In the mid 90’s, the STAR-K kosher certification organization in Baltimore hired a team of engineers who began working together with the appliance manufacturers to rewire the computer boards in ovens, fridges, air conditioners, and freezers to override these enhanced features. In 1998, the Whirlpool Corporation (manufacturers of KitchenAid, Maytag, Amana and others) was awarded a patent for their “Sabbath Mode,” which successfully eliminated these problems in many models. Today the STAR-K certifies sixteen major brands of ovens, fridges, and freezers including most of the major manufacturers such as GE, KitchenAid, Whirlpool and others.

The STAR-K certification on appliances falls into two categories:

Sabbath Mode
The Sabbath Mode includes models that have unique software/hardware programmed into them that specifically address the concerns of Sabbath observant Jews. Some models come with a built in Sabbath Mode option whereas others require it to be programmed by order.

Sabbath Compliant
The second category includes models that were assessed by the STAR-K at to the manufacturer’s request with the intention of helping consumers avoid the unwanted surprise of not being able to use their expensive purchase on the Sabbath and holidays. The STAR-K has a list of which appliances are Sabbath compatible and what some of the pitfalls are to be aware of in each model. Details of manufacturers in both these categories, listed by company along with the specific model numbers, can be found by visiting the STAR-K website at http://www.star-k.com/cons-appl.htm. The STAR-K has issued the disclaimer that although the models are certified for use on the Sabbath, a qualified Orthodox Rabbi should be consulted to clarify exactly what actions do and do not constitute the forbidden labor of cooking.

Here is a list of some of the major considerations that Sabbath Mode eliminates:

Ovens
There are a number of issues in modern ovens regarding the kosher consumer. Many ovens have thermostats that pump up the heat when the door is opened to compensate. Others have lights, digits, and sensors that are activated as well when the door is opened, or the temperature increased on the holidays when certain cooking is permitted. Additionally, many ovens automatically shut off after 12 hours and for safety reasons, most ovens will not recover from a power failure in the on position, meaning that food will be cold for the duration of the day.

Ovens with the Sabbath Mode take care of these concerns by deactivating many of these features. No lights, digits, solenoids, fans, icons, tones or displays will be activated or modified when the Sabbath Mode is activated. In many cases this mode will also prevent the oven light from going on or off as the door is opened or closed. In other models, however, the bulb must be unscrewed or the light left on for the entire day. A delay is built into the temperature controls so that the oven temperature can be raised or lowered on the holidays (though not on Shabbat). Many ovens have a timed bake feature that permits one to have the oven go off after a fixed period of time, however it is usually followed by an alarm. The STAR-K models with timed bake do not have an alarm after the time is up nor do they have an icon that is cancelled when the door is opened. To ensure that food will stay hot in the event of a blackout on the Sabbath, most Sabbath Mode appliances will turn back on once power is restored and will not shut off after twelve hours of continuous operation. Warming drawers should be treated as standard ovens since they present the same issues.

Ovens certified as Sabbath compliant have various protocol depending on the model that determine how they can be used on the Sabbath. If opening the oven door turns on a light, the bulb should either be removed before the Sabbath or Holiday or the light should be turned on at the control panel and left on for the entire Sabbath or Holiday. Some models that have an indicator light that cycles on and off during heating instead of a digital temperature readout can be used on the holidays when the light is on. Most Sabbath compliant models lack a delay in the temperature change process and therefore the temperature cannot be changed on the holidays.

Cooktops
Both gas and electric cooktops may have a light that increases or decreases as the temperature setting is adjusted. Some also have simmer lights that turn on and off as one enters or exits a very low setting. Sabbath Mode or Sabbath compliant models avoid electronic controls and lights, and turn on after a power failure. There should also be a way to disable or override the 12-hour automatic setting.

Air Conditioners
Although air conditioners do not come with Sabbath Mode, Sabbath compliant units will stay on after return from a power failure and should be compatible with Shabbat clocks.

