
It’s that time of year where the heat is turned off and the air is turned on. If you’re looking for a new air conditioning system for your home this summer, here is some information on both central air conditioning systems as well as portable air conditioning units that will help you determine which is best for you.
Central Air Conditioning: Today, 80% of new residential homes that are built in the United States have central air. Central air can be installed in almost any home using the existing duct. The unit is placed outside, and it pumps air through the ducts and out vents around the home. An important benefit of central air is that it also acts as a dehumidifier, helping to maintain your home environment. The use of a thermostat with central air can help you to save money by turning the air up or down depending on the time of day, such as the afternoon when you are out of your home. If you’re concerned about the environment, using central air will use less electricity, which in turn leads to less fossil fuel burning and pollution.
When purchasing a central air system, it is beneficial to look into the seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER). This will help you to decrease costs and find a system that will run at optimal efficiency. Other factors to consider include looking into the option of including an electrostatic filtering system which will help if any family members have allergies.
Once the unit is purchased, a contractor will need to size the unit correctly in order to ensure efficiency. Just as with a window unit, air can be lost if the unit is improperly sized; and oversizing can be a problem too, preventing the system to run less efficiently.
Some units create a lot of noise, and it is important to check the filter monthly as well as service it every 2 years. Units more than 10 years old are no longer considered efficient; today’s units are 40% more efficient.
Portable Air Conditioning: In some places, installation of central air conditioning units may be difficult or very costly, and for these instances many turn to window or wall units. This type of unit will cool and dehumidify 1 to 2 rooms, depending on its strength.
In order to determine the size of unit that is best for the room you would like to place it in, it is important to measure the size of the area you would like to cool. It would be a waste to purchase a large unit for a small room. A 5,000 BTU unit only cools about 150 square feet equal to a 10 by 15 room whereas a 20,000 BTU unit can handle a 1,100 square foot room
When purchasing a portable unit, consider a unit with 3-speed control so you can switch between low, medium, and high. Another beneficial feature is a timer that can be set to turn the unit off for when you fall asleep or leave the house. A model with a thermostat is also helpful in regulating the temperature of the room as well as decreasing the output of the unit, which will save energy. A recommended model would have an ENERGY STAR* or EnergyGuide label on the unit, meaning it has a higher energy efficiency rating (EER).
Once the unit is installed maintenance is important and the filter in the unit should be changed every 90 days to remain effective.
When determining what type is best for your home, keep in mind that the number of rooms you plan to cool will make one more efficient than the other. If you plan to cool 1 to 2 rooms, it will most likely be best to use a portable unit, whereas if you plan to cool the entire house a central unit would be more efficient. Some people buy several window units to put in multiple rooms in the house, and it is likely that in this case central may be the better option because it would be more efficient and less costly. Central air has a better long-term value and could pay for itself within a few years. It will cost a few hundred for a window unit and in the thousands for central air, so if cost is an issue for you it may be better to purchase a portable unit. Another factor to consider is whether or not you own the home. If you are the owner and plan to stay in the house central air could be a beneficial investment. If you are renting or do not plan to remain in the home for a long period of time, a window unit would be the best option.