Central Air Conditioning Systems: A Guide to Costs & Types

Table Of Content

• Air Conditioning highlights
• MRCOOL ProDirect Residential 60000-BTU 1-Seer Central Air Conditioner
• A superb range of central air conditioning units for all homes
• Are new central air conditioners more energy efficient?
• Is it recommended to shut the Los Angeles air-conditioner vents in rooms that are unused and closed?
• Packaged Air Conditioner

Heil is one of the best options for a build quality you can rely on. Also, this company offers an impressive 10-year warranty which means if you should run into issues, the company will replace the whole unit for you, giving you peace of mind and a quick turnaround if a fix is needed. Heading into the peak of summer, Los Angeles officials want to know what it would take to require every rental unit in the city to have an air conditioner or central air.

Air Conditioning highlights

And, because the system uses filters in the indoor air handler, it can clean your air while it cools it. Not getting the right size air conditioner can lead to an uncomfortable home, higher energy costs, mold, or a cooling system that doesn’t last as long as it should. Calculate your home’s square footage and multiply by 20 to get a rough idea of what size air conditioner you need. Check reviews and credentials, shop around to ensure you’re getting the best deal, and compare SEER ratings and Energy Star labels to choose an efficient system.

MRCOOL ProDirect Residential 60000-BTU 1-Seer Central Air Conditioner

And it has an inverter compressor, which means it’s just as efficient as our top pick and almost as quiet. If you're in the market for a central air conditioning unit, we've created this guide to the best options that you can buy right now. We've included brands such as American Standard and Rheem, which vary in SEER rating, models, and budget. While we haven't been able to test every model in person, we've done extensive research by comparing specs and user reviews to determine our shortlist. Air conditioning in Los Angeles provides a more comfortable environment inside a home or business establishment during hot weather seasons.

A superb range of central air conditioning units for all homes

As you can see, asking the question “how do air conditioners work” can lead to a very simple or very complicated explanation. There are three primary types – split-system air conditioner, packaged air conditioner, and ductless air conditioner. Each has its own specialized uses, but they all essentially do the same thing – make it cool inside your home. The type of cooling system that works best for you depends on your geographical location, the size and physical limitations of your home, and the way you use it. Seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) ratings are the ratio of an AC’s cooling output over a typical cooling season divided by the energy it uses in watt-hours.

Check Your Warranty

The company says it offers quiet units with its QuietDrive technology onboard to offer audio comfort. This is one of the quieter offerings out there but not the quietest. That level is louder than a conversation, closer to a shower or dishwasher noise, but quieter than a blender, for example. Central AC systems need regular maintenance for optimal performance. When arranging your installation, it’s worth negotiating a service plan that combines regular inspections with discounts on repairs and a labor warranty into the overall price.

Your local Carrier expert can help you select the best AC system to fit your needs. A blower with an electronically commutated motor (ECM) gradually ramps up to speed, reducing strain on the motor and consuming less power. In zoned systems, it dials back airflow to eliminate worries about frozen coils or a buildup of static pressure in the ducts. When paired with an inverter-controlled compressor (below), it helps to smooth out temperature fluctuations and reduce humidity.

Arizona bill aims to allow mobile home owners to put in air conditioning units - FOX 10 News Phoenix

Arizona bill aims to allow mobile home owners to put in air conditioning units.

Posted: Wed, 21 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

While this makes it louder in comparison with our inverter AC picks, it’s still quieter and less annoying than any of the other standard ACs we’ve tested. The Midea U is surprisingly affordable—even before you factor in the free bracket. And thanks to its unique design, the Midea U also comes with its own window bracket. This bracket is similar to our top-pick window bracket, the Top Shelf TSB-2438, which typically hovers near $100 on its own (though you can find other brackets for as low as $30). Federal regulations also state that all modern air conditioners should perform roughly the same (as long as they’re sized correctly for the room).

It also features one of the most user-friendly websites, including easy-to-access user manuals and product search tools. Efficiency within a model group will tend to vary by the size (capacity) of the unit. Some products, like furnaces, may also be affected by installation orientation (horizontal, upflow, or downflow) or even by the nozzle used in installation, as is the case with boilers and oil furnaces. The efficiency of an air conditioner or heat pump can even be affected by the furnace or fan coil it relies on inside the home to move air. Products that fall into the “Select sizes ENERGY STAR® qualified” category include within their model group some non-qualified units due to either size or potential installation factors.

Packaged Air Conditioner

Those include subsidies to help pay electric bills during a heat wave, rebates to offset costs and other resources meant to help residents weather the heat. A 2021 Times investigation found that 3,900 deaths were caused by extreme heat in California from 2010 to 2019. But access to lifesaving cooling devices and the ability to cover the costs of electricity during a heat wave are often out of reach for low-income and elderly residents on a fixed income. It takes professional HVAC contractors roughly four to eight hours to install a central AC unit. However, if the project also requires installing ductwork, expect the project to take another one to two business days, depending on the size of your home. However, if the outdoor unit is out of warranty, it usually makes sense to replace the entire system, but remember that you can use your existing ductwork to keep costs down.

The company also offers AccuLink and AccuComfort smart thermostats, which allow you to control your AC via American Standard’s mobile app. This style of air conditioner installs into a horizontal-sliding window or a crank-out window. Such models are more expensive than typical double-hung-window units, but they cost about as much as a good portable air conditioner and work more efficiently. The Frigidaire FFRS0822SE is one of the few widely available models we consistently see. It comes with everything you need for installation in a sliding window, though if you’re installing it in a crank window, you’ll probably need to buy (and cut) a piece of plexiglass. Picking the right through-the-wall air conditioner can be a little tricky, but getting a universal-fit, rear-breathing AC is the path of least resistance.

Each unit has a fan, an air filter, a condensate drain, and separate controls, so each room becomes its own zone. Mini-splits can be superefficient; some have SEER ratings as high as 31. This is one of the most commonly available AC sizes, and it works for rooms up to 350 square feet. If you need to cool a larger or smaller room, most of our picks are available in sizes ranging from 6,000 Btu to 12,000 Btu. An oversize AC with a traditional compressor can end up wasting a lot of energy (and making your room feel clammy).

Though many of Amana’s products have average performance, their features boost your ability to control your home. The company’s ComfortBridge technology uses two-way communication to determine which speed or stage the AC runs on, rather than relying on your thermostat. This allows your HVAC system to use data to automatically adjust to the minimum amount of energy needed to heat or cool your home, lowering your utility costs. Amana also uses a variable-capacity compressor, which improves your humidity control. Amana is part of Goodman, the world’s largest manufacturer of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning products and systems.

The high-efficiency models come with built-in dehumidifiers, meaning your home's air is kept fresh while allowing them to work in hot and humid climates. Prices for units start at $3,300, making these some of the more expensive options out there, but with those warranties backed by a good customer care record, that makes sense. The company is a little more affordable than some of the competition, and the installation process is standard. American Standard is a top choice if you want a high-standard build and installation that will last and offer some of the quietest and most energy-efficient air cooling. Ask for a printout of all calculations and assumptions, including ductwork design. Be wary of a contractor who bases estimates merely on house size or vague rules.