Wall Mounted Air Conditioning Unit Explained

Wall mounted air conditioning units may be unfamiliar to some people. However, they’ve heard about the benefits of wall mounted air conditioners. So, I decided to post some answers revolving around wall mounted air conditioning unit.

First of all, what are wall mounted air conditioning units? Wall mounted air conditioning units are split air conditioners that have an indoor unit mounted up high on the wall inside the house and an outdoor unit usually hang on the exterior wall of the house.

Wall mounted air conditioning units are mostly better than other home air conditioners in terms of the performance, efficiency and reliability.

How Wall Mounted Air Conditioners Work?

Wall mounted air conditioners have one indoor unit and one outdoor unit. In cooling mode, the indoor unit absorbs heat and the outdoor unit rejects it. In heating mode, the process is reversed.

In short, wall mounted air conditioners work by transferring heat from indoors to outdoor. The indoor and outdoor units of the wall mounted air conditioner is connected by a set of copper tubes for the flow of refrigerant.

The indoor unit of the wall mounted air conditioner is comprised of an evaporator coil, an expansion valve and a fan blower.

During operation, the refrigerant from the outdoor unit enters the indoor unit. The refrigerant first passes through an expansion valve where the temperature of the refrigerant drops significantly.

Then, the cold refrigerant passes through the evaporator coil and the fan blower circulates the air within the room through the evaporator coil to supply cold air for air conditioning.

Once the refrigerant absorbed the heat from the room, it goes back to the outdoor unit and the compressor inside the outdoor unit increases the temperature of the refrigerant.

The outdoor unit of the wall mounted air conditioner is comprised of a condenser coil, a compressor and a fan blower.

After the refrigerant passes through the compressor, it flows into the condenser coil where the fan blower circulates the ambient air to cool it down.

Finally, the refrigerant leaves the outdoor unit and goes to the indoor unit and the cycle repeats.

In short, a wall mounted air conditioner has an indoor unit to circulate the air within the room for heat absorption and thus, cooling the room while also having an outdoor unit to reject the absorbed heat through the ambient air.

When such a wall mounted air conditioner has both heating and cooling functions, it is also known as an air-to-air heat pump.

How Effective are Wall Mounted Air Conditioners?

Wall mounted air conditioners are generally larger in physical size than window air conditioners and portable air conditioners. Hence, they have larger coils and fan blowers that make them very effective in heating and cooling.

Are Wall Mounted Air Conditioners Efficient?

Wall mounted air conditioners are known to be very efficient. To compare, a standard wall mounted air conditioner has a seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) of around 7 while a typical window or portable air conditioner is around 5.5.

As a result, wall mounted air conditioners are nearly 30% more energy efficient than both window and portable air conditioners.

Furthermore, high energy efficiency wall mounted air conditioners often have a SEER value of more than 8.5 which is labeled as A+++. Comparing those to the standard window and portable air conditioners, it is a more than 50% boost in energy efficiency.

How Much Do Wall Mounted Air Conditioners Cost?

Wall mounted air conditioners are produced by various brands. For each brand, wall mounted air conditioners are available in various models.

Generally, the cost of the entry model wall mounted air conditioner is around £650 including VAT. High-efficiency wall mounted air conditioners cost nearly £1000 including VAT. Premium wall mounted air conditioners may be priced at around £1500 and above.

In addition, wall mounted air conditioners required an installation kit that includes a set of copper tubes, a drain pipe and a set of wires to work. These items are usually not included in the purchase price.

Lastly, almost all wall mounted air conditioners required professional installation. DIY installation may be allowed for certain brands but the majority of wall mounted air conditioner manufacturers may avoid the warranty given when their products are not installed by a professional.

How Long Do Wall Mounted Air Conditioners Last?

A good wall mounted air conditioner can last up to 15 years when regularly serviced and maintained. Low-quality wall mounted air conditioner may only last up to 5 years but the majority of wall mounted air conditioners see a lifespan of around 10 years.

Regularly cleaning the filter and coil of wall mounted air conditioners is a must to prevent them from stressing out due to airflow blockages. Poorly maintained wall mounted air conditioners may break in a few years.

Nonetheless, wall mounted air conditioners are easy to fix and repair. In fact, they rarely need to be replaced as a whole.

Do Wall Mounted Air Conditioners Need to Be Vented?

Unlike portable air conditioners, wall mounted air conditioners don’t need to be vented. The heat energy absorbed by the indoor unit is transferred to the outdoor unit through the flowing refrigerant.

Whereas for portable air conditioners, a vent is needed to discharge the hot air outside the house.

Wall mounted air conditioners already have their outdoor unit installed outside the house. So, hot air is being discharged outside the house without the need for a separate vent.

Rooms without a window may find a wall mounted air conditioner feasible as a small hole, which is usually penetrated through the wall is all that’s needed to get the copper tubes to the outside for the outdoor unit connection.

Wall Mounted Air Conditioners Without the Outdoor Unit

Wall mounted air conditioners need space for their outdoor unit. However, not everyone has the space for the outdoor unit outside the house.

Hence, wall mounted air conditioners without the outdoor unit are getting more enquiries now.

There are two types of wall mounted air conditioners that don’t have the outdoor unit; a) through-the-wall air conditioners and b) water-cooled wall mounted air conditioners.

Through-the-wall air conditioners look exactly like window air conditioners. However, they are installed in the wall instead of the window. Through-the-wall air conditioners don’t have two separate units. Hence, they are suitable for people who don’t have the space for an outdoor unit.

On the other hand, water-cooled wall mounted air conditioners do not use the outdoor unit for heat rejection. Instead, they use water for heat rejection. Thus, water-cooled wall mounted air conditioners need to be connected to the house water pipeline.

If you have anything to add (or ask) about this topic, leave a comment down below!