Central Air or Window Air Conditioner?

All air conditioners' power is measured in British Thermal Units (BTU). The amount of power you need depends on the square footage of your room. It is important that you choose the right size air conditioner for your room. Unfortunately, picking the wrong size window air conditioner is most prevalent.

An air conditioner that is too small for your room will have to run longer in order to reach the temperature that you have set on the thermostat. Thus, the unit will ware faster and contribute to increasing your energy bills.

If you buy an air conditioner that is too big, then your room will get cold fast much faster. This also means that it will have to turn itself off and on a lot to maintain the temperature you have set on your thermostat. This will increase your energy bills and make your home feel damp.

Pros to Central Air

Central Air conditioning is great for cooling an entire house. It is recommended to have a central air conditioning unit if you have a house that is more than one story. Central air can even help to dehumidify your entire home, preventing the growth of mold.

Cons

Installing a central air conditioning unit can be very expensive. If you already have ducts in your house, then a central air conditioner will cost around $4,000. If you don't have ducts installed, then you're looking at closer to $10,000 for your central air conditioning unit. Once it is installed however, there are usually no problems and no maintenance required.

Pros to Window AC

Window air conditioners are great for supplying heat to a targeted area. They are great if you only need to cool a couple of rooms, or if you live in a one story house.

Often placed in an open window, they convert the hot air outside into cold air that is then blown into your room. You can install these units yourself and they are relatively easy to transport from window to window.

Cons

They can't blow the air they generate to a large area. They are most effective with a portable rotating fan so that the cold air can be circulated throughout the entire room.

Unfortunately, they require a lot of maintenance. It is recommended to clean your filters regularly, especially if you have been using it a lot. You will have to uninstall your window air conditioning unit every winter and then reinstall it for the summer time. It can be easily stolen because it located in your open window.

Recap

Make sure you consider the size of the rooms in your home and your other needs before purchasing your ac unit.