When it comes to cooling your home, what kind of system do you need? Window units and central AC both have their pros and cons. Which one do you need? Can you use them together? Here’s what you need to know about AC and window units.
AC and Window Units Going Head to Head
A central unit provides air to your whole house, while window units are designed for use in a single room. There are several factors to consider when deciding which one you need. First is cost. A window unit is much cheaper than a central system, including purchase price, installation, and maintenance. If you have a small home and only a couple of areas to cool, window units might be more practical. However, if you have more than five rooms that need cooling, then one central AC will be cheaper.
Window ACs also use less energy — as little as 1/3 of what a central unit uses. Plus, you can switch them off when you leave the room, making it easier to cool only the areas you need. Again, though, if you need more than a couple units for your home, they’ll use more energy and cost more in the long run.
AC and Window Units Working Together
In most cases, if you have central AC, there’s little need for a window unit. If you need supplemental cooling, consider replacing the unit instead with a newer, more efficient one that’s properly sized for your home. If some areas take longer to cool than the rest of the house, invest in a zoning system so you can adjust the temperature for each individual room according to its needs.
However, there is one circumstance under which you might consider a window unit as a supplement for central AC: If you’ve added new rooms to your home after it was built which aren’t connected to your ductwork, a window unit can provide cool air to those areas without the hassle of installing additional ducts.
For help choosing AC and window units, contact us at Hansberger Refrigeration and Electric Company. We help Yuma homes find the HVAC system they need.
