Sooner or later, everyone needs a new air conditioner. As we move close to summer, you may find yourself in need of installing a new one for your home. Whether you’re looking for a new air conditioner entirely, or need to replace an old one that can’t get you through another hot season, there are a great many options available on the market. Have a look at some of the options for installing a new air conditioner this summer.
Central Air Conditioning
Sure, it’s not flashy or exciting, but central air conditioning remains popular throughout the country. There are a lot of reasons for this, including affordability and versatility. Despite more recent air conditioning methods being on the market, central air conditioners can still do their jobs well in a variety of different circumstances. There’s a reason that many homes are built pre-configured to handle these kinds of systems.
Heat Pumps
A heat pump is constructed in similar fashion to a split air conditioner. Two units pass refrigerant back and forth to absorb thermal energy and vent it outside of the home. The main difference between a heat pump and a central air conditioner is that a heat pump contains a reversing valve. The reversing valve enables the heat pump to reverse the direction the refrigerant flows between the two units that make up the system. By doing this, the heat pump can switch back and forth between heating and cooling functions.
Many homeowners install heat pump systems because of this two-in-one advantage. You can save quite a bit of money and space by using just one climate control system instead of using the more traditional two system configuration. Heat pumps are also quite a bit more energy efficient than the average heating system, because they don’t have to burn any kind of fuel to generate heat. If you’re looking to keep your home comfortable year round and cut operating costs in the process, a heat pump is a good choice.
Ductless Mini Splits
A ductless mini split system is a heat pump, but one that doesn’t use ducts. Instead, individual air handlers are installed throughout the house. Each room that is meant to receive air conditioning will receive an air handler, with up to four air handlers connected to a single outdoor unit. Each air handler also has its own thermostat, allowing you to set your ideal temperature for each room.
Ductless mini splits further improve on the energy efficiency that a normal heat pump offers. They can provide heating and air conditioning functions, as well. However, they are more energy efficient because they don’t have to worry about duct leaks. Ductless systems also prevent energy from being wasted on empty rooms. If you want to save money, and have a much finer degree of control over the climate throughout your home, a ductless mini split might be a good option.
Sunset Air installs a variety of air conditioning systems throughout Olympia, WA. If you need an air conditioner installed, contact us for an appointment.