Refrigerators
Modern day refrigerators pose a number of problems for the Sabbath observer. Often times, opening a refrigerator door will cause lights, defrost cycles and digital readouts to go on, and circulation fans to go off. Refrigerators certified with the Star-K Sabbath Mode incorporate technology that eliminate the problem of lights, digits, icons, tones, alarms, solenoids or fans being activated/deactivated when opening or closing the door. A built-in delay prevents the compressor from turning on immediately after the door is opened and the defrost cycle operates solely on clock time without any feedback from consumer usage of the refrigerator. The ice and cold water systems will be turned off since they invariably use electrical solenoids and motors to operate.

In Summary
Thanks to modern day ingenuity, it’s still possible for religious Jews to observe their ancient traditions while benefiting from state of the art technology. We hope this guide has been helpful to provide you with a brief overview of what to look for when shopping for Sabbath appliances. We wish you all a Shabbat Shalom and a good Sabbath!

Frigidaire FAD504TDD 50-Pint Dehumidifier

Ever experience a summer day that was so humid that it felt like you were walking through a rain cloud? Dehumidifiers keep the house free of unwanted moisture in the air and solve problems such as stickiness and window condensation associated with high relative humidity. They are also frequently used in damp basements or laundry rooms to prevent mold and rot from eating up the furniture, books, and boxes. Dehumidifiers can be expensive to purchase and operate, and must be maintained to prevent other problems from developing, it’s therefore essential that you are properly informed before purchasing one. We’ve put together this guide to teach you everything you need to know to choose the right dehumidifier for you.

Why Get a Dehumidifier?
The first step is to decide if a dehumidifier is necessary for your home at all. Anyone who usually leaves their window open throughout the spring and summer will find that their house accumulates with moisture during the summer months. This moisture gets trapped in when windows are closed up in the fall, which could result in damaging humidity. Similarly, houses without central air conditioning that reaches to the basement, may find dampness in the walls and air that will eventually condense and cause irreparable damage to furniture, books, and storage and will also foster the growth of mold. In both these cases, a dehumidifier may be the perfect solution. Nonetheless, sealing up any internal or external leaks is the first priority.

There are a number of different types of dehumidifiers on the market. Here are some of the pros and cons of each of them:

Heat-pump Dehumidifiers
Heat-pump dehumidifiers are the most common type of unit. They work by chilling the incoming air so that massive condensation occurs. This dries out the air that passes through the system and is eventually returned to the atmosphere of the house. This dehumidified air is slightly warmer than the rest of the air, which also has a drying effect on the rest of the house. The resulting condensation from the dehumidifying process is either collected in a bucket that must be emptied on a regular basis or is automatically drained into a sink, or out of the house.

Heat pump dehumidifiers can be relatively expensive to buy and utilize a substantial amount of electricity to run. They can also be pretty noisy, which isn’t a problem if the unit is placed in the basement. Nonetheless, heat-pump dehumidifiers are the preferred way to go in most circumstances.

Chemical Adsorbent Dehumidifiers
Chemical adsorbent dehumidifiers are designed for hot, humid climates and absorb moisture from the air by using a drying agent. The hot, humid air is then expelled from the house through an exhaust pipe.

Dehumidifying Ventilators
Dehumidifying ventilators work by bringing fresh air from the outside in through a vent. The fresh air is filtered and dehumidified before it is introduced into the house. When only filtration is desired, some units possess dampers that can be set to seal off the fresh air duct and simply re-circulate and filter the indoor air. Many units have a built-in sensor to start the motor when humidity rises above the programmed level. Dehumidifying ventilators use less electricity than a heat pump dehumidifier, but are not effective in hot, muggy weather since they work by bringing fresh air in from the outside but they are good in cold weather. Dehumidifying ventilators can cause depressurization to occur in the basement, causing combustion gas from fuel-fired furnaces and domestic hot water tanks to be sucked back into the house. It’s important to ensure that all of your combustion appliances are properly vented before buying a dehumidifying ventilator and it is also recommended to purchase a CO detector as well. In case of doubt, a professional contractor should be hired.

