the ducts in your home, so the air reaches every single room. Central cooling systemsĬentral air conditioners are designed to cool your entire home. While both work to cool your home, these systems function in vastly different ways. Generally speaking, there are two categories of air conditioners: central cooling systems and ductless split systems. How AC works: Central air and split systems Let’s dive into the specifics, so you can understand how your air conditioner really works and discover which system is right for you. And let’s not forget that there are multiple types of systems that all fulfill the same goal of cooling your home. To complete this process, a lot of different parts of the air conditioner need to work together. When it’s a hot summer day outside, but a brisk 68 degrees in your home, you might find yourself wondering, “How do air conditioners work?” To sum it up, air conditioners remove heat and humidity from the air inside and place it outside to ultimately cool down your home.