For cooling and heating the premises, not only stationary split systems are used. Very popular among summer residents, tenants and offices of small companies are indoor air conditioners, which have a special design and several different types.
What floor air conditioners exist
To avoid confusion, you should immediately determine the concepts that apply to outdoor devices. A simple layman may not distinguish between floor (floor-to-ceiling) split systems, floor-mounted monoblocks, mobile split systems and floor air conditioners - all these devices belong to different types of climatic equipment and differ in principle of operation.
Floor and ceiling (console) split system
This type of cooling device is one of the types of two-component air conditioning systems. It has outdoor (capacitor) and indoor units. The first is hung outside the building. The indoor module can usually be placed either on the wall, lifting it slightly above the floor, or on the ceiling by attaching it to the studs. This is a stationary device with a large number of modes, functions and additional options.
Modern air conditioners of this type are produced by manufacturers with improved technical characteristics. They work quietly, efficiently and economically. The range of power for cold / heat, as well as the variability of operating temperatures have extended boundaries.
Floor mobile air conditioners
Device and principle of operation
These systems are also called monoblocks because of their design. In a floor mobile air conditioner, all the components of the main unit are in one device, that is, the external and internal units are combined. There are models with and without condensate trap. In the second case, the condensate will have to be removed manually from a special pan. To do this less often, when choosing, you should take models with a capacity to collect a larger volume.
Some manufacturers supply mobile floor air conditioners with an automatic evaporator, which removes moisture itself as it accumulates.
The principle of operation of such a device is that the air taken from the room is divided into warm and cold streams. The first goes into the room, and the warm air cooling the condenser is discharged through the corrugated hose to the street. Usually the heat sink tube is let through a window or a special hole at the bottom of the window cloth (with plastic double-glazed windows). In the kitchen, it can be led out through the ventilation shaft. Sometimes it is allowed to withdraw the hose sleeve into the technical hole in the wall ceiling.
If you plan to install the floor air conditioner in the country, then it is better to take the flexible sleeve to the underfloor through the technological hole, from where it will be removed through the ventilation openings in the basement of the building.
Such devices are capable of cooling / heating a room with an area of up to 40 m². Among the modern variety, there are still devices that work only in the cold. Power characteristics in terms of performance have limitations - up to 3 kW, then the efficiency decreases. This technique is equipped with an electronics unit, can be controlled from the remote control or from the instrument panel, equipped with a variety of biofilters and has rich functionality, as close as possible to equipping split systems.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main plus of mobile type floor air conditioners is portability. They easily move from room to room, as they are equipped with convenient castors, they can be transported from apartment to cottage, and taken with you when moving. Only the outlet pipe is dismantled.
A mobile air conditioning device is a unit that is completely ready for operation and does not require communications or complicated electronics settings.
An important advantage of relocated room floor air conditioners is their own installation and the price of the device itself. The only difficulty during installation is the selection of a place for the output of the corrugated hose. You cannot leave even small gaps between it and the window plane, otherwise the candy bar will work to cool the street. All connections require careful sealing. The cost of the "bedside table on wheels" is much less than the price of a split system with the same technical characteristics.
Among the mobile air conditioners, there are mini-floor models, the dimensions of which are similar to the dimensions of a small suitcase, and the weight does not exceed 9 kg. They are conveniently placed in small-sized rooms or in rooms with a non-standard layout, where there are many niches and ledges. Such a mobile device is not difficult to transport with you to the country.
The main manufacturers of small floor air conditioners are brands such as BALLU, SLOGGER, BIMATEKDESA and ELECTROLUX:
- BALLU has a model that is only 76 cm high and 36 cm deep. The compactness of such devices does not affect their performance, and many can be used all year round;
- At the company GENERAL CLIMATE there is the smallest floor air conditioner, which is also equipped with a self-diagnosis function and temperature control without human intervention;
- ELECTROLUX equips small air conditioning units with additional programs to the maximum, with which it becomes possible to set day / night modes. All devices are equipped with an automatic evaporation system. This saves the user from organizing condensate drainage;
- BIMATEK produces the quietest mini-floor air conditioners, which can be mounted even in bedrooms and children's rooms.