Some other factors to consider when purchasing a new dehumidifier:

Size
Although buying a good humidifier is an expensive purchase, the costs of home damage and adverse health effects that could result if excessive moisture goes untreated, are much higher. Dehumidifier size is determined by floor area and the level of dampness of your home. A 500 square foot home (length x width) will need a dehumidifier with 12 to 14 pints capacity per day depending on the degree of moisture. Similarly a room of 1,500 square feet requires between 21 to 25 pints per day, and a room of 2,500 square feet needs a capacity of between 31-38 pints. It never hurts to round up, since the more powerful the unit, the more efficiently it will be able to address the problem.

Efficiency
Energy Star provides all dehumidifiers with an EF number, an energy factor. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit, removing more water and generating less heat for cheaper. It’s important to choose a model with a built-in humidistat that measures the humidity of the air inside the house. The optimal relative humidity should be between 40% and 60% in summer and 30% and 50% in winter. With an adjustable meter, you can set the machine to automatically shut off when the desired humidity is reached, saving you money by cutting down on overuse. Make sure that filters are washable. A dirty air filter can dramatically increase operating costs and reduce optimal functioning so the filter should ideally be cleaned once or twice a month.

Drainage
An automatic shutoff mechanism is a valuable feature that prevents the unit from overflowing once the buckets have filled up to maximum capacity. Dehumidifiers with larger buckets need to be emptied less frequently, making them easier to maintain. Front-loading buckets also make it easier to empty manually. Most dehumidifiers also come equipped with self draining outlets and hose connections that can be let out into a basement floor drain or a laundry room sink.

Low Temperatures
Unless you live in a climate that is warm year-round, it’s important to buy a dehumidifier with an automatic defrost feature that can function at temperatures as low as 41 degrees F (5 degrees C).

Mobility
It’s important to make sure that your dehumidifier comes with casters so it can be easily rolled from room to room. A long power cord will enable you to put the unit anywhere you want and easy to remove, light weight buckets will make emptying them regularly easier.

In Summary:
If humidity is a problem, affecting you, your home, or your possessions, a dehumidifier is for you! We hope that this will make your dehumidifier shopping experience easier, so that you can find the right model for your home without breaking a sweat!

Honeywell 2 Gallon Cool Moisture Humidifier

Choosing a humidifier not only increases the comfort level in your house but also prevents damage to walls, wallpaper, and wood floors from excessive dryness. Humidified air has been shown to reduce the level of bacterial, viral, and allergenic contaminants in the air and is therefore recommended for children or the elderly. It is also helpful in the winter to battle the drying effect of indoor heating or to help in healing a dry cough. Choosing one can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for. That’s why we’ve put together this basic guide to teach you everything you need to know about buying a new humidifier.

There are a few different types of models on the market. Here are some of the pros and cons of each of them:

Cool Mist/Ultrasonic Humidifier
Cool mist humidifiers usually work by use of a high-speed rotating disk inside the unit to propel the water into the air. Ultrasonic humidifiers also produce cool mist by way of sound vibrations caused by electricity. Both devises can cause indoor air pollution such as white dust from water minerals that settle in the air and furniture which could be adverse to your health. A cool mist humidifier also lowers the temperature in the room by a few degrees, which may or may not be desirable depending on your climate.

Steam Vaporizer Humidifier
Steam vaporizer humidifiers or warm mist humidifiers create steam from boiled water inside the unit, therefore killing off most microorganisms and bacteria and don’t disperse minerals into the air. The fact that they utilize boiling water makes them dangerous if placed anywhere where children or pets can knock them over. Portable warm mist humidifiers provide a safer alternative by using cooler airflow, but require a lot of electricity to operate.

Evaporative Humidifier
Evaporative humidifiers work by blowing air through a wet filter and are capable of creating the most amount of mist, using up to 13 gallons a day. They are also substantially louder to operate than other types of systems. The filter also prevents minerals from being released into the air. It’s also recommended to purchase a unit with an anti-bacterial filter.

