What a rooftop air conditioner is and what its benefits are

When you have a large commercial or public building that needs cooling, the most efficient choice is a rooftop air conditioning system.

The placement of these ACs has to be planned before installation as you will need to connect them up to a system of ducts and vents to spread the cool (or hot) air in the building, but once you’ve done that, you’ll have a reliable, weather-proof cooling system that can significantly bring down running costs over time. 

Benefits of rooftop air conditioning systems

1. Centralised, efficient cooling for large spaces

Since all the cooling happens from one location, it’s easier to control and redirect that cooling as needed in the building.

2. Weather-proof and more rugged than traditional AC or home AC units

Rooftop ACs are placed outside and have to withstand the elements, including rain, the summer sun, and even hail.

ALSO READ: Here’s how central AC systems work and how to maintain them

3. Easier maintenance

As the engineers primarily need roof access to maintain the units, work inside the building isn’t disrupted and access can be arranged outside.

4. Smaller footprint 

Rooftop ACs are very large, but when you look at the amount of space they’re designed to cool, they occupy very little space compared to using more traditional solutions.

What Is the difference between rooftop units and other ACs?

1. Capacity

Rooftop ACs

Rooftop ACs can cool an entire building such as an office or a mall

Traditional ACs

Window ACs work for small rooms, split ACs are great for medium to large rooms

2. Efficiency

Rooftop ACs

Rooftop ACs are primarily efficient while cooling large spaces such as a mall or maybe a hospital.

Traditional ACs

Traditional window and split ACs are meant to cool smaller places such as a single room or cabin.

3. Maintenance

Rooftop ACs

Rooftop ACs are easy to maintain, and it is easy on the pocket to do so as well.

Traditional ACs

Window and split ACs are easy to maintain, but can be troublesome when a lot of units need servicing.

4. Noise levels

Rooftop ACs

Rooftop ACs’ noise levels are negligible indoors, but very loud on the roof.

Traditional ACs

While window ACs are relatively loud indoors, they still ensure you get a good night’s sleep. Noise levels from split ACs, again, are negligible. 

ALSO READ: Different types of air conditioners – A guide to choosing the best AC

5. Installation cost

Rooftop ACs

The installation costs for rooftop ACs are extremely high, owing to their fairly complex workings.

Traditional ACs

Installation costs for traditional split ACs are relatively low. For window ACs, they are even lower, since one doesn’t have to bear the cost of brackets etc. for mounting it.

6. Unit cost

Rooftop ACs

The unit costs for rooftop ACs are extremely high, as they are mostly used for large commercial spaces with high footfalls.

Traditional ACs

Split ACs are cheaper than rooftop ACs, but a little mor expensive than window ACs, since you have to spend on both, the indoor and outdoor unit.

FAQs on rooftop ACs

1. Why do people put an AC on a roof?

ACs are noisy appliances that generate a lot of heat. One of the most efficient means of dissipating that heat and noise is to install the noisy and hot bits – the compressors – on the roof of a building. This keeps the interiors quiet and cool, but the outside can get noisy, especially where there are densely packed buildings. Ultimately, the choice of where to put the AC is a trade-off between cost and inconvenience. 

2. Is it better to have AC on the roof or the ground?

Rooftops ACs are better as the noise and heat can be dissipated above regular traffic (human and vehicle). The noise and heat a ground-level AC would generate, especially one designed for a large building, would make the immediate area surrounding the AC unusable.

3. What is the function of a rooftop unit?

The function of a rooftop AC unit is to move the hot and noisy AC compressors away from working areas. Secondarily, by centralising their location and installation, energy consumption is reduced, as is the maintenance process.

4. What is the difference between a rooftop unit and an air handling unit?

The term ‘rooftop unit’ refers only to the components of the AC that are placed on the roof. These components include the compressors, exhaust vents, fans, and the air handling unit (AHU). The latter is the part of the AC that cleans and processes the air that the AC unit circulates in the building. This includes cleaning and filtering of dust and microbes, and then temperature and humidity control. AHUs are massive and noisy and are generally placed alongside the compressors in rooftop ACs.

We hope this article has helped you understand everything about rooftop air conditioning systems. Stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for more deeper dives into air conditioners and other appliances.