Central AC is still the king of air conditioning types in the United States, but that’s shifting a bit. More homeowners are opting to install ductless mini splits, and some new construction isn’t using traditional central AC at all. So what’s the deal? Is central air conditioning a good investment?
It is, but it may not be for everyone. That’s why it’s important to talk about the benefits so you can understand what you stand to gain if you go with central AC. Let’s talk about it now.
You Get Consistent, Even Cooling
When you flick on the cool air, it doesn’t take long for it to start flowing. When it does, it evenly cools your entire home and helps every room reach the temperature goal set by you on the thermostat. If you don’t care for fine-tuned control, central AC excels here at keeping your whole home cool.
You can even install a smart thermostat so that you can control it remotely, or let it do most of the work for you by understanding your heating and cooling habits over time. Either way, it’s consistent and it can be hands-free as well.
Very Little Noise
Central air conditioners operate at the same volume (or quieter) as a conversation between two people. That’s it–it’s relatively quiet. The only time you’ll run into an inconvenience with noise is during startup, and that’s only if you have an open window next to the unit, really.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
Central AC pulls air from your entire home. While it only has a single intake, which can be limiting, it helps with air circulation in your home. When it pulls through the filter, it removes particles and dust from the air.
Central AC Has Some Cons, Too
It’s important to discuss the areas where it doesn’t rule to have central AC, as well. These problems are of a different severity depending on your cooling goals, but they’re important to know regardless.
- Extensive Installation Process: There’s a lot of ductwork to install when you get a fresh central AC unit, which can take days or up to a week depending on your home. Other systems have shorter installation times.
- More Possible Problems: You know what the great thing is about a ductless mini split? There’s no ducts. With ductwork alone and other components, there’s more that can go wrong with a central AC, so it can be harder to diagnose problems and can take money to fix them.
- Higher Energy Bills: Heat pumps are the most efficient way to cool your home, and while they can also use ductwork, they’re better than central air conditioners in many ways.
Central AC Reigns Supreme (Mostly)
Central air conditioning is still an amazing investment, but you have to weigh the other options against it before you can know for certain. You can also install zone control in your central AR system if you want to get the benefits of a ductless mini split (more or less) so you can save power in the process. It’s all in your hands now.
Contact Southwest HVAC today to schedule your central air conditioning installation as soon as possible.