Central Humidifier
Central or in-duct humidifiers can be built into the existing central heating and air conditioning system and will humidify the entire home. If you already have a forced air heating or cooling system, in-duct systems have automatic water-filling capability and require much less attention than portable models. You only need to change the filter every six months or so and they are the cheapest to run, although they are the most expensive to buy. Additionally, most regular air conditioners, even window units, succeed in humidifying the air as part of their normal air conditioning cycle.

Here are some additional factors to take into account:

Size
Tabletops humidifiers are the smallest, lightest and cheapest type of humidifier available, but are only suited for humidifying single rooms. Larger console models have the ability to generate enough water vapor for a small house. It’s important to choose a model with a large enough tank size that you will not have to add water too frequently. Nonetheless, tank size can be deceiving since the real measure of how frequently tanks need to be filled is how much water it can evaporate in a given period of time and, more important, how much water is needed to be vaporized to attain the desired humidity level. Look for a humidifier that will turn off when the water reservoir empties or that will alert you when it’s running low and needs to be refilled. A see-through reservoir will also make it easier to tell when water is required.

Humidifier Problems
If not maintained properly, bacteria and mold can grow in the tanks of humidifiers and will subsequently get blown into the air. This can pose a risk for young children, the elderly, or anyone with respiratory weakness or allergies. It is therefore essential to wash out humidifier units with anti-bacterial detergent on a regular basis. If you live in an area with hard water, it is important to lower the mineral content of the water by purchasing a heavy duty water filter for your home to reduce the presence of white dust. The humidity level in the house should be kept below 60 percent to prevent dust mites and mold from developing in the house.

Noise
All humidifiers make some noise, however a warm-mist tabletop unit is substantially quieter than an evaporative model, making only a mild hissing sound. In contrast, evaporative models generate the same noise level as a small air conditioner. If the unit is to be placed in a child’s room, it is essential to choose a quieter warm-mist tabletop unit. Alternatively, a console evaporative unit can be placed in the hallway outside the bedroom, generating enough air to reach the entire area, if bedroom doors are kept open. The alternative of placing table top models in each room will end up costing more, both upfront and over time.

Honeywell Up to 99.999% Germ Free Warm Mist Humidifier

Humidistats
Nowadays most models come with essential humidistats that display room humidity levels and humidity settings. Humidistats control humidity levels and shut the humidifier off when the set level is reached. They come in either dial or digital form. Without a humidistat, humidity levels can become high enough to form condensation on windows and other cold surfaces leading to mold and bacteria growth. As outdoor temperatures drop, it’s important to lower the humidity level to prevent condensation on windows, doors or other cold surfaces.

Operating Costs
Warm-mist humidifiers are the most expensive to operate since they require boiling water. In-duct systems and evaporative models are the most energy efficient, although they cost the most upfront. A humidistat will also cut down on costs, since it shuts off the machine whenever optimum humidity is reached. Some filters are expensive, so it’s also important to find out how often they need to be replaced.

In Summary:
As we explained, the first step is to decide what type of humidifier will satisfy the unique needs of your home. Depending on how many rooms you need to humidify, your budget, and whether or not noise is an issue, you may decide on either a portable or central humidifier with evaporative, cold, or warm mist humidity. We hope that this will make your humidifier shopping experience more relaxing. May it bring a breath of fresh air into your home!

Frigidaire Window Air Conditioner

With summer on the way, it’s time to start thinking of ways to keep cool. If you aren’t planning on setting up a tent next to the refrigerator, it pays to make sure that you have the most efficient air conditioning system for your needs to keep both the temperature and the bills as low as possible. There are a number of different types of air conditioners on the market today so we’ve put together a helpful guide to buying a new air conditioner to help you stay cool while shopping.

