Central AC: Frequently Asked Questions

Central air conditioners circulate cool air through a system of supply and return ducts. Supply ducts and registers (i.e., openings in the walls, floors, or ceilings covered by grills) carry cooled air from the air conditioning unit to the house. This cooled air ends up being warmer as it flows through the home; then it streams back to the central air conditioner through return ducts and signs up.

A/c unit help to dehumidify the incoming air, but in exceptionally humid environments or in cases where the ac system is oversized, it may not achieve a low humidity. Running a dehumidifier in your air conditioned home will increase your energy usage, both for the dehumidifier itself and because the a/c will require more energy to cool your house. A preferable alternative is a dehumidifying heat pipeline, which can be included as a retrofit to a lot of existing systems.

If you have a central air conditioning system in your house, set the fan to turn off at the exact same time as the compressor, which is normally done by setting the "vehicle" mode on the fan setting. In other words, don't use the system's main fan to offer air blood circulation-- utilize distributing fans in private spaces.

Kinds Of Central Air Conditioning Conditioners

A central air conditioning conditioner is either a split-system unit or a packaged unit.

In a split-system central air conditioning conditioner, an outdoor metal cabinet consists of the condenser and compressor, and an indoor cabinet consists of the evaporator. In many split-system air conditioners, this indoor cabinet also contains a heater or the indoor part of a heatpump. The a/c unit's evaporator coil is set up in the cabinet or primary supply duct of this heating system or heat pump. If your house already has a heating system however no a/c unit, a split-system is the most affordable central air conditioning conditioner to set up.

In a packaged central air conditioning conditioner, the evaporator, condenser, and compressor are all located in one cabinet, which typically is put on a roofing system or on a concrete slab next to your house's foundation. This kind of air conditioning system likewise is used in small business structures. Air supply and return ducts originate from inside through the house's outside wall or roof to connect with the packaged a/c, which is typically located outdoors. Packaged a/c unit often consist of electric heating coils or a natural gas heating system. This combination of a/c unit and main heater eliminates the need for a separate furnace inside.

Picking or Upgrading Your Central Air Conditioner

Central air conditioners are more efficient than space ac system. In addition, they are out of the way, peaceful, and hassle-free to run. To save energy and money, you should attempt to purchase an energy-efficient air conditioning unit and lower your central air conditioning conditioner's energy use. In an average air-conditioned house, a/c takes in more than 2,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, causing power plants to give off about 3,500 pounds of co2 and 31 pounds of sulfur dioxide.

If you are thinking about including central air conditioning to your home, the deciding aspect might be the need for ductwork.

If you have an older central air conditioning conditioner, you might select to change the outdoor compressor with a contemporary, high-efficiency system. If you do so, consult a local heating and cooling contractor to ensure that the new compressor is properly matched to the indoor system. Thinking about recent modifications in refrigerants and air conditioning designs, it may be smarter to replace the whole system.

Today's best air conditioning unit utilize 30% to 50% less energy to produce the same quantity of cooling as air conditioners made in the mid 1970s. Even if your air conditioning unit is just 10 years old, you might save 20% to 40% of your cooling energy costs by replacing it with a newer, more effective model.

Appropriate sizing and installation are crucial components in figuring out a/c performance. Too large an unit will not effectively get rid of humidity. Too little an unit will not have the ability to obtain a comfortable temperature level on the most popular days. Incorrect unit place, lack of insulation, and inappropriate duct setup can significantly lessen efficiency.

When buying an air conditioning system, look for a model with a high efficiency. Central air conditioning conditioners are rated according to their seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). SEER suggests the relative quantity of energy required to supply a specific cooling output. Lots of older systems have SEER scores of 6 or less.

If your ac system is old, consider purchasing an energy-efficient design. Look for the ENERGY STAR ® and hvac contractors EnergyGuide labels-- qualified main systems have to do with 15% more effective than standard models. New property central air conditioning conditioner standards entered into result on January 1, 2015; see the performance requirements for central air conditioning conditioners for information, and think about acquiring a system with a greater SEER than the minimum for greater savings.

The requirements do not need you to change your existing central air conditioning systems, and replacement parts and services need to still be readily available for your home's systems. The "life expectancy" of a central air conditioning conditioner has to do with 15 to 20 years. Producers generally continue to support existing devices by making replacement parts offered and honouring upkeep contracts after the brand-new basic goes into result.

Other functions to look for when purchasing an ac system include:

- A thermal growth valve and a high-temperature rating (EER) greater than 11.6, for high-efficiency operation when the weather condition is at its hottest

- A variable speed air handler for new ventilation systems

- A system that runs quietly

- A fan-only switch, so you can use the system for nighttime ventilation to substantially reduce air-conditioning costs

- A filter check light to advise you to examine the filter after a fixed number of running hours

- An automatic-delay fan switch to shut off the fan a couple of minutes after the compressor switches off.

Installation and Place of Air Conditioners

If your air conditioner is set up properly, or if significant installation problems are found and repaired, it will carry out effectively for many years with only small regular maintenance. Numerous air conditioners are not set up correctly. As a regrettable result, modern-day energy-efficient air conditioning system can carry out practically as inadequately as older ineffective designs.

When setting up a brand-new central air system, make sure that your contractor:

- Enables appropriate indoor area for the setup, maintenance, and repair work of the brand-new system, and installs an access door in the heating system or duct to provide a method to clean the evaporator coil

- Uses a duct-sizing approach such as the Cooling Specialists of America (ACCA) Handbook D.

- Makes sure there are enough provide registers to deliver cool air and sufficient return air signs up to bring warm home air back to the ac system.

- Installs duct within the conditioned space, not in the attic, anywhere possible.

- Seals all ducts with duct mastic and heavily insulates attic ducts.

- Locates the condensing unit where its noise will not keep you or your neighbours awake in the evening, if possible.

- Finds the condensing system where no neighboring objects will obstruct air flow to it.

- Validates that the newly set up a/c unit has the specific refrigerant charge and air flow rate specified by the maker.

- Finds the thermostat far from heat sources, such as windows or supply signs up.

If you are changing an older or failed split system, be sure that the evaporator coil is changed with a brand-new one that exactly matches the condenser coil in the brand-new condensing system. (The air conditioning unit's effectiveness will likely not enhance if the existing evaporator coil is left in place; in reality, the old coil could trigger the brand-new compressor to stop working prematurely.).