Many homeowners know they need air conditioning as part of their HVAC system, but fewer realize how many different system types are available today. In today’s market, you have many choices, and those choices have their own ups and downs in regard to how they cool different rooms in your home.
Central Air Conditioning
One of the most common choices for a home is central air conditioning. This is the kind of air conditioning system most people tend to think of, and for many years, it was one of the few options on the market. It uses two different units, one located outside and one located next to the furnace, to pump cool air throughout a home through a system of air ducts that are, alternatively, used to pump warm air from the furnace during the winter.
The biggest downside of central air conditioning is cost. The system is bulky, complicated, and multi-faceted and will take some work to install. On the other hand, if properly installed and maintained, it is also one of the more efficient choices for cooling a building.
Ductless Mini-Split Air Conditioning
One of the newer, relatively speaking, options on the market for homeowners is a ductless mini-split air conditioning system. Like a central air conditioning system, a ductless mini-split system will have an outside unit. However, instead of sending air through ductwork, it will go directly to units located in different rooms that will operate to provide those rooms or zones with cool air.
One of the biggest benefits of such a system is cost and lack of complexity. Without ductwork, most of the labor required for installing an air conditioning system is avoided. The tubing, drain lines, etc. that are used are easier to install and take up less space. Focusing on certain zones or rooms can also increase efficiency.
Ducted Split Air Conditioning
A third choice you may consider exists as a hybrid between a traditional central AC system and a ductless mini-split system. Like a central air conditioning system, a ducted split AC system will utilize the ductwork in a home to provide cool air to different rooms. However, like a mini-split system, it will utilize indoor units connected to an outdoor unit via refrigerant lines. Such a system will allow you to utilize existing ductwork while also benefiting from the added efficiency of the mini-split components.
Don’t wait until it gets warmer. Make sure you have a new AC system ready to go well before summer. If you live in Baton Rouge, LA, and need a new HVAC system designed for your home, contact our team here at HVAC Essentials.