What are the best air conditioning systems? Technical guide

The correct choice of a home's air conditioning system is fundamental to ensure comfort and well-being in the home all year round. With the wide variety of technologies available on the market, planning which heating or air conditioning system to install, especially when building, renovating or simply replacing old equipment, is a crucial decision. The choice of the ideal system will depend on various technical factors, such as the orientation and size of the house, the number of floors or rooms, its insulation and geographical location, as well as functional aspects, such as the number of people living in the house or whether it is a permanent home or a second residence.

In this guide, we will explore the main air conditioning systems for homes, detailing their features and advantages to help you make the best decision.

Direct expansion systems: Versatility for every space

Direct expansion systems are very common in residential and small commercial applications. These units operate by means of a refrigerant circuit that exchanges heat between an indoor and an outdoor unit.

Individual domestic air conditioning (splits)

This direct expansion system offers small to medium power solutions, typically between 2 kW and 7 kW, ideal for the domestic market. These systems usually consist of an indoor unit (such as the popular wall splits) and an outdoor unit connected by refrigerant piping. The most common refrigerant today is R-32, known to be more efficient and environmentally friendly, although R-410A and R-290 were also used. In summer, the indoor unit cools by evaporating refrigerant and expels the heat to the outside; in winter, the process is reversed, extracting heat from the outside to heat the inside.

Advantages: They are suitable for medium or small rooms, and their efficiency is a key parameter, comparable to that of household appliances. There are also portable units and dehumidifiers in this category, although portable units tend to be less efficient and noisier.

Multisplit: more units, better optimization

Unlike single home systems, multisplit systems allow several indoor units (up to five) to be connected to a single outdoor unit. The operation is similar, but this configuration optimizes installation space by reducing the number of outdoor units.

Advantages: It offers great flexibility, since it allows mixing different types of indoor units (wall splits, ducted units, cassettes) and power ratings, being an ideal solution for medium or large homes where it is required to air-condition several areas with a single outdoor unit.

VRF air conditioning: solutions for large spaces

For very large homes or spaces with more complex air conditioning needs, there are options with higher power ratings (from 5 kW to 16 kW) and a greater diversity of indoor units. These include ducted units (installed in false ceilings, with customizable air distribution, although with higher installation cost), cassettes (for ceilings, with good quality/price ratio) and floor/ceiling (larger splits for large and elongated rooms).

For the most ambitious projects and luxury residences, VRF (Variable Refrigerant Volume) systems offer the most complete and flexible solution. They allow a large number of indoor units (e.g. up to 64) to be connected to a single outdoor unit, with capacities ranging from 12 kW to 350 kW. These air conditioning systems for large houses offer a very wide range of indoor units and can be either 2-pipe or 3-pipe, allowing flexibility to operate in cooling or heating simultaneously in different zones with the 3-pipe units.

Indirect expansion systems (hydronic): water as a thermal conductor

Hydronic systems use water or a fluid as a medium to transport heat or cold. They are versatile solutions that can be adapted to various installations, with no distance limitations in the piping.

Water chillers and water heat pumps

These units are capable of producing cooling, heating and even domestic hot water (DHW), satisfying multiple demands with a single installation.

Advantages: Their scope of application is very wide, being compact and efficient. They can integrate pumps and accumulation, and offer accessories such as super silent versions or thermal recovery. Energy efficiency is very high, especially when compared to systems using air as the only medium.

Fan convectors and air conditioners: The terminals of comfort

Within a hydronic system, fan coils and air conditioners (also known as AHUs) are the terminal units that are in direct contact with the user. They are composed of coils, fans and air filters, air conditioning the environment by passing the air through a coil that cools or heats it.

Advantages: They are highly configurable and can be adapted to different installation needs (with or without casing, horizontal or vertical) and offer different filtration levels and power ratings. The air conditioners, in particular, are large fan coils for specific applications, guaranteeing precise control of air conditions.

Aerothermics: The revolution of energy efficiency in the home

Aerothermal heating is one of the most efficient home air conditioning systems on the market. It uses heat exchange with outside air to generate energy that is converted into heating, cooling and domestic hot water, all from a single unit. It can extract up to 75% of its energy from the air, which translates into an efficiency of almost 400%.

Advantages: It is an integrated system that can replace or complement traditional gas or oil boilers. It offers reduced energy consumption, is environmentally friendly (it uses R-32 refrigerant) and has an A+++ energy rating. Its versatility allows the installation of hydronic components in both indoor and outdoor spaces, adapting to the specific needs of the home.

Complementary systems and keys to choice

Beyond the main systems, there are elements and considerations that enhance the efficiency and comfort of air conditioning in the home.

Air renewal and purification: A healthy environment

Indoor air renewal is crucial for the quality of the home environment. Passive recuperators are available that renew and filter the air, recovering energy from the exhaust flow. Active recuperators, on the other hand, use a heat pump refrigeration circuit for more active thermodynamic recovery, achieving savings of up to 40% and controlling the temperature and humidity of the renewed air. In addition, air purification, with passive filters and active technologies, helps eliminate contaminating particles and viruses, improving indoor air quality.

Advantages: They ensure a healthy indoor environment, reducing the concentration of pollutants and optimizing energy efficiency.

Zoning and intelligent control: Tailored comfort

Zoning allows each room in the home to be managed as an independent microclimate, adjusting the temperature according to specific needs. This, combined with home automation control, offers unprecedented comfort.

Advantages: Allows significant energy savings by avoiding air conditioning unoccupied spaces. Many modern home climate control systems incorporate management software that allows remote control via mobile devices, programming patterns and optimizing equipment performance.

In order to choose the best system, you can always count on Studio by Clikalia so that we have always present in your reform proposal, your preferences and so we can make a study of the heating and cooling demand of your home. In Studio by Cliaklia we will always recommend equipment with high energy rating and offer you the ability to control the temperature per room. Finally, remember that good insulation and proper ventilation of the house are as important as the air conditioning system itself, and that is something we always keep in mind in each and every one of our reforms.

So, if you are looking for a study of reforms that has very integrated into their reforms air conditioning systems and is aware that it is an aspect as important as the distribution or interior design in a project, ask for your proposal + free quote without obligation. We will help you create a stylish and comfortable home in equal parts.