How to choose a split system in an apartment and in a house: the best brands + recommendations for buyers

The best manufacturers of climate technology

The choice of the supplier depends on the ease of operation of the air conditioner, its functionality and, most importantly, reliability. To make it easier to decide, let's make a list of the best manufacturers.

Place # 1 - sophisticated Daikin air conditioners

The company has been successfully operating on the market for more than four decades.During this time, Daikin has established itself as a supplier of multifunctional and high-quality household appliances.

Its employees pay special attention to manufacturing technology, as well as after-sales service of the device.

Daikin factories are located in Japan, Belgium and Thailand. Such a production base allows to produce more than 2.5 million air conditioners every year.

The manufacturer presented above has recently been the market leader, offering customers a good range of Daikin split systems. All products of the brand are of decent quality.

Therefore, when placing an order, you can count on the environmental friendliness of the device, its high quality and durability. But keep in mind that such a set of benefits will be expensive.

Place # 2 - semi-industrial equipment Mitsubishi

In second place among companies producing household and semi-industrial climate equipment is Mitsubishi. Most of the devices of this brand belong to the elite class, but relatively inexpensive models are also presented in the assortment. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the rating of the best brand air conditioners.

If you decide to stay on this brand, then pay attention to the inverter units. As a rule, they are equipped with several automatic modes of operation, as well as the function of ionizing air purification.

Place # 3 - perfect middling Toshiba

For those who want to save money, Toshiba produces mid-range air conditioners. The company has been operating on the market for more than 120 years and it was its engineers who created the first split system for a New York printing house.

Distinctive features of the devices of this brand are an adequate price, high reliability, as well as a huge set of functions.At the same time, most models are equipped with an inverter compressor, which saves on electricity.

Place #4 - Fujitsu innovative split systems

The fourth place in the ranking was taken by the Japanese company Fujitsu. Its range is full of semi-industrial and domestic air conditioners.

It is this company that is the first to introduce innovative developments, setting a trend in the climate technology market.

The Fujitsu technique is classified as expensive. This is explained by the fact that air conditioners are equipped with a huge number of different sensors. Such an engineering solution helps to protect the device from freezing, power surges and excessive current strength.

Place # 5 - reliable Panasonic equipment

The last place in the TOP is occupied by another Japanese brand. Panasonic produces industrial split systems, as well as household-level models. With each new device, you can see how the company improves the quality of materials, improves manufacturability and increases the number of functions.

Panasonic models of all price categories are presented on the market

But if you can afford to spend a little more, then pay attention to split systems equipped with generators and air ionizers, as well as a catechin filtration system.

Video - How to choose an air conditioner

Based on everything that has been said above, we can conclude that for a house the best option would be a conventional split system of a certain capacity. So, for a room with an area of ​​​​approximately 25 m2, a wall-mounted version with a power of 2.6 thousand watts is enough. In a large apartment and where there are many rooms, it is best to take a multi-split system if funds allow. You also need to buy the model that has all the basic and necessary functions for each specific case.

Panasonic HE 7 QKD

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Maintenance and care

Maintenance of split systems consists in cleaning from all types of contaminants. All problems that arise during the operation of air conditioners are created by dirt, clogged filters and other extraneous deposits on working surfaces. The basic care rules are set out in the user manual, which must be carefully studied before using the kit.

It is necessary to clean the evaporator heat exchanger (indoor unit) once a year. Its plates are clogged with dust, which must be removed with a vacuum cleaner or a long brush. Filters should be cleaned monthly, when water drops appear from the evaporator, turn off the device and call a technician from the service center.

Do you already have a split system in your house?

Of course! No, but it will be!

Basic and additional modes of operation

The next nuance that must be discussed before buying is the definition of the list of necessary modes. The fact is that in addition to the main function - cooling the air in the room - the air conditioner can perform other tasks.

The most expensive multifunctional units are capable of operating in 5 modes:

• cooling;
• heating;
• moisturizing;
• drainage;
• ventilation.

Cooling is the main function present in all devices without exception. Thanks to it, the temperature in the air is reduced to the specified settings, and then maintained at the same level.

According to the laws of physics, the cooled air smoothly descends, mixing with warmer air, and the heated air rises.For this reason, wall modules are installed at the top of the wall, almost under the ceiling.

Heating is an additional function, and for most models it only works in a certain range.

When the outdoor temperature drops below the critical point - from -5 ° C to -15 ° C, depending on the manufacturer's standards - the device turns off the air heating.

