Understanding Residential AC Installation
A home is a place where you should feel relaxed and comfortable. One of the things that may affect comfort is the temperature inside your home. You want a cool home during the summer and a warmer house during the winter.
This is achieved through structural changes, the installation of insulation material and the installation of a residential AC system. Here's what you need to know about residential AC installation and how to get the most out of it:
Energy Audit
An energy audit is an inspection conducted to find out how the structure of your house affects heat retention or loss. It also finds out your energy requirements and whether any structural changes can be made to reduce them, which in turn reduces energy costs. How? When these structural changes are applied, you won't be required to turn your AC on frequently, meaning you'll be conserving power.
Another reason why an energy audit is important is that it helps you know your exact energy requirements and identify which residential AC system will meet them. This helps keep you from purchasing and installing the wrong AC system.
Choosing A Residential AC System
Let a residential AC system specialist help you choose your AC system. He or she is in a position to read and understand the energy audit report generated and help you select a system that matches your energy requirements.
Expect your residential AC system specialist to recommend a ductless or ducted split-system AC.
- A ductless split-system AC system comprises two units: a unit placed outdoors (condensing unit) and a unit placed indoors (evaporator or air handling unit). If you need to warm or cool multiple rooms, you may require a condensing unit that splits into multiple evaporator units that are placed in each of the rooms you need cooling and warming.
- A ducted split-system AC system comprises a condenser unit that joins a series of ducts in your ceiling or walls. These ducts terminate in vents in all the rooms you need cooling and warming.
Which Split-System AC Should You Choose?
This depends on your budget and needs.
- If you need to warm and cool multiple rooms, your options are a ducted split-system AC or a ductless split-system AC with one condenser unit that splits into multiple evaporator units. A ducted system might cost more because a lot of construction work is needed to place the series of ducts in your ceiling or walls. The cheaper option might be the ductless split-system, but this depends on the price of each evaporator unit.
- If you only need to cool and warm one room, the best and cheapest option is a ductless split-system AC with one condenser unit and one air handling unit.
To learn more, contact a residential AC installation contractor.