What You Should Know About Central AC

Though air conditioning is something that many people have in their homes, many of our customers don’t know much about these systems. Today on the blog, our Sacramento AC Replacement experts share all you need to know about central air conditioning.  

Variety of Shapes & Sizes

The first thing our Sacramento HVAC Technicians want you to know is that there is a variety of shapes and sizes. As follows, the condenser and compressor are housed in an outdoor metal cabinet, while the evaporator is housed in an indoor metal cabinet in a split-system central air conditioner. Additionally, this indoor cabinet often houses a furnace or the indoor portion of a heat pump in several split-system air conditioners. Then, the evaporator coil of the air conditioner is mounted in the furnace or heat pump’s cabinet or main supply conduit. A split-system air conditioner is the most cost-effective central air conditioner to install if your home already has a furnace but no air conditioner.

The evaporator, condenser, and compressor are all housed in one cabinet in a packaged central air conditioner, which is normally mounted on the roof or on a concrete slab next to the house’s base. Additionally, our Cooling Company Sacramento explains that small commercial buildings use this form of air conditioner. Air supply and return ducts are connected to the packaged air conditioner, which is normally installed outside, via the home’s exterior wall or roof. However, electric heating coils or a natural gas furnace are often used in packaged air conditioners. Indoors, this air conditioner and central heater combination removes the need for a separate furnace. 

Choosing or Increasing the Efficiency of Your Central Air Conditioner

Room air conditioners are inefficient compared to central air conditioners. Furthermore, they are out of the way, quiet, and simple to use. You should try to purchase an energy-efficient air conditioner and reduce the energy usage of your central air conditioner to save energy and money. Thus, if you’re thinking about installing central air conditioning in your house, the need for ductwork may be the deciding factor.

If your central air conditioner is older, you might want to consider replacing the outdoor compressor with a more modern, high-efficiency model. If you do so, make sure the new compressor is appropriately fitted to the indoor unit by consulting a local heating and cooling contractor. However, given recent improvements in refrigerants and air conditioning designs, replacing the entire system could be the better option.

The Benefits of High Efficiency Models

The best air conditioners today use 30% to 50% less energy to generate the same amount of cooling as air conditioners from the mid-1970s. Even if your air conditioner is just ten years old, replacing it with a newer, more powerful model will save you 20% to 40% on cooling energy costs.

The importance of proper sizing and installation in assessing air conditioner performance cannot be overstated. A device that is too big would not be able to extract enough humidity. On the hottest days, a device that is too small would not be able to maintain a comfortable temperature. Inefficient duct installation, improper unit placement, and lack of insulation can all reduce performance.

When shopping for an air conditioner, look for one that has a high efficiency rating. The seasonal energy efficiency ratio is used to score central air conditioners (SEER). The SEER rating indicates the amount of energy required to provide a given cooling output. SEER ratings of 6 or less are common in older systems.

When purchasing an air conditioner, look for the following features:

• For new ventilation systems, a variable speed air handler is needed.
• A system that runs quietly.
• A fan-only switch, which allows you to use the unit for nighttime ventilation and save money on air conditioning.
• After a set number of operating hours, a filter check light will illuminate to remind you to check the filter.
• An automatic-delay fan switch that switches the fan off a few minutes after the compressor shuts down.