The shutdown is due to the characteristics of the compressor device - for example, changes in the properties of the oil. In this regard, it is better to use the heating function in autumn / spring, when it is already cool outside, and the heating has not yet been connected

The functions of dehumidification and humidification are not available to all models, so we also advise you to ask about these features in advance. Most often, the air in living rooms is dry, so it would be much more advisable to buy a special device - a humidifier. It operates on a different principle and treats the human respiratory system more carefully.

But many devices have a ventilation function. It creates circulation, helps to evenly distribute air throughout the room. As a result, warm air is mixed with cold air, which is more beneficial for the health of the occupants.

Versatility is good, but experimenting with modes is not for everyone, so check with your doctor before buying a multifunctional device.

The best elite split systems

When the issue of price is not acute, but functionality, quality and design come to the fore, then models of manufacturers of the first group attract attention. These split systems cannot be compared with those presented above.

By the way, there should be no difficulties with the choice here at all.

Luxury equipment brands value their name and take a responsible approach to quality control of their products. But even here there is a significant range of prices and the presence of various little-used options, so it’s still worth considering before buying.

1. Toshiba RAS-10SKVP2-E is a model with high quality multi-stage air purification. The laconic design and streamlined shape will perfectly fit into a modern interior and will not attract too much attention.

2. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries SRK-25ZM-S is characterized by quiet operation and high power. It creates a comfortable temperature regime at external temperatures down to minus 15ºC.

3. Daikin FTXG20L (Russia, UA, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) - an incredibly elegant design will decorate the most luxurious bedroom. It presents all the technological advances: sensors for the presence of a person in a room; super quiet operation of both indoor and outdoor unit; multi-stage air filtration; energy saving and protection systems.
4. Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-SF25VE (Russia, UA, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) - has a low level of energy consumption at high power, there is a temperature indicator for comfort and an inverter for smooth adjustment.
5. Daikin FTXB35C (Russia, UA, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Russia) - with a large service area, the model has a fairly attractive price in its segment. Reliable and simple in functionality, the split system will be the best choice for those who are looking for equipment without unnecessary options and other “gadgets”.

Unfortunately, manufacturers from this rating are hard to find in household appliances hypermarkets that are focused on Chinese brands of medium and low price categories.Although every elite brand can find models with simple equipment at an affordable price and at the same time high quality.

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Deciding on power

Deciding on the type of equipment is far from everything. Next, you need to deal with the technical characteristics, select the necessary options, and only then proceed to the selection of a specific model.

To choose the right air conditioner, you need to calculate its power

Let's figure out how much cooling system you need. There are two ways to find out the required performance of an air conditioner: call a representative of a company that sells air conditioners or calculate it yourself. The calculation itself is elementary, but it will also be necessary to take into account the features of the house or apartment.

Calculation by quadrature

So, when determining the power of an air conditioner, it is considered that 1 kW of cooling power is needed per 10 square meters of area. That is, if you plan to install a split system only for cooling the room, find its area, divide by 10 and get the desired performance.

But, sometimes, it is worth increasing the figure found: if the house in which you live is panel or brick, without additional insulation, its walls will noticeably heat up in summer. In order for the equipment to cope with such a load without problems, it is worth adding 20-25% of the power found. Then there will be no problems with the temperature even on the hottest days.

First you need to find out how much power equipment is required

For example, a room of 22 sq. m. Dividing by 10, we get 2.2 kW. We are looking for such power or a little more when choosing a model.

The same principles are valid for calculating the power of equipment for an entire apartment or house.Only the area of ​​​​all rooms in which you plan to maintain the required microclimate with the help of this air conditioner is summed up. And after that everything is the same: divide by 10, add a margin if necessary.

Volume calculation

This method is more accurate, since it also takes into account the height of the ceilings, as well as the location of the rooms. It is considered in this case as follows: the volume of the room is multiplied by the standard, and then adjusted for other heat sources. The standard is the following:

• for rooms facing the north side - 30 W / m3;
• if the walls face west / east - 35 W / m3;
• if the wall is directed to the south - 40 W / m3.

A larger standard is selected in the corner room. Also, increased power is necessary with a large area of ​​\u200b\u200bwindows or if there are old wooden frames that do not provide tightness.

