4 Air Conditioning Options

Air conditioning helps keep your home cool during the hot summer months. If your home doesn't have an air conditioning system, or you want to get a new one, you may have a lot of questions, especially regarding which option is best. If you would like to know more, check out these four air conditioning options.

1. Window Units

If you want the benefit of air conditioning but you can't afford a system, consider a window unit. Window units can be stationary or portable. These may also be a great idea if you rent an apartment or home. You may also use a window unit to supplement your system if some rooms/parts of the home aren't connected to the HVAC system.

On the downside, they don't last long, and they aren't as efficient or effective. They can also be loud, and you'll need to make sure you buy the right-sized system for the room or else it won't keep the room cool enough.

2. Central Air Conditioning

Many people want central air conditioning because it is incredibly effective. The system uses the HVAC system to force cooled air through the ducts. For this reason, if you don't have existing ductwork, you'll have to pay more to have ducts installed.

If you do have ducts, central air conditioning is one of the less expensive options, but it is also not as efficient as some other options, so you may pay more for your monthly energy bills. Depending on your need, you can add many features to your central air conditioning system, including:

• Air purification
• Humidifier
• Dehumidifier
• Zoned cooling

3. Heat Pump

A heat pump also uses your HVAC system, so you need ductwork. Heat pumps are one of the more expensive options, but they are energy efficient. Unlike other options, however, a heat pump can also heat your home.

To cool the home, air-source heat pumps pull cooled air from outside and pump hot air outside the home. However, this makes them less effective. Instead, you may want to consider a geothermal unit. These systems generate cooled/heated air from the ground. They are more expensive but last a long time.

4. Mini-Split System

If you want an effective whole-home option without adding ducts, consider a mini-split system. Mini-split systems consist of an exterior unit and multiple indoor units. You install as many indoor units as you need. Therefore, it becomes a whole-home option, but you can also use it to provide cooling to particularly hot rooms or rooms that aren't connected to the HVAC system.

These systems are effective and efficient. Since they don't use ducts, there is less energy loss via holes in ducts. They are one of the more expensive options, but you can save money by using zoned cooling to only cool the rooms you need.

Air conditioning can make your home a lot more comfortable. In some cases, a good system can even improve indoor air quality. If you would like to know more about AC installation, contact an HVAC contractor today.