When it comes to HVAC, it is not only your home or office that needs this system. If you have a boat, you also need to consider its ventilation as well as its heating and cooling system so when you go out on the sea for an adventure, you will be comfortable.
If you intend to use your vessel during the summertime, you should invest in the most efficient marine air conditioning systems for boats. Otherwise, the humidity or mugginess would only spoil your trip.
Regardless if you are installing an AC for the first time or replacing the old unit, here are important factors that you need to look into to choose the best one for your boat:
Size
In order for you to determine the right size of the AC unit, you need to calculate the so-called British Thermal Units (BTU), which is the universal measurement when it comes to heating and cooling systems. Once you have the BTU, you can then easily pinpoint the right size that can cool your boat down.
How do you calculate the BTU? With this, you have to consider the size or the capacity of the vessel itself. Each square foot requires 100 BTU.
Location
The location would depend on the layout of your boat as well as space and channels for ducting and plumbing. It is critical that there is enough space for the unit, so this is something that you really need to ensure.
Furthermore, if you opt for a self-contained unit, you should route the ducting to a higher level. This will be the best option if you have a small vessel. If you could find an indirect path for the return air, that would be better because this will reduce the noise.
Model
There are various brands and models of AC units for boats available in the market. But, of course, you can’t expect them to be the same when it comes to the quality and how well they function. So if you are not familiar yet with the best model, it would help a lot if you read the reviews on the different brands. You can also get recommendations from your friends and family.
Cost
The cost would highly depend on the features and make of the model that you want to get. Again, you need to do your homework. You can make a comparison of the different models. It would be good too if you visit various physical stores or online shops that offer this particular type of air conditioning unit.