We are going to review if central air conditioning or other types of cooling systems are best for you.
Summer and the heat is upon us in the Buffalo, NY area and you are likely trying to find a cool place to escape the humidity and high temperatures. Generating a tranquil dry breeze throughout your home can make the hottest days much more enjoyable. Cooling your home with the proper system can save you money and electricity and keep you comfortable no matter what the temperature is outdoors. If you don’t currently have central air conditioning in your home, you may be wondering if central air conditioning will save you money.
We are going to review if central air conditioning or other types of cooling systems are best for you.
What is Central Air Conditioning?
If you are trying to determine if central air conditioning will save you money, you should first understand what central air conditioning is.
Central air conditioners move cool air through a system of supply and return ducts. Supply ducts and registers (i.e., openings in the walls, floors, or ceilings covered by grills) carry cooled air from the air conditioner to the home. This cooled air becomes warmer as it circulates through the home; then it flows back to the central air conditioner through return ducts and registers. To learn more about how central air conditioners compare to other cooling systems, check out this Energy Saver 101 Infographic: Home Cooling.
Cost of Installation for Central Air Conditioning
Installing central air conditioning in your home, may require more than just purchasing the unit and having it installed. For older homes, there is often a lack of duck work for the system to use, and that may increase the installation cost. Understand the cost of the full installation and annual maintenance when considering if central air conditioning will save you money.
Compare Energy Usage
When deciding if central air conditioning will save you money, you should compare the energy usage for all types of cooling systems that are an option for you.
A central air unit typically uses more energy to cool your home than other cooling choices. As Mr. Electricity states, a window unit uses anywhere from 500 to 1440 watts to run, while a 2.5 ton central unit (about the size for a typical 1,500- to 2,000-square-foot home) uses about 3,500 watts. Central air conditioners cool larger spaces than other cooling options, so more energy consumption compared unit to unit, should come as no surprise. Central air conditioners are more efficient than window and portable AC units as they are cooling the whole home and not room by room.
Will Central Air Conditioning Save you Money?
If you plan to cool more than three rooms and have more than one or two window or portable AC units, the energy consumption will likely cost you more than that of a single central air conditioning unit. Central air units are also more efficient and let less cool air escape than other types of cooling systems.
Central AC allows you to cool more of your home at once and maintain more balanced temperatures than other cooling options. Central air units should connect to your thermostat giving you more control over your home’s comfort, than a window and portable AC unit allows.
Reimer Home Services is here for all your air conditioner services in Buffalo, NY. Call us or contact us online.
Our team repairs, maintains, and installs air conditioners. We work with all cooling systems and all makes and models. Our experienced techs are true experts in all things AC, from the condenser to the evaporator.
