Saturday 22 February 2014

Combination Heating and Cooling Units

While it's usual to focus on air cooling devices when the weather is hot, combination heating and cooling units can kill two birds with one stone in hot and cold weather situations. Let's take a look at the benefits that can be had from taking the two main indoor climate controlling capabilities of portable units when they're united in the one single unit.

When it Gets Too Hot


There is always a great need for indoor cooling power from a compact, portable device in summer when a simple fan simply cannot produce acceptable results. This is especially so in conditions of extreme heat coupled with high humidity.

In these conditions it can become really uncomfortable during the day and almost impossible to sleep at night. A solution that incorporates the portability of a small air conditioning device with the power to keep the indoor temperature at a bearable level is paramount.

When it Gets Too Cold


On the other hand, when it gets very cold outside and the indoor heating system is just not able to cope with keeping certain of those more isolated rooms comfortably warm, a booster from a small portable heater is often necessary to keep the temperature at a decent level.

If your home office space is not warm enough, trying to get any work done can suffer when the ambient temperature drops to unbearably low levels. The same can be said for a bedroom that is too cold at night, where sleeping can be difficult and interrupted through getting too cold, despite having thick blankets.

Space, Size and Logistics


Having a decent portable air cooling unit and a separate heater in a home is fairly common in many families. While one is in constant use, the other will be safely packed away in a garage or storage space until the weather changes and the requirements become reversed.

But when space is limited, such as in the case of living in a very small apartment or if you're staying in a small remote vacation cabin in extreme weather, then it makes sense to have the best of both worlds combined in a single, compact and highly portable unit, whether it is vent free or needs some way to vent exhaust air to the outside.

The benefits are actually quite obvious, especially when your main power source is electricity anyway, or for reasons of building safety regulations you are not allowed to use an indoor propane, kerosene, paraffin or gas heater in winter.

  • Space saving is uppermost in most people's minds when considering a combination heating and cooling unit
  • Cost of purchase is another factor that is kept low by combining two units into one
  • Power consumption in combo units is generally on par with separate devices
  • Maintaining a single unit is generally cheaper than maintaining two

Non Portable Solutions


Not all air conditioning and heating combo units are of the portable variety. You can get many main systems that are fixed to the wall and can handle both tasks extremely well while having very quiet operating noise levels.

These appliances generally cost more than their smaller portable air conditioner and heater counterparts, but generally provide more powerful heating or cooling and can often handle much larger spaces without being overloaded or struggling to maintain a comfortable room temperature.

In the end, it really depends on what your individual needs are concerning climate control in your home or vacation cabin. Your final choice of unit will need to be considered carefully so you end up choosing the right appliance for your needs.

4 comments:

  1. I love the old heater/cooler that I have in my house. I should probably replace the filter in it sometime because the air quality is lacking. It does an awesome job and getting my room to the temperature that I like it at and that is all that I can really ask for.

    Jason|http://www.lmac.com.au/

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  2. I wonder how cool one of those little air conditioners could actually make your house. I have a modest abode of three stories and I'm not sure how many of those I would have to buy. But, maybe it would be a good idea for one or two rooms. The wife always likes it to be a little warmer than I prefer. http://www.billsplumbingheatingair.com/Air-Conditioning-Service-Horsham-PA.html

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  3. I loved the little portable AC unit my friend brought into our apartment. After half a summer without air conditioning in our college town's hot summers it was a major relief. Working air conditioning makes all the difference in hot summers!

    Roxanne Rook | www.hayesheating.com

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  4. Are combination units like this efficient in energy? They're definitely efficient in space-saving, no doubt about that. We just would like a good heating and A/C option for our apartment while we're here for the next year. Thiago | http://www.lmac.com.au

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