Three Types of Air Conditioners
 
There are three different types of air conditioners available.

Central Air Conditioners
This type of air conditioner is ideal for cooling the entire house. You've no doubt seen the large compressor unit outside of neighbours' houses, and noticed the humming sound. This type of unit has coils inside of it that cool warm air and then distribute it around the entire house. This type of unit is more expensive, and may not necessarily be the best type for you if your house is small to medium sized.

Heat Pumps
This type is similar to central air conditioners. The difference is that during cold winter months, the cycle can be reversed for heating purposes.

Room Air Conditioners
This type of air conditioner can be mounted either in the window or directly into your wall. It is designed to cool one room at a time, so you may need a few to cool your whole house. It is less expensive than the other two types, and may be the best choice for you if your house is small to medium sized, and if you live in an area where it's hot for a few months each year. Some room air conditioners are portable, making it possible to take the unit out of one room and install it in another. We will focus on the room air conditioner here, since it is the most common.