There are basically two general categories of air conditioners, namely room air conditioners and central air conditioners. Before beginning your search it’s important to decide which option best suits your needs. The main difference between them is already discernable in their names. A room air conditioner cools only one room at a time, whereas a central air conditioner provides centralized air that is delivered to each room through a system of ducts, thus cooling the entire house at once. If you live in a small house or apartment, or are renting, room units are the best option, however if you have a large house and are operating on an equally large budget, a central air conditioning system is probably for you.

Here is a break down of the pros and cons of the different types of air conditioners to consider:

Window Air Conditioners:
These are the most popular and economical option on the market. The majority of us are most familiar with this type of air conditioner where the unit is mounted directly in a window. Window air conditioners are by far the cheapest units on the market and they are relatively easy to install even by yourself (depending on the weight and size of the unit) or with the help of an untrained handyman. Simply screw in the brackets provided by the manufacturer, hoist the air conditioner onto the window sill and secure. It’s that easy.

One of the negative sides of window air conditioner units is that they are fairly noisy, making them undesirable for use in a bedroom. Before purchasing one, it pays to try it out in the store since some items are louder than others. Furthermore, all room air conditioners use up a large amount of energy and are not particularly efficient to run. Nonetheless, they are substantially cheaper to run than central air that has to cool an entire house. Some people also prefer built-in units since window air conditioners have to be removed each winter and stored away until the next summer. Finally, and most importantly, window air conditioners require a window—so anyone without a properly situated window in the room they seek to cool, can rule out this option. They also block up part of your view and add a bulky look to the room. Window units have also been known to provide easy entrance for burglars, so it’s important to speak to a security expert in your area to discern if this will pose a problem for you.

Wall Air Conditioners:
A wall air conditioner is essentially the same thing as a window unit, except that it is permanently attached to a hole in the exterior wall of the home. This requires some renovation work to install, and should you ever desire a different type of unit in the future, it will demand renovations to repair the alteration to your home exterior. This being said, a wall unit has all the advantages of a window air conditioner in addition to a sleeker built-in look, without some of the cons such as winter storage, burglar access, and window blockage.

Portable Air Conditioners:
Portable air conditioners are smaller versions of window and wall units that come on wheels so that they can easily be moved from room to room. They include a hose that vents hot air exhaust out the window. Portable air conditioners are a great option for someone renting who only needs to cool one room at a time, although they are at times more expensive than window units.

Mini Split Air Conditioners:
Mini split air conditioners or ductless air conditioners are substantially more expensive than window/wall/portable units, but are cheaper and less intrusive than a full central air conditioning system. Mini split air conditioners provide virtually silent air by splitting the air blower and the compressor, which is stored outside the house, in a similar manner to a central air conditioner. Air can be distributed into up to four rooms from one compressor, providing each room with its own individual air blower that can be adjusted or turned off at will. Ductless air conditioners are also more efficient than any other type of air conditioning since the hot and cold are separated and cold air isn’t lost while traveling through expansive duct networks.

Central Air Conditioner:
Central air conditioners also split the compressor and the blower like a mini split, but the air travels through a system of ducts until it reaches vents placed throughout the house. For anyone who can afford it, central air is a luxurious option, with no bulky units disturbing the décor of the house. If your home already has a forced-air furnace and ductwork, installing a central air system will be much cheaper. Once installed, central units are virtually maintenance-free and will require much less attention than a room unit. They may even save money over the lifetime of the unit.

Cooling Capacity:
After deciding which type of air conditioner is right for your house, it’s important to determine how powerful a unit you need. The more accurate the measurement, the more efficient your machine will be. Studies show that more than 1/3 of home air conditioners don’t work at maximum capacity because they are not sized correctly. Buying a machine that is not powerful enough will obviously not achieve maximum temperature control, however even if the machine is too powerful, it will also not achieve the desired results. An oversized unit will cycle on and off too frequently costing more money and won’t remove humidity from the air.

