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How Does a Wall-mounted Air Conditioner Work?

How Does a Wall-Mounted Air Conditioner Work?

October 29, 2024 Hussain Bhatti No Comments

We all grew up in houses with traditions of ductwork HVAC systems. They offer us a haven of comfortable temperature no matter how hot it gets outside. Yet, we have wall-mounted air conditioning systems for our kids’ generation. Unlike the bulky window AC that blocks your view, these sleek units are affixed to walls or ceilings.

Meanwhile, for anyone in a congested area—maybe you’re retrofitting a historic home or just adding that much-needed boost to a newly built sunroom—the technicians can seamlessly integrate these systems into your household. They’re particularly useful for entire-house solutions or when you need to focus on specific rooms. Long-term savings and the drastic improvement in cooling effectiveness offset the upfront costs.

How Does a Wall-Mounted Air Conditioner Work?

The standard wall-mounted air conditioners are ductless AC or mini-split AC systems. They’re gaining more popularity in both residential and commercial settings. Since they don’t need central air ductwork, these units use a less hassle approach to keeping your space cool. Each unit is individually connected to an outdoor condenser via copper refrigerant lines. 

Likewise, a refrigeration cycle that initiates with the compressor drives the heat exchange process. At the start, the compressor pressurizes the refrigerant, which absorbs heat from the indoor air as it evaporates into a high-pressure gas. Then the gas flows to the condenser, releasing heat into the outdoor air and turning it back into a liquid.

The refrigerant then returns through the expansion valve, which lowers pressure and cools down again before returning to the evaporator. Here, the cycle continues as the refrigerant evaporates again, absorbing more heat and humidity from the room. Most of the individuals consider wall-mounted units into one type only, but these are some of its DNA:

  • Split ductless systems
  • Multi-split systems
  • Window-mounted units

5 Benefits of Wall-Mounted Air Conditioning Units

Wall-mounted air conditioning units, also known as split systems or ductless air conditioners, offer several advantages that can be particularly appealing depending on your cooling needs and living space. Here are five benefits of opting for wall-mounted air conditioning units:

  1. Space Efficiency: One of the standout benefits of wall-mounted air conditioners is their compact size. No need for bulky ductwork and hectic renovation of the whole attic. It requires only a tiny space on the wall and access to an outside wall for the external condenser unit.
  2. Individualized Comfort: Wall-mounted units can cool specific zones or rooms independently. This is particularly beneficial in households where family members have different temperature preferences.
  3. Energy Efficiency: These ACs are generally more energy-efficient than traditional central air systems. They avoid the energy losses associated with ductwork, which can account for more than 30% of energy consumption.
  4. Improved Air Quality: These units have multi-stage filtration systems that dramatically reduce dust, allergens, bacteria, and pollen. Thus, the other particulates in the air get filtered, and you get fresh air out. Also, the absence of no ducts reduces mold accumulation.
  5. Easy Installation: Installing these ACs is less invasive and generally quicker than installing a complete ducted system. There is no need to open up walls to install ductwork — which involves significant construction and disruption in your home. On the maintenance side, you must clean or replace the filters regularly.

3 Main Components of a Wall-Mounted Air Conditioner

There are other things complete that-mounted units such as refrigerant, and more. Yet, we’ll explore the three main parts of a wall-hanged AC here:

1. Indoor Unit

At the heart of every wall-mounted air conditioner is the indoor unit. It’s where the warm air from your space is collected, cooled down, and then released as cool air back into the environment. The indoor unit does its job of extracting heat and moisture. The process depends heavily on the quality of the refrigerant tubing within the unit.

2. Outdoor Unit

Secondly, the outdoor unit, also known as the condenser, is where the magic of heat exchange happens. It expels the absorbed heat and moisture from the indoor air to the outdoor air. It is strategically placed outside at an elevated spot to get more ventilation and complete the cycle that keeps the indoor air cool.

3. The Conduit

Last but not least, the Conduit is the lifeline of the AC. This power cable powers both units but also contains the refrigerant tubing and a condensate drain. If a system isn’t functioning correctly, there may be a reason that the Conduit is not installed as per the SOPs. As a result, it won’t be able to move moisture and heat from the indoor units to the outside.

5 Cons of Wall-Mounted Units

Alongside the pros, there are some cons as well:

  1. Installation Costs: Wall-mounted air conditioners are less invasive than traditional ducted systems. The actual cost of the AC can be pretty high. Also, the installation cost may rise if multiple indoor units are needed to cover various rooms or zones within a home.
  2. Impact: Wall-mounted units require a portion of the interior wall and are always visible within the living space. This can be a downside for homeowners who prefer not to have their heating and cooling systems in plain view. 
  3. Limited Cooling Area: While excellent for cooling specific rooms or zones, wall-mounted air conditioners are not ideal for completely cooling an entire home. You need multiple units throughout different rooms, which can become costly and might not provide the same level of comfort as a central air conditioning system.
  4. Maintenance: Even if you take care of your AC at the top, you still have to schedule regular maintenance bi-annually or annually. Each unit in a wall-mounted system needs periodic attention. The critical maintenance tasks include cleaning or replacing the air filters. It’s also important to check the refrigerant levels regularly. A decrease in refrigerant can lead to decreased cooling efficiency. The condensate drain must be cleared to prevent blockages that can lead to water damage or affect indoor humidity levels.
  5. Limitations in Cooling Capacity: There are limitations when cooling more extensive or interconnected spaces. Each unit has a finite range that can cool and is limited to one or two rooms. Expanding their cooling coverage to more areas typically requires additional units.

The Bottom Line

We hope now you have an idea of how wall-mounted AC works and whether you should consider it. As HVAC experts, we first understand your cooling needs and then give our verdict on whether you should go for it or not. Yet, for most single—or double-story homes, it’s an ideal fit.

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