Dayton-area homeowners have several options for keeping cool this summer, but central air conditioning stands out above the other methods for its energy efficiency, comfort and ease of use.
Central Air Conditioning Defined
Central air conditioning cools your home using the same ducts your furnace uses to heat it. In the most common type of central air, you have two components: an outside condenser/compressor and an inside evaporator/air handler (sometimes connected to your furnace blower). Treated, cool air circulates through ductwork and flows out from registers and vents. The circulating air becomes warmer and is pulled back in through return ducts, to be chilled again.
Types of Central Air Conditioners
Central air conditioning comes as either the aforementioned split system or as a packaged unit. Packaged central air conditioning puts everything in a single metal box either on a roof or on a slab next to your home. Air supply and air return ducts pierce your home’s wall to connect to the unit.
Central Air Conditioner Options
When shopping, look for features that can enhance your life and lower costs:
- Quiet operation
- Fan-only option, to circulate air at night or during mild weather when you don’t actually require air conditioning
- Check light for the filter to remind you the air filter needs to be checked and possibly replaced
- Variable-speed air handler that can adapt blower speed to match your home’s cooling requirements
- Fan switch with automatic delay to turn the fan off shortly after the compressor stops, pushing residual cool air out of the ducts
Central Air Conditioner Efficiency
Central air conditioner efficiency is measured by Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). SEER standards help you shop for systems that will cool your Dayton-area home comfortably for the least cost. SEER measures the ratio of energy put into the system against the cooling power it delivers, over an entire cooling season. The federal Energy Star program mandates that central air conditioners have a minimum 14.5 SEER for split systems and 14 SEER for packaged units. A/C units exist, however, with SEER ratings up to 24.5. The higher, the better (and usually more expensive at purchase and installation).
For more help choosing a central air conditioner for your Dayton area home, contact Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
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