The cooling power of an air conditioner is measured in BTU/hour. The higher the BTU, the more power it has. It is important to measure the length and the width of your room accurately to make sure to purchase the right machine. A room that is 100 to 150 square feet (length x width) needs 5,000 BTU, 300 to 350 square feet needs 8,000 BTU, and 700 to 1,000 square feet needs 18,000 BTU. These figures will differ slightly (by around 10 percent) if the room has tall ceilings, is heavily shaded, overly sunny, or is occupied by more than two people on a regular basis. Similarly, a unit in a hot kitchen will require an additional 4,000 BTU’s.

Make sure your new A/C has the Energy Star Logo

Environmentally Friendly:
It is also essential nowadays to make sure that your air conditioning unit is environmentally friendly, possessing an Energy Star label. If every room air conditioner sold were ENERGY STAR qualified, it would prevent 800 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually, equivalent to the emissions of more than 66,000 cars. All new units sold in the US must clearly display the EER (energy efficiency rating). The higher the EER, the more efficient the model and hence the lower your energy bill. Each digit increase represents a 10% increase in energy efficiency. For example a model with an EER of 10 should use about 20% less energy than one with an EER of 8. Ozone-depleting R-22 and other HCFC refrigerants are being phased out by government restrictions and are being replaced with a more eco-friendly R410A. It’s important to make sure your air conditioner is built according to the latest environmental standards to ensure that it will continue to meet regulations in the future. Not only will an energy efficient model help save the environment, it will also save you money!

Electrical System
Verify that your home’s electrical system can meet the unit’s power requirements. Room units operate on 230-volt circuits and may require a dedicated circuit with a Circuit Breaker Switch known as the Mechanical Circuit Breaker (MCB), which protects the wiring from getting burnt by switching off the air conditioner. Power outages are hard on compressors. An auto-restart feature allows the air conditioner to restart after a power failure without harming the unit.

Additional Features to Consider:

• Low Profile Window Air Conditioners – Some window models hang below the window, minimizing the amount of view and sunlight that is blocked.
• Thermostat Sensitivity – It is important to check with the salesman to see how accurately the unit can maintain temperature.
• Air Flow – Some models have motorized louvers to blow cold air around the room. If the air conditioner will be mounted in the corner of a room, look for a unit with airflow in the desired direction for your room layout. If you need to mount the air conditioner at the narrow end of a long room, it is important to buy a model with “Power Thrust” or “Turbo” that sends the cooled air farther into the room. Remember when deciding where to place your air conditioner that cold air does not usually travel around corners.
• Electric Controls – Most units have timers to turn on or off on a schedule so that you can cause it to go on before you come home from work or turn off at night. Make sure controls are well positioned and easy to work. Sleep or Energy Saver modes keep the room comfortable while saving energy costs
• Remote Controls - Some models come with remote controls so you can activate the unit from across the room

We hope these tips will help you to buy the air conditioning system that’s right for you. With the right unit, your house temperature and electric bills will reach a record low so that your summer can reach a record high!

Friedrich M09Y1F Ductless Split System

With spring finally here, summer is just around the corner. Summer brings back hundreds of pleasant memories—barbeques, days at the beach, vacation time, etc. There’s really only one drawback with the summer—the heat! Thanks to air conditioners we can get through the summer without loosing our cool. When it comes time to buy a new air conditioning system for the house, it’s important to know all the options out there in order to make the best, most informed decision possible. Most people are unaware of a great new alternative to central air on the market known as mini split air conditioners or ductless air conditioners. Although popular for years in Europe and the Middle East, mini split air conditioners have only recently made it to the stores in North America. Here is a list of pros and cons to help you decide if a mini-split air conditioning system is for you.

The PROS:

Quiet

Mini split air conditioners are similar to central air conditioning units in that they are both made up of an outdoor compressor and an indoor air-handling unit. The outdoor and indoor units are linked through a conduit which holds the electrical cable, condensate drain, as well as refrigerant and suction tubing. This conduit runs through a small hole that is drilled into the external wall of the building. Since the compressor is placed outside, as far as 50 feet from the air vent, running the machine is very quiet.

