After a busy day, nothing is as happy as a comfortable homely atmosphere. Installation of the air conditioner will help to fully relax at home on a hot summer evening, and not languish from exhausting stuffiness. Down with the tediously humming fan chasing the warm air around the room! Give peace and coolness! How not to give a slip, choosing a split system, the article will prompt.
Content:
The best manufacturers of split systems - which company to choose
Back in 1961, the Japanese company Toshiba launched a split-system in mass production. For more than half a century, manufacturers from Japan have been producing the best double-block air conditioners. Japanese air conditioner is perfect. This is a combination of quality, reliability, long service life.
The best brands of climate equipment for the apartment:
1. Daikin
2. Matsushita Electric (Panasonic)
3. Mitsubishi electric
4. Shivaki
5. Toshiba
Decent quality South Korean and Swedish split systems:
1. LG
2. Electrolux
The device equipment and its operation
Split system consists of models:
1. Internal - the evaporator, which is placed in a cooled room.
2. Outdoor - condensing unit (KKB), located on the outer wall of the house, balcony. Newly built houses may have technical premises for the installation of KKB.
The evaporator and KKB are connected by a pipeline from a copper tube. It is laid inside the walls or under the tension (suspended) ceiling. Two blocks connected in this way form a closed loop where the refrigerant circulates, changing from a gaseous state to a liquid.
Air cooling is as follows:
1. The compressor compresses the gaseous refrigerant to a high pressure and delivers it to the condenser, where the gas is cooled and condensed, becoming liquid.
2. The fluid passes through the throttling device, its pressure and temperature decrease.
3. In the form of a cooled liquid, the refrigerant enters the internal unit (evaporator), where it heats up, boils and evaporates, passing into a gaseous state. This process helps to cool the air circulating under the action of the fan.
4. The gaseous refrigerant moves along the line to the compressor.
5. The process resumes.
Types of split systems
Manufacturers offer several varieties of split systems. Most of the latest generation models are designed not only for cooling or heating the apartment. They can purify, moisturize, ionize or aromatize the air, forming a favorable microclimate in the house.
Wall split system
This is the most popular type of equipment for air cooling in the apartment. Depending on the capacity, it can be used in a room with an area from 10 to 70 m². For larger spaces, it is advisable to use other types of air conditioners.
The internal module, which can be not only rectangular, but also angular, is placed on the wall closer to the window, departing from the ceiling about 15-20 cm. Installation in the window area is due to the fact that the maximum length of the highway connecting the blocks is limited. In most cases, for household models, it should be within 7 meters vertically and 15 meters horizontally.
The exact information on the maximum permissible length of the pipeline is indicated in the passport for the air conditioner. The greater the length of the line, the less the efficiency of the equipment and the greater the load on the compressor.
Benefits:
- Relatively simple design;
- Ergonomic design;
- Do not clutter up the indoor space;
- Possibility of installation on any of the walls of the room (if the length of the pipeline allows).
Disadvantages:
- Do not provide fresh air.
Ceiling and floor-ceiling split systems
These varieties are popular with the arrangement of office space, pavilions, but can be installed in apartments. Ceiling split systems reduce the risk of drafts, as cold air, which settles down from the ceiling area, cools the room evenly.
Floor-ceiling models can be mounted to the ceiling or be installed against the wall near the floor. The flow of cool air is directed upwards, then distributed over the entire area. The air conditioner located in the lower part of the room can be hidden behind a decorative grill or in a specially equipped niche.
Benefits:
- Possibility of installation in interiors where there are no false ceilings and free space on the walls.
Disadvantages:
- No fresh air intake;
- Floor-ceiling models less effectively heat the air;
- The recommended ceiling level for installing the ceiling model is at least 2.5 m.
Duct Split Systems
Channel split systems are installed in large apartments with a high ceiling level. This type of climate technology, related to industrial equipment, is designed for installation in large apartments.
The principle of operation of the equipment is different from the usual wall-mounted air conditioners. It not only cools the air mass inside the room, but also provides fresh air from the street and distributes it evenly throughout the duct network.
The installation of air ducts is carried out on the ceiling, which reduces its level by 12-15 cm. The indoor unit is placed in decorative niches, reducing the ceiling level by 30-40 cm. It is possible to install the module in a pantry or dressing room.
To supply fresh air to the apartment all year round, in addition to the channel split system, water or electric heaters are installed. They heat the air in the cold season. Some models are equipped with built-in heaters.
Benefits:
- Provide fresh air;
- Serve large areas - one system for several rooms;
- The possibility of hidden installation.
Disadvantages:
- Possibility of installation only in rooms with high ceilings;
- The need for a special room to install an internal module or suspended ceilings, decorative boxes;
- Air is supplied to all rooms at the same temperature;
- High price.
Multi split systems
In multi systems, one condensing unit serves several evaporators - internal modules that are placed in different rooms of the same apartment. The work of indoor units is regulated separately, which makes it possible to form an optimal climate in each room, but in a certain temperature mode: cooling or heating.
Most models designed for domestic use, designed to service from two to five rooms. Up to eight evaporators can be used in more powerful installations, they are used, as a rule, for arranging cottages and offices.
Multi split systems are:
1. Fixed - have the ability to connect to the KKB only a certain number of internal modules that are included in the package.
2. Typesetting - they are distinguished by individual equipment, designed for the needs of the customer. Indoor units can be of various types.
Benefits:
- A lesser degree of blocking of the facade of a building or a special room for KKB;
- Lower noise level;
- Energy efficiency - in comparison with several conventional split systems, the equipment consumes significantly less electricity.
Disadvantages:
- In case of breakdown of KKB in all the rooms, the possibility of maintaining the desired temperature conditions is lost;
- Internal modules are not able to work in different modes (all rooms of the apartment are either heated or cooled);
- More complicated installation;
- High price.
