If you’re shopping around for a new air conditioner, you may want to know what all of your options are. After all, a new air conditioner is an expensive investment and one that you will have to live with for 10-15 years. You want to make the best decision for your home and family.
Our team is here to help you with air conditioner installation, no matter what type of unit you choose. Below, we’re highlighting your options along with some pros and cons of each one. You can keep reading to learn more about your air conditioner options, and then give our team a call to schedule your in-home assessment.
Central AC
A central air conditioner is considered the gold standard in cooling. It has been installed in homes for years now, and if you already have a central air conditioner, replacing it with a new one makes installation much easier. All of the existing connections should be in place.
However, central air conditioners also get a bad rap because of the attached ductwork. If ductwork is not properly aligned and sealed, you may have hot and cold spots around your home, or cool air may escape before it ever reaches your home. Rest assured that this problem is not normal at all, and can be easily fixed.
Ductless Mini Split
A ductless mini split is a heater and air conditioner all in one because it uses a heat pump. Heat pumps are highly efficient because they have a reversing valve that allows them to move between heating and cooling, reversing the flow of refrigerant to bring heat into your home in the winter and remove heat in the summer.
Ductless mini splits are usually more expensive to install upfront. However, since 100% of the air that is cooled blows directly into the rooms of your home, this type of system can be up to 50% more efficient than a central air conditioner, meaning that you can save a lot on your monthly energy bills.
Heat Pump
A whole house heat pump is a mix between a ductless mini split and a central air conditioner. Like a ductless mini split, a heat pump has a reversing valve that allows it to alternate between heating and cooling. However, it is a single central system that’s attached to ductwork, similar to a central air conditioner.
If you already have an existing central air conditioner or heat pump, replacing it with a new heat pump is easy. Plus, heat pumps are slightly more energy efficient than central air conditioners, so you stand to save on your monthly energy bills.
Dual Fuel System
Some homeowners worry that a heat pump is great for cooling, but won’t be able to stand up to the heating needs in the winter. This is because on the coldest days, there is less heat in the air to draw inside to your home. However, this only applies to single-digit temperatures and colder. That’s not an issue we have to worry about here in California where temperatures rarely drop below freezing.
Where comfort and technology come together. The team at California Comfort is here to help. Schedule an appointment today for AC service.