Find out what to do and which brand to pick if you want to install a central air conditioning unit in your home.
This buyer’s guide for central air conditioners provides all the information you need. Have a good look at the information, and you’ll be ready to make an informed decision.
Replace or repair your central air conditioning system?
If you currently own a central air conditioner, you may be thinking if you should replace it or merely repair it.
If your air conditioner is relatively new and the repair is modest, it may be worth repairing. However, it’s time to replace your air conditioner when:
- High electricity costs due to its decreasing efficiency.
- In need of regular, expensive repairs.
- R-22 refrigerant is being phased out by the Canadian government owing to its ozone-depleting effects (though some Ontario ACs last much, much longer)
Benefits of Installing Central Air Conditioning
Are you using window air conditioners or fans to combat the heat? As a result, these are merely temporary fixes that do not provide all of central air conditioning’s benefits, such as:
Additional Conveniences
Using central air conditioning will not obstruct your view or light, take up valuable floor space, or cool only a tiny portion of a room. Your entire home or building is cooled quietly and efficiently.
Better Air Quality
Willing to pay more for cleaner, less humid air in your home, Central air conditioners remove dust, animal dander, pollen, and other allergens from the air that circulates through your ducts with the help of a filter. A dehumidifier is also included. As a consequence, your house or business’s inhabitants will enjoy enhanced air quality and health advantages.
Increasing The Value of Your Home
Buyers increasingly want move-in-ready houses with high-quality, energy-efficient HVAC systems. Air conditioning increases the value of a property as well as its exterior appeal.
Different Types of Central Air Conditioning Systems
Split and packaged systems are the two main types of central air conditioners.
Split
As the name implies, a split central air conditioner is divided into two major parts:
In most cases, this cabinet also contains a furnace or air handler as well as the evaporator coil outside weather-resistant metal cabinet housing the condenser and compressor
Your home will be cooled by this sort of AC, which utilizes the same ducts that circulate warm air from your furnace during colder months. It is the most common kind and cost-effective to install in large buildings with ducting installed.
Package
All of the components of a packaged air conditioner may be located within the same cabinet. It may also be equipped with a gas furnace or electric heating coils. As a general rule, cabinets are built outdoors, either on the residence’s roof or on a concrete slab at the foundation level of the home.
Packaged air conditioning is ideal for compact buildings due to its space-saving capabilities. It’s also much easier to set up than the previous version.
Energy Efficiency
SEER which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio for high-efficiency central air conditioners are an excellent place to start looking. Obviously, the greater this number is, the better it is! In 2021, new air conditioners must have a SEER rating of at least 13. However, some air conditioners have a SEER value of 25 or more, allowing them to qualify for Energy Star certification with a rating of 14.5.
Multi Zone – Cooling and Heating
Your HVAC specialist may set up multi-zone cooling and heating during your central air conditioning installation, giving you more control over your home’s comfort. They’ll install a system of dampers in your ductwork to keep the air flowing. Each zone has its thermostat for fine-tuning the temperature.
Size The Central Air Conditioning Correctly
No one should have to guess when it comes to choosing the proper size central air conditioning system. Any air conditioner that is too small won’t be able to cool the entire room effectively. Unwieldy ones will short cycle, fail to dehumidify correctly, and finally wear out far sooner than regular ones will, though.
The size of the needed AC is given in BTUs (British Thermal Units). Estimated cooling power per square foot will be around 20, but a more exact calculation will have to take into consideration numerous other vital parameters, including the following:
- No of floors in the house
- Height of the ceiling (s)
- The amount of time spent in the sun
- The number and location of windows and doors on the exterior.
- Not to mention the regular number of people in the house! A more oversized air conditioner is required when there are more people.)
Service Your AC Every Year
You’ve spent a lot of money on a new central air conditioner. Take advantage of your investment by ensuring that the system is in top working condition. It is recommended that you get your air conditioner professionally serviced once a year.
