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Cooling System – How to Choose One
Installing or updating a cooling system in your home? When making
such a significant purchase, it can be wise to fully compare your
options before making a selection. Heating and air conditioning
experts offer these helpful insights.
Following is a general overview of the most popular air conditioning
systems, how they work, and their benefits and drawbacks.
Central Air Conditioner
Circulates cool air through a system of supply and return ducts.
A central air conditioner is either a split-system central air conditioner
or packaged central air conditioner. Generally these systems are
more efficient than room air conditioners.
Split-System Central Air Conditioner
An outdoor metal cabinet contains the condenser and compressor,
and an indoor cabinet contains the evaporator. If your home already
has a furnace but no air conditioner, this is the most economical
central air conditioner to install.
Packaged Central Air Conditioner
The evaporator, condenser, and compressor are all located in one
cabinet, which usually is placed on a roof or on a concrete slab
next to the house's foundation. This combination of air conditioner
and central heater eliminates the need for a separate furnace indoors.
Room Air Conditioner
Cools one room rather than entire home. Room air conditioners are
less expensive to operate than central units if you are concerned
with cooling a specific room only. Efficiency is generally lower
than that of central air conditioners.
Heat Pump
Extracts available heat from one area (the heat source) and transfers
it to another (the heat sink) to either heat or cool an interior
space. During the winter, this device extracts heat from air outside
and transfers it to the inside of your home to heat it. In the summer,
the heat pump extracts heat from the air inside your house, cools
it, and transfers it outside. Heat pumps can be very energy efficient,
because instead of actually generating heat like a furnace, they
just draw heat from the outside.
Things to consider before buying a heat pump:
- Initial cost: Contact a professional to estimate the
installation cost of a heat pump for your home versus the cost
of an alternative heating/cooling system.
- Operating cost: Get an estimate from a professional on
the energy cost of a heat pump versus the cost an alternative system.
- Payback: If the heat pump installation costs more than
an alternative system, figure out how many years it will take
your heat pump to pay back its higher initial cost with lower
annual operating costs. You can approximate this by dividing the
estimated annual operating savings into the extra cost you pay
for a heat pump installation. It's also important to estimate
the cost of repairs of the older existing system with the potential
repair costs of a new system.
- Service and maintenance: Make sure the contractor you
deal with is equipped to sell and service heat pumps. Ask about
an extended warranty program for your heat pump.
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