Air conditioners vary in how they work, how much they cost, and what size they need to be. Knowing the right questions can help you choose the right air conditioner for your home. If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already realized that summer is almost here. And with that also comes soaring electricity bills and sweltering temperatures throughout the day. Air conditioning is an essential part of any home in hot climates or during peak periods of the year such as summer or spring. But there are several different types of air conditioners on the market, so choosing one can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, once you know where to look, it’s not so complicated to find a unit that fits your needs and your budget too. Here we’ll outline everything you need to know about choosing and installing an air conditioner in your home
What is an air conditioner?
An air conditioner is a machine that cools air by using evaporator coils and a refrigerant to remove heat from the air molecules. In order to do this, an air conditioner must work differently than traditional heating methods. Unlike a furnace or central heating system, which heats the entire home, an air conditioner removes the heat from a room or area. If you want to cool a large room, such as the entire second floor of your house, you’ll need to install multiple units. Though it can be useful for cooling large areas, an air conditioner is generally used to regulate the air temperature in a given room. In this way, it’s similar to a ceiling fan or oscillating fan. An air conditioner also differs from a heater in that it is generally used in the summer while a furnace is most often used in the winter. An air conditioner is generally more expensive than a heater, but it’s also more energy-efficient than a furnace.
How do central air conditioners work?
Humans produce heat naturally when we’re active (such as when we’re exercising, cooking, or doing work), and we produce heat when we’re at rest (like when we’re sleeping). So, where do we put these heated and cooled temperatures? In a central air conditioner, a fan pulls hot air out of the room and pushes it through the unit’s coils, which cool the air in a process known as air conditioning. The air is then released back into the room where it’s warmed by your body heat or cool by the air conditioner’s refrigerant. This whole process of heating and cooling is what makes central air conditioners so efficient at removing heat from a home.
When Should You Use a Central Air Conditioner?
The best time to install a central air conditioner is when the temperature in your region regularly rises above 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). When the temperature is consistently above this mark, a central air conditioner can help keep your home more comfortable. Central air units are great for cooling a single large room if you live in an area where the temperature regularly rises above this mark. They can also be useful in the fall and winter when the temperature consistently dips below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius). Central air conditioners are also a great investment if you want to avoid using your car’s air conditioner whenever you want to go out.
How Do Window Air Conditioners Work?
Unlike a central air conditioner, a window unit does not pull the surrounding air and condition it. Instead, it condenses water from the air and evaporates it. So, if you have air conditioning inside your home, the unit extracts heat from it and then releases it outside, where the air is cooler. This is a very effective way to cool air and is therefore a very common type of air conditioner. But there are some downsides to this method, which we’ll discuss below. The first issue with window air conditioners is that they don’t produce as much cooling power as central air conditioners. So, if you need to cool a large area, such as an entire room, the window unit won’t be powerful enough to do so. Window air conditioners are also quite noisy. Though they’re much quieter than central air conditioners, they’re still a bit noisier than a wall unit.
Should you use a portable air conditioner?
Portable air conditioners are great for cooling large areas such as a room, a patio or a large space like an attic. The main benefit of using a portable air conditioner is that it’s very flexible. So, if you want to cool a particular room, you can simply move the unit to that room. However, portable air conditioners are generally more expensive than wall units, and they only cool about as much as a wall unit does. They’re also less efficient at cooling than central air conditioners. While central air conditioners produce about 18,000 BTUs (British Thermal Units) per hour, a portable air conditioner only produces about 7,000 BTUs per hour.
Which type of central air conditioner is the best?
There are several factors you should consider when choosing the best type of central air conditioner for your home. These include the size of the room you want to cool, your budget, and the length of time you’ll need the air conditioner to run. For example, if the room you want to cool is a single large room, you may be able to get away with a smaller window unit. If you have a smaller home with a smaller budget and only need cooling for a short time, a window unit may work just fine. On the other hand, if you have a larger home or a longer period of need, a central air conditioner will be more powerful and effective.
Where to Install Your New Central Air Conditioning System
It’s important to remember that your new air conditioner will be running all the time, even when the rest of your house isn’t. This means you’ll want to make sure it has enough power to run the unit, but not power the whole house. The best place to install your new central air conditioner is in a central location in the room you want to cool. However, you may also want to consider placing it in the hallway or at the opposite end of the room from the door to see if it helps reduce the humidity from entering your home. Generally, the best place to install a central air conditioner is in the central part of the house.
Conclusion
Choosing the best central air conditioner for your home isn’t as complicated as it first seems. All you need to do is ask yourself these questions, and you can choose the best air conditioner for your needs. Whether you live in a large, old home or a small, new one, you can find the best air conditioning unit for your home.