Portable Air Conditioners | Small to medium rooms, temporary cooling | Cooling capacity: 7,000-9,000 BTU (Base) ▲ 12,000-18,000 BTU (Advanced) (ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 37) Fixed frequency (IEC 60335-2-40) | High portability (wheels and lightweight design) ▲ Advanced adds WiFi (IEEE 802.11) Easy installation | Lower energy efficiency (EER 2-3.5) ▲ Advanced improves to 3.5 vs inverter models (EER 10+) |
Window-Mounted AC | Apartments, medium rooms | Cooling capacity: 9,000-24,000 BTU (ANSI/ASHRAE) ▲ Inverter models (EER 8-10) | Moderate efficiency ▲ Quieter than portable units (50-55 dBA) Better cooling power than portable | Requires window installation ▲ Blocks window space ▲ Higher upfront cost |
Split System AC | Homes, offices, large spaces | Cooling capacity: 12,000-60,000 BTU (ANSI/ASHRAE) ▲ Inverter tech (IEC 60335-2-40) | High energy efficiency (EER 10-12) ▲ Zoned cooling ▲ Quiet operation (40-50 dBA) | High installation cost ▲ Requires professional setup ▲ Permanent installation |
Wall-Mounted AC | Small to medium rooms | Cooling capacity: 9,000-24,000 BTU (ANSI/ASHRAE) ▲ Inverter models (EER 9-11) | Compact design ▲ Efficient cooling ▲ Quieter than window units (45-50 dBA) | Requires wall space ▲ Moderate installation cost ▲ Less portable than portable AC |
Ducted AC Systems | Large homes, commercial spaces | Cooling capacity: 24,000+ BTU (ANSI/ASHRAE) ▲ Zoned ductwork (ISO 16813) | Whole-house cooling ▲ Even temperature distribution ▲ High EER (12-15) | High installation cost ▲ Permanent setup ▲ Requires ductwork maintenance |
Inverter-Based AC | Energy-conscious households | Cooling capacity: Varies by model ▲ Inverter tech (IEC 60335-2-40) ▲ EER 10-15 | Rapid cooling ▲ 30% energy savings vs fixed frequency ▲ Ultra-quiet (35-45 dBA) | Higher upfront cost ▲ Requires maintenance ▲ Less portable than portable AC |