When the weather starts to heat up and the temperatures indoors start to get uncomfortable for working or sleeping, all of a sudden there is a great deal of interest in different solutions for cooling the indoor environment. Many people decide to install central air conditioning for a number of different reasons. The most obvious reason is to provide a convenient way of enjoying nice, cooled air for large homes or for office facilities, when installing individual room air conditioners may not be the best option.

“Split systems” are able to condense and compress the air and this is why the central air conditioningsystem is so effective. Additionally, these systems use an evaporator that is connected to the mechanism that handles air, such as a forced-air furnace. The entire unit is then put together as one complete system and installed exteriorly, usually on the roof of a commercial building or in a mechanical unit outside of a house.

When central air conditioning begins functioning, the cooled air is blown through the edifice by fans via the ductwork that has been installed, allowing the air to flow to the different areas in the building. The temperatures are controlled either with the use of a central control unit, several units to control different zones, or individual control units that are placed in each room.

However, there is also the possibility that some centralized air conditioning systems do not come with such controls. In these instances, the controls must be purchased at an additional cost and should be installed at the same time as the complete unit. It is important to clarify this upfront with company that is selling and installing the unit so that there are no surprises during the installation process.

One of the reasons why most homeowners prefer central air conditioning equipment is that these systems are able to keep the noise associated with running the air conditioning outside. Even the newer room air conditioners can be rather noisy, especially when running at night in bedrooms. The majority of the noise created by the central air system is handled by locating the equipment outside. Although the air conditioning unit is hard at work, the interior of the home is quiet and cool.

Central air conditioning tends to be a fairly complex system and the equipment is typically installed when a building is under construction. To have a comfortable and healthy environment in a home or office, these heating and air conditioning systems supply the air filters and purifiers as well as heating and cooling. Supply and return ducts are placed throughout the structure to properly circulate the air in a centralized system.

Make sure that the contractors bidding on your new air conditioning system make a detailed “cooling load calculation” to insure the proper system is installed. It is best not to use a simple “rule of thumb,” which tends to result in oversized equipment. At the same time, they should not simply replace the old system with a new unit of the same size. The reason for this is because the existing system may have been the wrong size to begin with, or the home may have had added insulation or more efficient windows put in since the original system was installed.

All of the air conditioning manufacturers must have the equipment they produce rated for efficiency, according to the law. The rating for a central air conditioning unit is called the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, or SEER. Heat pumps carry an HSPF, or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, rating. The higher the number of the SEER/HSPF rating, the more efficiently the equipment uses electricity.

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