But they also have shortcomings. Firstly, it is a loud noise. With equal power indicators for wall or console room splits, the sound indicator will be in the range from 19 to 37 dB, while for a mobile floor type air conditioner, these values exceed the level of 50 dB.
To prevent this feature from becoming a surprise after the purchase, when choosing a floor air conditioner, it is necessary to arrange a test drive of noise characteristics in the store and listen to how the device works in various modes.
Another problem can be increased humidity. This is due to the fact that the discharge of condensate is directed under a compressor that evaporates water. Some manufacturers are trying to compensate for this shortcoming by the presence of a drainage pump.
As already mentioned, the mini-floor air conditioner will solve the size problem, but the interior may be disturbed by the heat-dissipating hose, which does not look very attractive.
Mobile split systems
When the features of the room allow only mobile air conditioners to be installed, but there is a need for more than 3 kW power, they purchase mobile split systems. Their main difference from monoblocks is the presence of an external unit that connects to the mobile internal electrical communications and the freon pipeline. At the same time, the compressor is not included in the main unit of the outdoor module, it is located in the indoor unit.
Such a device does not make their work less noisy, but at the same time, portability is partially preserved. Moving the mobile unit is possible relative to the length of the duct.The options for its output do not differ from those already described above regarding monoblocks.
Such split systems can handle indoor air up to 60 m². In most models, they have two shutters on the indoor unit, with which you can adjust the pressure of the outgoing flows. And the front panel is easy to remove, which makes it easier to care for the module.
Functionality and software are not affected. Modern mobile split has:
- disinfecting filters;
- on / off timer;
- turbo power mode;
- standard cold / heat / ventilation / dehumidification modes;
- comfortable night sleep function;
- built-in ionizer;
- temperature adjustment relative to the location of the remote control.
This is not a complete list of modes and programs that support mobile split systems of well-known brands.
Floor air conditioners without duct
Of course, the lack of an air duct in an outdoor air conditioner gives it a lot of advantages with respect to accommodation. But, in fact, this device cannot be called a full-fledged air conditioning device. An evaporator - yes, a humidifier - is also quite realistic, but not air conditioning. (For ease of understanding, the article will use the familiar name for everyone.)
Externally and in terms of price, a floor air conditioner without a hose is very similar to a mobile candy bar. But its main difference is the lack of a compressor.
In such a device, heat is not removed outside, because it simply does not exist. Cooling occurs due to cold water, which is poured into a special container. The lower its temperature, the more intensively the room cools. For some manufacturers, floor-mounted air conditioners without an air duct are equipped with an ice tray.
The principle of operation is the following sequence of processes inside the device:
- water enters the sponge filter by pumping;
- there it evaporates due to a stream of air coming from the fan;
- heat is absorbed, and air is cooled.
The room is not only cooled, but also moistened, and this makes the device popular among people with problems of ENT organs and the respiratory system.
The main advantages of floor air conditioners that do not have a hose, in addition to humidification in a compartment with cooling, include:
- compactness;
- gradual decrease in temperature;
- lack of refrigerant;
- low noise level;
- low energy consumption;
- high efficiency;
- easy installation.
Any floor air conditioner without an air duct is equipped with the same functions and programs as a mobile candy bar or a simple split system.
The main thing is to ensure the flow of fresh air through a window or door, since this technique is not used in completely enclosed rooms. It is also not allowed to install it in areas with high humidity. When buying, it is necessary to pay attention to power characteristics, since the main part of airless flooring is capable of processing a maximum of 25 m².
Reviews of floor air conditioners
User reviews about floor air conditioners, if we talk about mobile systems, were divided in half. Some of them are unhappy with the presence of an air vent in the form of a wide and long hose, which is not always convenient to place in a window or wall. Some other buyers note the inconvenience associated with the use of such a device in the presence of children in the family. A small child can easily insert an object into the distribution grilles. Of course, nobody likes the noise either.
Other buyers give positive reviews on floor air conditioners, considering them the best option for air conditioning for temporary housing or a country house. The price of all more than satisfied. It turns out an inexpensive purchase with good functionality.
Whether or not to buy a floor air conditioner will be decided by each user personally, but in order to make a purchase happy, you need to watch a video on how to choose a floor air conditioner in an apartment or office:
