As the weather heats up and we are all looking for ways to keep cool this summer, many of us turn to our air conditioners. The thing is, sometimes they malfunction, stop working as effectively, or break altogether. Depending on the type of unit that you have, this can be varying degrees of frustration or borderline catastrophic.
The heat is nothing to mess with, after all. As you can read about here, https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/the-dangers-of-being-too-hot/, it can be dangerous to sit around in the heat for too long. That is just part of why keeping our AC units maintained is so important, though.
If you would like to get a better understanding of how they work and what the different types are, then keep reading. We will be covering that and more.
Central Air
For many of us out there, it is central AC with which we are familiar. f the time we hardly think about it, really – those vents in the floors or walls are there for the heat and then…well, the air as well! They connect with the thermostat to keep pretty much the entire home at the same temperature.
They are fairly standard these daysbut bear in mind that their installation can be somewhat expensive if you switch to this type. Additionally, replacing it could be necessary if it were installed in your home a long time ago, as the ductwork can play a big role in how effective the unit is.
As far as maintenance is concerned, though, keeping the vents clean is most of what you will need to do. It does not hurt to have your contractor do an annual check-in, though, especially with how hot the summers have been lately.
Portable Units
For those who are frequently on the go, you may be somewhat more familiar with the portable units. Amongst the different types of AC, they’re convenient if not a bit bulky at times. Additionally, these are not the most long-lasting.
However, because they are so simple to purchase and set up, they have still retained some popularity. While they are not a long-term solution, if you have to repair your central air conditioner, these can be a nice backup plan. At the least, they are something you may want to consider in those circumstances.
Window Units
The long-standing tradition of large apartment complexes, window air conditioners are small and box-shaped most of the time. As their name suggests, they are mounted in windows. While they are fairly simple to use and to install thanks to this, they have their fair number of drawbacks as well.
Most notably, they are extremely loud. Now, this will manifest at different levels depending on the model that you have got, but it is rare that you find a unit of this style that is not incredibly noticeable upon being turned on. With that said, they are still relatively popular for a reason.
Geothermal
The last specific type of AC that we would like to discuss today isgeothermalair conditioners. While they certainly seem complicated, the main gist of them is that they tap into the energy that is in the earth’s crust to create temperature control in our homes. The main reason that folks like them is that you can get some tax deductibles thanks to using this type of energy.
Anyone who wants a more detailed description of this type of energy can check out this article, but that’s not necessarily required to get this type of AC. Rather, what you do need to know is that it is the most expensive type of cooling that we have mentioned so far. Additionally, the installation process can be quite long and complicated, so it is not all that popular just yet.
How to Choose an AC Unit
Whether you are looking to get a new unit, are building your own home so need a fresh installation, or anything in between, it can be good to understand what makes an air conditioning system right for you. One of the first things that you will want to take into account is where you live.
Are the summers exceedingly hot, or are they mild? This can have an impact on the intensity of AC that you need. For instance, a portable unit probably is not going to cut it if you live somewhere like Texas where the weather gets blistering. However, in Alaska, you probably do not need heavy-duty AC units.
Another aspect is going to be the cost as well as the availability of contractors for installation. Of course, you can usually just check out the internet to find one that is in your area. You could also ask your friends and family to see if they have suggestions, but that may not even be necessary. Feel free to ask your contractor what they would recommend for a unit in your home as well since they are the experts.
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