The Difference Between Chiller vs Air Conditioner

When summer comes, temperatures start to rise a lot, and you are thinking about ways to cool yourself down. Unfortunately, you can’t control the weather outside, but what you can control is your home temperature. The only thing you need is a quality cooling system. As there are many types of cooling systems, the question is, what type will you use? You can choose between an air conditioner or a chiller. Here we’ll talk about these two types and which one is best for you. So, let’s start!

What Is The Difference Between Chiller and AC?

So What Is The Difference Between Chiller and AC? Air conditioners are mostly used in homes, offices, and small buildings, to cool down the room temperature, while on the other hand, Chillers are much larger devices that are used for cooling equipment and other units, such as MRI machines, tooling equipment, and assembly processes.

Although you will find air conditioners in many households, you will not be able to find chillers so easily. Also, AC units can lower the room temperature to 60 °F (16°C) while the chillers can cool down the temperature to 35 °F (2 °C). We’ll explain the difference between these two devices in a little more detail below, so stay tuned.

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Chillers

A chiller is a machine (system) that works by removing the heat from the closed area. It starts by using hot water, then uses liquid form to cool it down, and lastly, that cooled water is then circulating the building. This water also uses fan-coil units that allow that liquid to go through them and dehumidify a room as well.

Also, we have two types of chillers, such as water-cooled and air-cooled chillers. The main difference between these two chillers is the way on how they cool the space to get rid of the heat. One type of chiller uses the air while the other uses water. Usually, air-cooled chillers are located outside, while water-cooled chillers are located inside the building.

Air Conditioners

The main role of an air conditioner (AC) is to regulate a room temperature according to the user’s wishes. Users can choose to cool down the room as well as heat it up by using an air conditioner. If you want to cool down the room temperature, the air conditioner will take the hot air from the room and cool it down by throwing out cold air. This is very similar to a chiller, where the AC comes with a condenser that takes away the heat. Keep in mind that AC can also work as a dehumidifier.

What To Choose Between Chiller and Air Conditioner?

Althrought these devices have the same purpose, which is, as we have already explained, to cool down the air, both of them have their pros and cons. Also, the way on how they operate is different, which in the end affects how they are used. That’s why you’ll find a lot of air conditioners in traditional homes, buildings, and other types of houses where their main purpose is to cool down the air temperature. However, on the other hand, chillers are used to cool down different types of equipment and machines.

Keep in mind that most air conditioners can lower the room temperature to 60 °F (16°C), while chillers can go much further and cool down the temperature (water) to 35 °F (2 °C). So, if you want to cool down your office or even bedroom, an air conditioner will be more than enough. If you own some kind of warehouse and you need really low temperatures, a chiller is then the best solution for you. Therefore, it’s up to you to choose the best option between these two based on your needs.

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Final Thoughts

Now that we’ve gone through the difference between an air conditioner and a chiller, it’s up to you to choose what you think you need. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages and is intended for different purposes. Although, if you need something stronger and you need to cool down the room, then the chiller is an excellent option for you.

Even though these machines are not so drastically different, you can use them interchangeably. But in the end, you still need to understand how they work because it will help you choose the best one for your needs. I hope this article has helped you and if you have any additional questions about this topic feel free to ask.