What Types of Air Conditioners are there?

There are a number of types of air conditioners to choose from: 

• Portable air conditioners are the cheapest, but are more suitable for smaller spaces.
• Window mounted air conditioners can cool an  entire room and installation costs are low.
• In a split system air conditioner, the compressor is installed outside the house and the unit that passes air into the house is installed in the wall. Multi split system air conditioners are also available.
• Ducted air conditioners pass air from a large  compressor through ducts installed in the walls or ceiling. They are ideal for air conditioning the entire home, but are more expensive than other systems.
• Evaporative coolers are cheaper to run than other types of air conditioners, but create a humid environment and are best suited to hot, dry climates or well-ventilated areas.
• Reverse cycle air conditioners can heat and cool your house.
• Inverter systems automatically adjust fan and motor speeds to keep a room at a constant temperature. Inverter systems are said to be more energy efficient in environments where the air conditioner is running continuously.

Since the cost of air conditioning can vary from well under $1,000 to $10,000 or more, you will want to weigh the cost of your system versus its capacity to cool your home in the balance. A ducted air con will have the capacity to cool every room in your house, but is it worth the cost? Would a good split system for the main family room be a better option for you?