Central Air Conditioning Demystified
As the spring brings that long awaited reprieve from Calgary’s snowy winters, you might be thinking about the summer’s hot weather. Before the cooler temperatures are all but a distant memory, now is a great time to install central air conditioning.
Central air conditioning is an efficient, cost effective and long lasting choice to cool your entire home in the summer months and gives you the ability to control temperature remotely through your cellphone. But, it will cost you a bit more than a small window unit, which can only cool the room it’s located in. There are a couple of things to think about before investing in central air conditioning. That’s why we’re taking the guesswork out of the decision by giving you a quick explanation of how it all works and some simpler pointers to make the installation process a breeze.
How does central cooling work anyway?
Most central air conditioning works on a “split system” which is comprised of an outdoor cabinet that houses a condenser coil and compressor and an indoor evaporator coil. This system is usually installed via the existing furnace. The compressor pumps a chemical called refrigerant through the system. Typically, this cooling system is combined with the central heating system as this allows it to use the existing ductwork, which circulates air throughout your home. The system works by moving warm air inside your home into the evaporator coil. Here the heat/energy is transferred to the refrigerant inside the coil—this transfer is what cools the air down. Refrigerant is then pumped back to the compressor and the cycle starts again. Heat absorbed by the refrigerant is moved outside of the house while cool air blows inside. This system also eliminates humidity by condensing it out of the air.
For a visual explanation, check out this video.
What are all of those acronyms?
When you’re doing research on central air conditioning a number of acronyms will come up. The two you need to know about are BTUs and EER. The cooling capacity of an air conditioning system is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units) per hour. Higher BTUs translate to more cooling capacity. The EER (energy efficiency rating) tells you how efficient a unit is. Higher ratings mean that the air conditioner uses energy more efficiently and cools faster.
Shop around in the cooler months
Many air conditioning installers offer sales during the fall, winter and early spring. By shopping early you can maximize your budget.
Hiring a professional will ensure the most efficient and safe installation
One of the best choices you can make before installing central cooling is to hire a qualified professional installer. Professionals bring a wealth of expertise and the proper tools that make the process easier while guaranteeing safety. Installation involves pressurizing your home and the safe use of chemicals such as refrigerant, so it is especially important to work with an expert.
Once you hire a professional they will assess multiple factors before beginning the installation. These include: size of size and age of furnace, age, size and design of home, as well as size and number of windows and their facing direction.
After the system is installed there are other factors that they will adjust to ensure that your home cools efficiently and the system does not freeze up. Some of the factors that will be optimized are refrigerant amounts, balancing the system by adjusting registers to redirect airflow throughout your home, checking humidity levels and guaranteeing proper filter size.
