What Is A Central Air Conditioning Unit?
A central air conditioning unit is an appliance that works by carrying cooled air through a system of ducts. Cold air circulated to your home from the central air conditioner through supply and return ducts. Registers also promote cold air circulation. These are openings that let out fresh air from floors, walls, and ceilings. Grills typically cover them.
As the cool air circulates within your home, it starts getting warmer. It eventually flows back into the central air conditioner through the registers and return ducts.
A central air conditioning unit consists of a refrigerant, condenser, evaporator, and compressor. The refrigerant is responsible for cooling and dehumidifying air within the unit. The unit’s blower does the circulation of air within your house. You can adjust the central air conditioner’s temperature using its thermostat.
What Size Central Air Conditioner Do I Need?
Central air conditioning units are produced in different sizes. The size of the unit that you go for will affect its price. Proper sizing is a crucial element that needs to be considered when selecting an air conditioner. It determines its efficiency. A too-large unit may not adequately remove humidity. A too-small group, on the other hand, may not attain your desired temperatures.
Considerations need to be made when it comes to the size (tonnes) of the central air conditioner you want to install. You should factor in your ceiling’s height and the thickness of your insulation when making this decision. The formula: (House Square Footage x 30 / 12,000) – 1.0 = Required Tonnage can be applied to find an estimate of the size required. Automated online programs can also help to determine the AC size you need precisely.
“Tons” are the measurements used to measure the size of an air conditioning unit. This is the measurement of a unit’s capacity to cool your home. You will typically require one ton for a floor space of about 400-600 square feet. You need to consider the floor space within your house when selecting the size in the tonnage of your unit. This represents its cooling capacity.
How Much Does A Central Air Conditioner Cost?
The price of air conditioning units varies more so depending on the brand and specifications of the unit. Most central air conditioners cost between $1,000 and $3,000. An option such as Rheem is priced at $990, offering a 13 SEER unit. One of the premium units in the market is known as Carrier. It goes for $3,985.
Installation and maintenance costs, as well as on-going energy costs, should be factored in depending on the central air conditioning unit you are going for. You may fork out between $1,000 to $4,000 for installation. You’ll have to budget accordingly when you require a unit that’s reliable and quite powerful.
Best Central Air Conditioner Brands
-
Goodman Central Air Conditioners
Goodman is an easy to install brand. It’s right in terms of cost-efficiency, overall operation, user experience, and reliability. Goodman also offers a lifetime limited warranty on its parts.
-
Lennox Central Air Conditioners
Lennox is a highly efficient unit thanks to its high SEER ratings. Its design makes it a lightweight and sleek product. Lennox is opted for by many due to its low running costs. You may require the help of a professional to install this unit.
-
Carrier Central Air Conditioners
Carrier is regarded as the quietest of all central air conditioning units. It’s excellently insulated and possesses a durable chassis. Carrier offers relatively lower prices with high SEER units. Servicing is also easy due to the acceptance of generic parts.
-
American Standard Central Air Conditioners
This brand boasts of great features, including reliability, durability, and efficiency. This brand, however, comes with high installation costs and can be extremely loud. The maintenance costs are relatively low since it supports generic parts. These units are small and sleek.
-
Amana Central Air Conditioners
Amana is one of the most energy-efficient brands. It guarantees excellent customer experience, reliability, efficiency, and durability. It also comes with a sleek design. However, Amana is quite expensive.
There are many factors that you need to consider before installing a central air conditioner. The costs involved, its size, and the brand should be considered. This guarantees that you make an informed decision.