Types of Central Air Conditioning Systems

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Central Air Conditioning Systems

This guest post was written by David Kiss

David has been in the heating and cooling business for many years, he is the owner of Precision HVAC, a New Jersey heating and cooling company that specializes in the installation of air conditioning systems in Northern NJ.

There are very few modern houses built which do not include central heating and cooling systems. New construction almost always includes both of these units. Some older houses include only heat upon construction; but it is rather simple process to hire a professional who can perform a proper air conditioner installation. NJ heating and cooling systems are very important because of the extreme regional temperatures. It is important that these types of units are installed so that our families can be comfortable throughout the year no matter what the weather does. For cooling your home, you will want to have a qualified professional who can install a unit properly so that you can have energy efficient cooling in NJ and be comfortable all year long. There are basically two types of air conditioning systems: a packaged unit or a split-system unit.

The Two Types of Central Air Conditioners

One type of Central air conditioner is packaged. This means that the vital parts such as the condenser, compressor, and evaporator are all situated together in a single cabinet. Most of the time, this is located outdoors; and is located on a slab next to the home or on the roof. This is also the most common type of air conditioning unit that is used for smaller commercial structures. NJ heating and cooling systems are usually included together in a packaged unit. This is very useful so that the homeowner does not have to have a separate furnace in the house for heating.

The split-system air conditioner used for cooling your NJ home is built so that the air conditioning equipment is housed in separate areas. Usually there is a cabinet located in the house which houses the evaporator. An additional metal cabinet is located outdoors and it houses the condenser and the compressor. Many times the split-system air conditioners also contain the furnace or they contain the indoor parts of a heat pump which is also used for heating and cooling your home. For homes that already had a furnace but did not contain an air conditioner the split system is generally the more economical choice for NJ air conditioner installation.

How to Choose an Air Conditioning System for Your New Home

When air conditioners are installed correctly, they will usually provide energy efficient cooling for many years. This is provided that routine AC maintenance is performed. Incorrect installation can be costly as a very energy efficient model can end up performing as badly as some older less efficient models. As far as efficiency is concerned, central units are much more efficient than single room air conditioners. They are also much quieter and out of the way.

Efficiency is one of the main considerations when choosing an air conditioning system for a new home. Central AC systems are rated according to efficiency. This is called the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER. This rating is a reflection of how much energy the unit needs to provide cool air for the home. 13 is the minimum SEER that is allowed. To provide energy efficient cooling make sure the SEER rating is 13 or higher; using the highest rating for the greatest savings.

There are some things to consider when purchasing an air conditioning system. It is important for it to have a variable speed air handler which is specifically important for new ventilation systems. It should have a fan only option so that you can use it to circulate air in cooler times without having the extra expense of running the entire unit and compressor. Newer units should also come with a special filter light that lets you know when the filter needs to be changed. This indicator light comes on after a set number of hours of operation.

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