For a rough estimate, you can use the table

Additional sources of heat for air conditioning are:

A computer. If it is installed indoors, add 300-400 watts to the figure found.
Human

In general, this position is more often used when calculating air conditioning parameters in offices and industrial premises, but in a “densely populated” apartment it can also be important. For each person in the room, add 100-150 W of air conditioner power. Let's give an example of calculation. You need to choose an air conditioner for a south-facing room that has a computer and one permanent occupant

The dimensions of the room are 4 * 3.5 * 2.7 m. We find the volume, multiply all the parameters of the room, we get 37.8 m3. We multiply the figure found by the standard: 37.8 m3 * 40 W / m3 \u003d 1512 W.Next, add a margin for extraneous heat sources: 1512 W + 400 W + 150 W = 2032 W. Rounding up, we get 2000 W or 2 kW

Let's give an example of calculation. It is necessary to choose an air conditioner for a south-facing room in which a computer is installed and one person lives permanently. The dimensions of the room are 4 * 3.5 * 2.7 m. We find the volume, multiply all the parameters of the room, we get 37.8 m3. We multiply the figure found by the standard: 37.8 m3 * 40 W / m3 \u003d 1512 W. Next, add a margin for extraneous heat sources: 1512 W + 400 W + 150 W = 2032 W. Rounding up, we get 2000 W or 2 kW.

Accurate power calculation

To find out the required cooling capacity of the device, collect the initial data for calculations by answering the following questions:

1. On which side of the building is the refrigerated room located - sunny, shaded?
2. What is the area of ​​the room and the height of the ceilings?
3. How many tenants are constantly in this room (more than 2 hours during the day)?
4. The number of TVs, computers, the power consumption of the refrigerator, if it falls into the zone of operation of the air conditioner.
5. The rate of air exchange of natural ventilation.

We propose to calculate the power by the area of ​​​​the room, taking into account all factors, using an online calculator:

An important nuance. Often in apartments and country cottages, the kitchen is not separated by a door leaf from the corridor and other rooms. In such cases, the dimensions of the kitchen are also taken into account.

Note that for convenience, the online calculator gives calculation results in 2 units - kilowatts and thousands of BTUs. Based on the calculated cooling capacity, we select a unit with the necessary parameters from the standard power line according to the table (we round the result up):

Purpose and type of air conditioner

Floor-to-ceiling air conditioner

The first models of air conditioners worked to cool the air in the room. New developments operate in 2 modes - cooling and heating. All equipment is divided into 2 large categories - monoblocks and split systems. Models are classified into several categories:

• installation site;
• power;
• the presence of an air heating function;
• Possibility of air filtration/ionization.

Split modules consist of 2 blocks - outdoor and indoor.

Multisystems can have several indoor units with 1 outdoor unit. The maximum number of internal devices is 16. These models are appropriate in large multi-room apartments. Often they are installed in offices. Equipping an air-cooling system using 1 outdoor enclosure is advantageous as the financial and labor costs of the installation are reduced.

Types of multichannel models:

• wall;
• cassette;
• channel;
• floor and ceiling;
• columned.

How often should the device be cleaned?

Many air purification filters require regular maintenance. Therefore, it is best to make sure in advance that the design of the air conditioner provides easy and convenient access to all these elements of the filtration system.

Do not forget about the convenient location of the outdoor and air conditioner indoor units in the house. The indoor unit, for example, should not be covered by furniture or other objects, and the outdoor unit should not be placed in the sun. The outdoor unit may also need a system to drain the condensate that forms during the hot season.

In some models, there is also a self-cleaning evaporator function (located in the indoor unit).

How to choose a place for an air conditioner in a room

An incorrectly chosen place for installing the cooling system reduces its efficiency by 3-4 times

Therefore, it is important to follow the following rules:

• The air flow should not fall on the place where a person is permanently located, for example, on a sofa or a desk.
• The unit should not be located in niches, as this creates unnecessary obstacles to the air path, and also leads to freezing and breakage of the device itself.
• Do not place the unit above sockets and electrical appliances, as during its operation a small amount of moisture is released. If it gets on an electrical device, an accident will happen.
• It is forbidden to hang the equipment close to the wall, as you will block the air holes, as a result of which the work power will decrease.

The best universal split systems

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries SRK25ZMX-S:

• profitability;
• silent operation;
• quickly makes the air cool;
• week timer;
• The presence of filters helps to clean the air from dust.

Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-DM25VA:

• affordable price category;
• timer for turning on the device;
• energy saving mode;
• air ionization;
• little noise.

Toshiba RAS-10EKV-EE:

• efficient energy consumption;
• high adjustable power;
• low background noise;
• air heating;
• self-cleaning system.

