Heating and Cooling Systems - Local Vs Central

Two vital aspects of home ownership are heating and cooling systems. In Atlanta, heating and cooling systems are two of the most important things that many people consider when purchasing a new home. There are basically two types of heating and cooling systems: local and central. An example of local cooling would be a window air conditioner. Local heating examples would include a fireplace, wall mounted gas heater, and portable space heater.

The advantage of local heating and cooling systems is that they can be easily placed to help control the environment in a small area. But, there are many disadvantages to local heating and cooling, including lack of energy efficiency, safety issues, and unattractive appearance. Most newer homes are built with central heating and cooling systems, which deliver heated or cooled air from a central air handling system through a series of ducts. Central systems can usually be added to older homes as well, and they have many more advantages than local systems.

Since central heating and cooling systems do not rely on openings like windows and fireplace flues, these openings can be made more air tight when they are closed. This does not mean that there has to be a lack of fresh air in the house. Central systems can include a piece of equipment known as an air-to-air heat exchanger, which brings a flow of fresh, outdoor air into the home without losing energy. A window with an air conditioner in it usually can not be sealed as well as a window that is closed during the winter, plus it keeps you from using the window for anything else while the air conditioner is in place. Similarly, fire places are great to look at and provide a certain amount of atmosphere, but are far from energy efficient and cannot usually be relied upon for heating the whole house.

One of the things a central heating and cooling system is really good at is improving indoor air quality. A central humidifier can keep the air in your home from getting to dry in the winter, and a central air conditioner or dehumidifier can keep the humidity under control during Atlanta's sultry summer. By filtering the air that goes through a central air handler, dust, pollen, and other allergens can be removed from the air of the entire house at once. Another advantage is uniform comfort. A properly designed and installed central heating and cooling system can prevent the appearance of hot and cold spots in your house as temperatures rise and fall outside.

If you are thinking of selling an older home, you might want to consider upgrading to a central heating and cooling system. It is one of the easiest things you can do to add to the value and marketability of your home. With all the advantages afforded by central heating and cooling systems, there is every reason to talk with your Atlanta heating and cooling system dealer to see if there is a solution available for your home.