Central Air Conditioning
"No pleasure, no rapture, no exquisite sin greater... than central air." - ''
Dogma''
About Central Air Conditioning
ducted air conditioning systems. For homes in warm climates or places with hot summers, a central AC system makes it easy to keep one's house cool and comfortable. You can turn it on throughout the house or just in one section. In addition, since the majority of the cooling apparatus is outside the house, central air is much quieter than a standard air conditioner.
Unlike window air conditioners, central AC systems need to be installed professionally since they are connected to the furnace or the heat pump. If you are building a new house, you should decide early on whether or not to install central air. It is not as easy to install a system once the house is built. If your house is already built you must make sure that you have usable ducts that the AC unit can work with. This type of installation usually costs several thousand dollars.
!Some models are able to both heat and cool. Most models also dehumidify and filter the air, making your home more comfortable.
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Do I Need a New Central Air System?
Before investing the time and money in a new system you should decide whether or not a replacement is really necessary. If your old system does need replacement you could be wasting a lot of money on a system that is not running up to par.
* Is your system over 10 years old?
* Do you repair it often?
* Has it ever broken down?
* Does it seem like your energy bill is going up more than it should?
* Does your system not appear to be cooling the house down as much as it used to?
* Do you want to switch from a Freon system to a more environmentally friendly Puron system?
Did you answer yes to any of the above? Then it's time to start thinking about a new system.
Buying A New Central Air System
There are two main types of central air conditioning systems; a straight cool system or a heat pump system. You have to decide if you want the unit to cool or be able to heat and cool.
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* '''Efficiency''' There are a number of factors that go into the efficiency of your central air system.
** '''SEER''' (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratings). This is a rating of how efficient the system is at cooling your house. The government minimum for new central air systems is 13 as of January 2006. The most efficient models have ratings of up to 19.5.
*** Ultraefficiency" models won't be that cost effective in the long run.
** Another way of limiting wasted energy is by getting a system with a programmable thermostat as well as a filter change indicator light.
** If your house is not properly insulated, the most efficient system in the world won't save you any money. Spend the extra money on good insulation it will be worth it in the long run, as it will help reduce both your heating and cooling energy usage.
* '''Cooling Capacity ''' The cooling capacity of any AC system is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units) or in tons.
** The most common size for a central air unit is three tons. A professional can tell you what the cooling load of your house is and how big your system needs to be.
** A system that is too large will only cool in short bursts and won't effectively remove humidity. It will also be a waste of money.
** A system that is too small, on the other hand, will not cool your house effectively.
* '''Stages''' stage.
** Two-stage units are more efficient, but they may be more difficult to fix should something break.
** Since the technology is newer, the reliability of two-stage units is unknown.
** If you live in an area that is only hot for a few summer months, you may not need the superstage unit.
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