For most people, they are the same thing, but there is a key difference between air conditioners and a full climate control system. Knowing the difference helps to understand all their functions and to assess the best choice based on your needs. Let’s discover it together.
Why is it called an air conditioner?
To understand the fundamental difference between the two, let's first consider what an air conditioner is and how it works.
- The term refers to a device that operates in a relatively simple way: it cools the air and consequently lowers the temperature inside a room.
- However, it does not allow you to set a specific temperature. The only option the user has to manage the cooling is to adjust the fan speed.
- Moreover, the air conditioner does not allow intervention on the air quality: for example, it is not able to monitor the humidity level unless it is integrated with specific technology.
Therefore, if we consider the primary function of the air conditioner, it consists of cooling the environment: it removes the hot air inside and transfers it outside.
In most cases, it consists of two parts:
- the indoor unit, called a "split," from which the cold air is released;
- the outdoor unit, which represents the device's motor and from which the hot air is discharged outside.
There are also other types of air conditioners, such as portable monoblock units. These are older models, less advanced, and especially less energy-efficient. They are equipped with a tube that is placed through a window or any opening to the outside: the tube expels hot air after converting it into cool air that is introduced into the room.
Although their price may be more affordable, the final result is significantly less impactful, and they are also known for being somewhat noisy. Ultimately, they are an impractical solution for dealing with long, hot summers.
What is a climate control system?
A climate control system has little in common with an air conditioner, apart from the cooling function and the fact that it also consists of an indoor and an outdoor unit. However, if we closely analyse its function, the difference becomes clear.
A climate control system is designed to better control and manage the climate inside a closed environment. It can regulate not only the temperature but also the humidity level, and it has a significant impact on air quality— factors to consider when choosing between an air conditioner and a climate system.
- Cooling. A climate control system not only lowers the internal temperature by removing heat from the room and transferring it outside, but it also allows you to set and maintain the desired temperature.
- Heating. The more advanced models are equipped with a heat pump to warm certain areas of the home during the winter months, supplementing the heating system.
- Dehumidification. It also removes excess humidity, creating a more comfortable environment. This function is particularly useful in humid summers, especially in less ventilated areas and urban centres.
- Air purification. The removal of humidity improves the air quality. Additionally, some models of climate control systems come with special filters that eliminate dust, allergens, and other contaminants from the air.
- Ventilation. It also works as a fan, circulating the air without changing its temperature, keeping the environment both cool and well-ventilated.
Some models are equipped with only one internal unit, offering a solution that balances aesthetics and necessity for those who want the benefits of a conditioning system but live in areas with urban planning restrictions. While these are a valid choice, they tend to be less efficient in terms of energy consumption.
What is the difference between a heat pump and air conditioner?
The air conditioner can also be distinguished from a heat pump. As we previously mentioned, an AC operates in heating mode as well, making it a useful device during the winter season.
Heating is a typical function of heat pumps, which are next-generation devices that generate heat through an exchange with external sources, such as air or water. At the same time, they are an asset for summer cooling.
So, what is the difference? To provide a clear answer, a comparison needs to be made between a climatizer and an air-to-air heat pump.
- They both share the use of a refrigerant fluid and consist of an indoor and an outdoor unit.
- However, heat pumps can reverse the flow of the refrigeration cycle, allowing them to provide both complete winter heating and summer cooling.
What is the difference between an air conditioner and a dehumidifier?
As for the difference between a climate control system and an air conditioner, the first also operates in heating mode, emitting warm air from the indoor unit installed in the room, and it can be set to dehumidifier mode.
The dehumidifier, as the name suggests, extracts excess humidity: it improves the quality of the air without necessarily lowering the temperature, making the environment more comfortable.
While an air conditioner also reduces the humidity level in the room, this is a direct result of its cooling action rather than a dedicated function.