Hisense AS-10UW4SVETS:

• beautiful case design;
• low background noise;
• ionization and purification of air;
• efficient energy consumption;
• heating;
• long service life.

Main technical characteristics

To choose the right air conditioner, you need to know the main characteristics that reflect its efficiency and economy.You can do without these technical subtleties, but you will have to rely on the advice of a sales assistant, and they are not always objective. Therefore, it is better to figure it out on your own, especially since it is not very difficult.

An example of the technical characteristics of split systems

Cooling class or cooling capacity

In the technical specifications of air conditioners and split systems, you can see the line where it says "cooling capacity", and then there are numbers from 5200 BTU / hour to 42700 BTU / hour. Let's figure it out. BTU/hr is the British Thermal Unit and represents the amount of energy it takes for a device to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit.

In relation to air conditioners, this parameter reflects the cooling efficiency. The higher the cooling capacity (higher number), the more economical the split system will be (there will be less electricity costs).

Sometimes, instead of cooling capacity, the cooling class is indicated, and then there are the Latin letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G. This parameter also reflects the efficiency of work, but is considered as the ratio of heating power to power consumption. Also referred to as ERR or SERR.

Air conditioner energy efficiency classes and coefficients

If we talk about the letter designation, then class A is the most economical, class G spends the most electricity. As a rule, other things being equal, household appliances of class A and above (there are also A +, A ++, A +++) are more expensive. The difference is hundreds of dollars

Previously, while electricity was not so expensive, few people paid attention to this indicator - the difference expressed in rubles was not so great.Now, with the constant increase in the price of electricity, it is probably worth buying a more economical air conditioner - at certain intervals it can work for days, so this parameter is now quite important

Don't confuse these two ratios.

There is also a second coefficient - COP or SCOP. It reflects the efficiency of heating, defined as the ratio of the amount of heat released to the amount of energy expended. Naturally, in this case, the same rule applies: the higher the coefficient, the more economical the air conditioner will be in the process of heating (if such a function is available).

Noise level

The characteristics usually indicate two values ​​\u200b\u200b- the maximum and minimum noise levels. It is measured when operating at minimum and maximum power.

An important characteristic, especially if the split system is installed in the bedroom. In this case, look for a very quiet air conditioner. For a bedroom, a noise level of 19-24 dB will be acceptable. The maximum allowable level in residential premises according to SNiP is 34 dB, so it is better not to consider those that do not fit this criterion.

Maximum communication length

Split systems consist of two or more units and they are connected to each other by means of air ducts and wire harnesses, through which control signals are transmitted.

The length of communications between the outdoor and indoor units is also normalized

In the standard version, the length of the duct is 5 meters, which is usually sufficient. But when installing in large private houses or cottages, more significant distances may be needed. The maximum length of communications is 42 meters. Such models cost much more, as well as the fee for their installation.To choose an air conditioner according to this principle, you will first have to at least roughly determine its location (indoor and outdoor units), measure the estimated distance (note that the route runs along the walls) and only then choose a model.

Which is better - inverter or on / off

Inverter air conditioners are 20-40% more expensive than conventional ones, but more economical and more reliable in operation. No wonder European and Japanese manufacturers have launched a mass production of these models. But it is not always possible to realize the advantages of inverters in practice.

Example. You return from work after 18.00, start cooling, turn it off before going to bed. Half of this time, the "split" or monoblock catches up with the temperature, then maintains. In the maximum performance mode, both types of air conditioners consume energy in the same way, saving only begins at the stage of maintaining a comfortable microclimate.

When is it better to take the inverter version of the cooler:

• if the unit is running constantly, for a long period;
• The air conditioner is used to heat the room.

For short-term work, cheaper products operating in the start / stop mode are suitable.

The best mobile air conditioners

Compact floor air conditioner Electrolux N3:

• differs in function of dehumidification and ventilation of air;
• does not make sounds during operation;
• energy efficiency belongs to class A;
• convenient timer;
• switching to night mode;
• built-in self-diagnosis system.

Zanussi ZACM-12MS/N1:

• compact and stylish design;
• condensate filling indicator;
• automatic blinds;
• built-in timer.

Aeronik AP-09C:

• many functions are provided;
• ease of management;
• mobility;
• there is no condensation, so there is no need to control the process of moisture accumulation.

It is worth noting such models as: Zanussi ZACM-07 MP/N1, Ballu BPAC-09 CM, Royal Clima RM-R26CN-E, Hyundai H-AP2-07C-UI002.