There are several AC methods for homes/apartments
- Air conditioning system using a chiller:
In this system, cold/hot water (depending on the season) is produced in a device called a chiller.
This water is circulated throughout the home by means of a pump and pipes to an indoor unit of the Nachshon blower type.
All in all, each air-conditioned room or space has a Nachshon blower unit that you can turn on/off and regulate temperature (at a hotel level, for example)
Advantages of this method:
- Compact and space-saving device.
- Maximum reliability
- Life expectancy of a system: 15-20 years.
- Maintaining/increasing the value of the home – a home with a chiller system is considered among brokers and real estate professionals as a higher-level home.
- Low maintenance level.
- Savings in main electricity connection to the home compared to of split or central mini-AC.
- Savings in electricity of about 20% compared to a mini-central system due to a usage factor (you are not occupying all the places at the same time and the system regulates itself automatically and saves on compressor efficiency.
Disadvantages of this method:
- Very expensive in homes, priced over NIS 540 per sqm + VAT.
- There are not many companies in Israel capable of providing fast and reliable service for these systems at the level of private homes over time.
- Expensive ongoing maintenance cost per year (for example, in a 400 square meter home, the maintenance cost can be as high as NIS 1,000 per month, excluding electricity expenses).
- A stock of spare parts that is not always available and immediate.
- Mini central system:
In this method, a central mini system is installed that covers several rooms at the same time. (In private homes, usually one unit per floor – for example). This system is the most popular in Israel due to its relatively modest price.
Advantages of this method:
- A relatively inexpensive system price of about NIS 160 per square meter on average + VAT. (Depending on whether the system has tin ducts or chain pipes.) Sometimes the price may even include ceiling lowering with plaster, depending on the type of unit and the installer.
- A compact system where the condensing unit is usually located in the laundry balcony, and the indoor unit is hidden above an acoustic ceiling.
- Low level of maintenance (if the installation was done properly) In some systems the entire maintenance work required is cleaning the filter once every few months.
- Highly reliable – the leading AC companies have achieved such high level of production and reliability, that if installation was done properly, the unit may operate, fault free, for many years to come.
- When repair is required, a high level of spare parts and off the shelf products are available.
Disadvantages of this method:
- The temperature control is not regulated specifically in each room, unless you add electric levers and a thermostat in each room, which increases the system price by approx. NIS 800 per room and raises the total cost to about NIS 220 per sqm + VAT, as well as the maximum power main connection for the home (as there is no option to plan the system with a coefficient factor as it is done with chillers, the main power connection must include all the electric supply to all AC units in the home).
- Average lifespan is approx. 8-10 years.
- Multiple condensation units (in private homes, not apartments) lead to higher maintenance costs over time.
- Electricity consumption is higher compared to other methods.
- Split Air conditioners
In this method a split AC unit is installed in each room
Advantages of this method:
- Relatively inexpensive, approx. NIS 175 per sqm + VAT, depending on the manufacturer.
- Saving energy – when the room is occupied the AC is on, when not, it’s off.
- The financial investment may be spread over time. AC is installed where needed and in better times you install the rest.
- Low level maintenance which adds up to cleaning the filter every few months (if installation was done correctly and the condensation unit is located in a dry and aerated location.
Disadvantages of this method:
- Multiple condensation units (external motors) may cause an architectural problem, since at times there is not enough space to place them all (a private residence may require 6-7 units, and unless there is room on the roof may be a problem to place).
- Electricity consumption is higher that other methods when all the home units are on, since the small compressors efficiency is not high (usually not all the home units are turned on at once).
- Design – some architects may not be happy with the look of the air conditioner hanging on the home wall and prefer hidden solutions.
- Local air distribution – air distribution level does not allow for maximum comfort. In large spaces such as in the living room, the temperature near the air conditioner is different from the temperature on the other side of the room. This is especially noticeable in heating mode and may be the cause for a head cold due to the temperature differences (thus a mini central AC it is recommended in large spaces that can provide proper air distribution).
- When installing in bedrooms, make sure that the air conditioner is installed so that the air ejected air is not blown directly on the occupant’s body, as the air conditioner’s exit temperature in the summer is extremely low, and may cause stiff neck, sneezing, etc. when very cold air is in continuous contact the occupant’s body.
- Variable gas volume (VRF) Systems:
Systems such as “Mitsubishi” or “Daikin” or equivalent. This system is relatively new in Israel and popular in Japan and Europe. In this method, the variable-speed compressors in the central condensing unit regulate their operation according to consumption and use in the home. When the home consumption is low, the compressor will rotate at low speed and consume less power. When the level of consumption increases, the compressor will rotate faster to meet the demand and consume more power.
Advantages of this method:
- Savings in the main power connection
- Savings in electricity consumption
- The most economical in power use of all other methods
- The internal units are smaller and free some physical space around the home
- Very high technology level
- Very quiet.
Disadvantages of this method:
- Very high price – over NIS 550 + VAT per sqm.
- There are not enough installers who are familiar with this method in Israel – an average AC installer who did not undergo special training at the marketing companies will not be able to install such a system successfully. Therefore, if you decide to install this type of system in your home be sure to get a price quote from a list of qualified installers recommended by the engineer or the marketing companies.
- This system is significantly more expensive than mini-central units, the return on investment between the initial installation price and the electricity savings accumulated over time is after about 5 years on average and may even be longer in private homes and apartments. (In office spaces, where AC operates many more hours than in homes, ROI may pay for itself after about 3 years).
