If you need an air conditioning system that can keep a single room comfortably cool, a window mounted air conditioner can be a reliable and cost-effective choice. However, if your window air conditioner is reaching the end of its service life, or has been irreparably damaged by an accident or malfunction, replacing it with a newer window mounted unit isn't always the best option.

Mini-split air conditioners are ideal for single room cooling, and while they are more expensive than most window mounted air conditioners, they have a number of advantages that make them well worth the extra investment. If you need to replace a damaged or aging window air conditioner, here are three reasons to choose a mini-split system over a replacement window mounted system:

Lower Running Costs

Mini-split air conditioners are not mounted in windows. Instead, they have two separate components comprised of an indoor blow unit and an outdoor condenser unit, which are connected via narrow conduit pipes that pass through your wall. This allows you to keep your windows sealed while using a mini-split system, preventing unwanted heat transfer that can occur through the gaps around a standard window mounted air conditioner.

Mini-split air conditioners also expel the waste heat they create through their outdoor units, preventing this heat from accidentally re-entering the room you are trying to cool. This problem can undermine the efficiency of window air conditioners, especially if prevailing winds cause waste air to blow back into the room.

These factors mean that mini-split air conditioners require less energy to run than window mounted air conditioners. This equates to lower running costs, which will help to make up for their higher purchase and installation costs. Less energy consumption also makes mini-split AC more environmentally friendly than a window mounted unit.

Less Obtrusive

Installing a window mounted air conditioner usually means sacrificing one of your windows, which must be kept open at all times to accommodate the unit. They can be quite an eyesore, especially if your windows enjoy expansive views, or the room you are trying to cool does not receive much natural light. In some cases, window air conditioner units can be installed in wall cavities instead, but this can be very expensive.

Mini-split air conditioners are less visually obtrusive. Their indoor units are much smaller than window mounted air conditioners and can be installed high up on your walls to keep them out of your line of sight. Replacing your window unit with a mini-split system will free up the window that accommodated the previous unit, giving you more natural light. The outdoor unit can be effectively hidden using shrubs and fencing, minimizing the visual impact of your new AC unit.

Longer Service Life

Mini-split air conditioners are built to last, and because they have fewer moving components than window mounted air conditioners, they are less vulnerable to catastrophic mechanical problems. A new mini-split system can last for 20 years or more, significantly longer than the best window air conditioners.

To learn more, contact an air conditioning installation company.