Invertor split systems
A feature of this type of equipment is the adjustable engine speed of the compressor. In climate technology, where the inverter technology is not used, the compressor motor has a constant rotational speed.
The inverter converts alternating current into direct current, and then again into alternating current of the required frequency. When using this technology, the compressor engine runs continuously, but at different speeds, which depend on the heat load in the room. In a conventional air conditioner, the compressor operates in on / off mode.
Benefits:
- Lack of peak loads and low power operation significantly increase compressor life;
- Quick access to the specified temperature regime and maintaining it with greater accuracy;
- Slight noise level;
- Lower power consumption (up to 60%);
- Some models can be used in freezing temperatures up to -25 ° C (for space heating).
Disadvantages:
- Higher price (higher by 40-45% compared to conventional splits).
Allergy-Free Split Systems
Most air conditioners are equipped with a coarse filter that retains only large dust particles. Especially for allergy sufferers and asthmatics, a climatic technique was developed that cleans the air of possible allergens - pollen, dust, microorganisms. The peculiarity of this equipment in the filters used. In some models used multi-stage air cleaning.
Filters used in climate technology for allergies, effectively purifying the air:
1. Zeolitic phyto-calcitic - eliminates odors, chemicals, microorganisms without replacement for 3-5 years.
2. Plasma - with an efficiency of 95% cleans the air by means of an electrostatic field with a voltage of 5 kV. High voltage contributes to the ionization of air, which is then discharged due to the catalyst. Within 30 minutes, it reduces the intensity of the smell by 5 times, the smell disappears completely in an hour. The filter does not need to be cleaned or replaced.
Benefits:
- Full air purification.
Disadvantages:
- The use of the latest generation of filters in the technique increases the price of the equipment.
Designer split systems
The internal block of design conditioners differs from the "boring" fellows. Manufacturers offer climate equipment that harmoniously fit into the interior of the room, thanks to the use of non-traditional forms, body colors.
Used non-standard solutions:
1. External panel in the form of a mirror.
2. Unusual colors: wood or stone, metallic, golden.
3. Ornament on the outer panel.
4. The internal module is made in the form of a thin box in the form of a circle or a square with internal illumination.
The most original idea - air conditioning-picture. This is a light box, in which a reproduction of the painting is highlighted, which after some time is replaced by another image. The selection of pictures included in the kit by the manufacturer can be replaced if desired, relying on your own taste.
Benefits:
- Individuality of the interior.
Disadvantages:
- The price is higher than the usual climate equipment with similar characteristics (on average by 20-50%).
Split system selection parameters
Power (cooling capacity)
You can calculate the required cooling capacity by yourself using special calculators that are posted on the websites of companies selling climate equipment.
Approximate data: for a room with an area of 10 m², equipment with a power of 1 kW is required (provided that the ceiling height in the room is not more than 3 m). Manufacturers determine the power of air conditioners in BTU / hour (British Thermal Unit), which is approximately 0.3 watts.
The ratio of power equipment and floor space:
| Thousand Btu | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 18 |
| kw | 1,6 | 2 | 2,6 | 3,5 | 3,7 | 4 | 5,2 |
| m² | 16 | 20 | 26 | 35 | 37 | 40 | 52 |
Heating function
Most of the proposed models of air conditioners can be used to heat the room when the house is cool and centralized heating is not yet included. A split system can be used for this purpose if the temperature on the street where the outdoor unit is located is not lower than -5 ° C.
Noise level
The optimum noise level is 25-30 dB. During the daytime, the noise of this level is hardly perceived. Some models in the night mode emit a noise of 19-20 dB.
Air filtration and treatment
Antibacterial or other special filters can be installed in the equipment. Additional functions that have become popular - humidification and ionization of air, provide a comfortable, healthy atmosphere in the room indoors.
Body material
What matters is the material from which the condensing unit casing is made, which will be used in outdoor conditions. It can be plastic or metal. Preference should be given to equipment in the case of metal.
Which split system to choose
Selecting climatic equipment, you need to consider how many rooms in the apartment are supposed to be cooled, calculate the power for each of the rooms. Take into account the necessary degree of air purification, as well as the presence of additional functions. Pay attention to the design of the internal module.
Recommendations for choosing air conditioning:
1. For a room of 25 m² - wall split-system with a capacity of 2.6 kW.
2. For a two-room or three-room apartment, where it is supposed to cool all the rooms, the installation of several wall split-systems will require less funds than the purchase of a multi-split system.
3. For an apartment at the stage of repair, which includes several rooms with high ceilings - a channel split-system, thanks to which it is possible not only to maintain the temperature, but also to provide fresh air.
4. For an apartment that includes more than two or three rooms - a multi-split system (recommended not for economic gain, but for the installation of one external unit).
5. For an apartment where small children live and people who suffer from allergies and respiratory diseases - invertor split systems with anti-bacterial filters.
Aiming to buy an inverter split system in order to save money for paying for electricity makes sense only if it will be used all year round. If the air conditioner is used only a couple of months a year, it’s more economical to purchase a regular model and not overpay.
How much are split systems
The price of a split system depends on its type, brand, power, availability of options.
Approximate prices for split systems:
1. Wall - from 10.5 to 70 thousand rubles.
2. Ceiling - from 40 to 150 thousand rubles.
3. Floor-ceiling - 50 to 150 thousand rubles.
4. Inverter - from 16 to 100 thousand rubles.
5. Channel - from 70 to 750 thousand rubles.
6. For allergy sufferers (wall) - from 17 to 70 thousand rubles.
7. Designer (wall) - from 18 to 200 thousand rubles.
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