Central Air Conditioning Installation Options
When you need a new air conditioner, you may feel like simply swapping the old equipment out with a similar but modern setup. However, that instinct may not serve you as well as you’d like. There are several central air options on the market today.
Choosing the best central air conditioning installation for your home or business will create the most comfortable setting possible at maximum energy efficiency. Below are the most popular air conditioning options available today.
Standard Air Conditioner
The standard air conditioner cooling system consists of an outdoor condensing unit and an indoor air handler. Evaporator coils in the air handler pull heat from the air inside a home or building and send it to the compressor outside. Once the condensing unit releases heat from the refrigerant, it travels back through the system to deliver cool air throughout your home or office.
Heat Pump System
The heat pump system works just like the standard air conditioner, except it does double duty. During the summer, it pulls heat from the inside of the dwelling and releases it outside. During the winter, it extracts heat from the air outside and delivers it to the indoor setting.
Heat pump systems are perfect for homes that deal with notably hot summers and cold winters. Keep in mind that a heat pump central air system will run all year. If you don’t think your home needs year-round air conditioning, it may be best to consider other options.
Ductless Air Conditioner Systems
Another option for air conditioning installation is a ductless air conditioner. Ductless air conditioner setups consist of an outdoor compressor that connects to multiple indoor air handlers. Each room or area of a home or office has a separate air handler unit that cools a specific space. Ductless air conditioning systems are exceptionally energy efficient.
Air conditioning systems that rely on ducts lose efficiency due to cracks or leaks in the ductwork. As the air handler blows cool air through the ductwork, much of the air escapes through these cracks. The air conditioner must work harder to get your space to a comfortable temperature when this happens.
Ductless systems also have special compressors that alter their performance speed to suit the system’s requirements. Ordinary AC compressors operate at one constant speed, hindering efficiency.
Ductless systems are ideal for homes that lack ductwork because they eliminate the need for costly renovations. Using ductless air conditioning is also a great way to get cool air to areas that do not connect to a pre-existing AC system. An attic, cellar, garage, or a recent addition to a home can benefit from a new ductless air conditioning installation while the rest of the house uses the current AC system.
You may consider switching from a standard central air system to a fully ductless system. Some homes rely on window-mounted air conditioner units to cool specific areas. A ductless AC system can improve energy efficiency, home security, and aesthetics in these homes.
Geothermal Cooling Systems
Geothermal systems are the leading cooling system in energy efficiency by a wide margin. A large loop of underground pipes utilizes the consistent temperature below the earth’s surface. The piping forms a heat exchanger, using environmentally friendly antifreeze to heat and cool your home or workplace.
Heating and cooling account for roughly 50% of a household’s utility bills. Geothermal systems drastically reduce these costs because they don’t rely on oil or gas. Geothermal systems can also heat the water supply in your home or office, adding more savings to your utility bills.
Should You Replace or Repair Your Current Air Conditioning System?
Temperatures in La Grange, TX, require most people to have their air conditioner running most of the year. That means these air conditioners go through more wear and tear than those around the rest of the country. Residents of La Grange, TX, often have the burden of deciding whether to get repairs on their air conditioner system or replace it entirely.
Air conditioning replacement may seem like a pricier option than repair, but repeat repairs to a system that will inevitably need replacing only slowly burn through more of your money. Even with good upkeep, the life expectancy of most central air systems is roughly fifteen years.
Below are warning signs that you need a new air conditioning installation rather than just repairs.
- Old Age: Air conditioning systems lose efficiency as they age. After about 10 years, the efficiency of your air conditioner will drop, which ultimately leads to an increase in energy consumption and costs.
- Frequent Breakdowns: Several breakdowns within a few years could point to the need for a new system, especially if these breakdowns continually occur during peak use.
- Uneven Temperatures: While this may not necessarily point to a new system, a system’s inability to provide consistent, accurate airflow in your rooms calls for a major upgrade.
- Excessive Noise: When a system works extra hard to keep your home cool, it may result in excessive noise. Throughout the course of the noise, the system might also shut off randomly, signifying a bigger problem with the unit.