Efficiency

In central air conditioning systems, the cold air passes from the air handler through ducts until it reaches the individual vents in each room. Since it takes time to travel through the ducts, they result in more than 30% of energy consumption, especially if the ducts run through an unconditioned area. Ductless air conditioners are, you guessed it—ductless–and therefore avoid the energy loss common with central air conditioning.

Another major advantage of split air conditioners is their ability to heat or cool individual rooms to a custom temperature. Some ductless air conditioners can have as many as four independent air handling units connected to one outdoor compressor. Since each of the split air conditioner zones or rooms will have an individual thermostat and independent controls it is only necessary to condition the areas with people in them, saving energy and money. Central air conditioners, on the other hand, keep the entire home at the same temperature which uses more energy because the unit has to overcompensate for some rooms that tend to be warmer than others. Cooling an entire house is much more expensive than cooling just one room. Window air conditioner units are also inefficient since the cold air passes through the exact same proximity as the hot air, getting heated up in the process. Although mini splits are usually fairly expensive, it’s possible to gain back much of the difference in costs over the life of the unit through the money saved on energy bills.

Easy Installation

Mini split air conditioners are much easier to install than central air conditioners, and sometimes even through-the-wall units. Connecting the outdoor and indoor units generally requires only a small hole through a wall for the conduit, no more than three inches wide. They are also safer since there is only a small hole in the wall so they don’t provide easy entrance for burglars as through-the-wall and window mounted air conditions do. There’s also no expensive, messy and disruptive duct construction, as with central air. Most mini split systems can be up and running in less than 4 hours.

Flexibility

Unlike traditional window air conditioners, ductless air conditioning systems leave window views unobstructed and they’re also permanent, so there’s nothing to remove and store for the winter. Mini split units usually come with various size chords to make it possible to locate the outdoor unit as far away as 50 feet from the indoor evaporator for cooling rooms on the opposite side of the house from the compressor.

They also offer flexibility in interior design, since the internal unit can be suspended from any wall, high or low, or even from the ceiling. Floor standing models are also available. Most models also come with remote controls with a 24-hour and sleep timer providing easy access to units placed high up on walls or ceilings. Auto-swing flaps can also be operated by remote control to keep cool air circulating throughout the room. When not in use, auto flaps close shut, maintaining a sleek appearance. Most models also come with built in heat pumps for use as heaters in the winter, making them a great choice for anyone without central heat.

Eco-Friendly

Central air conditioners have a tendency to emit toxic chlorine gas as well as other gasses that are damaging to the ozone layer during the cooling process. They also waste energy both by cooling off the entire house, as well as through cold air lost in ducts. Mini split air conditioners on the other hand, are generally more efficient and environmentally friendly.

The CONS:

Cost

The primary disadvantage of mini split air conditioners is their cost. They are substantially more expensive than window or through the wall units, as much as twice the price, and at times even more than central systems (not including the expensive cost of installation and ductwork). They need to be installed professionally by an HVAC professional which is also costly, although much less than installing a central air system.

Installation

In addition to having to pay for a professional to install the unit, it’s also necessary to consult a professional before purchasing a mini split to ensure that you buy the right size unit for your house and that each air-handler is placed in the correct location. An incorrectly located air-handler often results in short-cycling, which wastes energy and does not provide proper temperature or humidity control. An oversized system is also more expensive to buy and operate and an undersized one obviously will not have enough power to cool off your space.

Appearance

Although mini split air conditioners are more attractive and much less obstructive than a window or through-the-wall unit, they do become a noticeable presence in the room. Some people therefore prefer the fact that central air systems are almost completely hidden.

Summary

In conclusion, a mini split ductless air conditioner is a great option for anyone who wants the convenience of central air, without the greater installation costs and inefficiency. A through-the-wall or window air conditioner is still a much cheaper and easier option but it doesn’t come with all the perks such as quiet, efficiency, multi-zoning, heat option, and stability. A mini split is the way to go for anyone looking for a middle ground between central air and movable units so that you can stay cool all summer.