Choosing between a window unit or central air conditioning and deciding what is the best choice of cooling unit type for your home can be frustrating. Perhaps you have found yourself in a position like this where you don’t know how to make an informed decision. Or maybe this isn’t even the case for you, and you aren’t even browsing for a new cooling system. If so, whatever the case may be, knowing the pros and cons of each cooling unit type can still be advantageous. After all, knowledge is power! So, keep reading the following from your Blue Ash Furnace & Air Conditioning service experts as we go into all the details there are to know about window units versus central air conditioning.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING BETWEEN A WINDOW UNIT VS. CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING?
Before moving on to the pros and cons of each type of unit (window unit or central air conditioning). You should consider these two factors. Using them to help make an informed decision will give you more direction to make the best choice for your home and family.
- Its Costs: Upfront equipment costs aren’t the only costs you should consider. It’s probable that you have a budget set on how much you can pay for a cooling unit. However, it’s crucial to remember that other costs (such as monthly power bills) can impact you later on. Therefore, it is likely that if you were to choose a less inexpensive type of unit due to its initial cost, you could end up emptying your pockets even further just to keep up with the monthly power bills.
- Its Efficiency: This is such an essential factor to note. It’s vital to understand just because a cooling unit provides cooling power, it does not mean it is energy efficient. This does not mean that any cooling unit is a great choice for your home’s needs. The model you choose, whether a window unit or a central air conditioner, should be based on its capability of efficiently cooling your home. Its size and ability to maintain the household or room temperature need to be considered. A good general rule of thumb to remember is that the bigger the space or house is, the more power the cooling unit should have.
WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A WINDOW UNIT?
Let’s start by listing the pros of windows air conditioners first. Just as the name suggests, window units may be installed on a window, and some models can even be installed on walls. So, this could be a beneficial option depending on the layout of the room you need it installed in. Furthermore, bear in mind that one window unit can only keep one room cool at a time. Window units are good options to cool smaller areas. For this reason, window units are significantly cheaper in upfront cost. Additionally, installation and maintenance are less time-consuming and much cheaper than installing a central air conditioning system. We have all heard the old saying, “You get what you pay for.” This is no exception when it comes to deciding which type of cooling unit is the best choice for you. Therefore, you should make it a priority to not just pick the most affordable choice. But base your decision on your needs and the selected model’s efficiency. There are many high-quality window units available to purchase. But you should pick a window unit proportional to the room in which it will be used. In addition, there are several more benefits of window units. These are that they are to install (especially if you are handy), and they are multipurpose. Believe it or not, many window unit models can also heat rooms if so desired!
As might be expected, with every list of “pros” also comes a list of “cons.” So, let’s keep going and discuss the downfalls of using window units too. For example, when you choose to utilize a window unit and install more than five window units to cool multiple rooms, you will end up paying more or the same as what you would pay for using a central air conditioning system. So, the monthly costs may not prove to be worth it in the end. Plus, from a security standpoint, window units aren’t the safest option due to the big hole they leave if they were removed. And last of all, you will lose the functionality of the window they will be installed in. So, if you enjoy opening all your windows and letting in a fresh breeze on occasion, this may not be a great choice for you.
WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING?
Next, we will move on to the positive pros of using a central air conditioner system! Central air conditioners are larger cooling units that work together with various HVAC components such as ductwork, vents, and thermostats to manifest a cooling power that will cool your whole home. However, unlike window units, central air conditioners can keep a whole house cool. As an added advantage, because central air conditioners use thermostats, they have an easy automation process that maintains your house’s temperature. Another bright side is that due to the automation feature, you don’t have to keep turning them off and on like a window unit requires.
Now it’s time to talk about the cons of central air conditioning too. Because it surely wouldn’t be considered fair to let you think that none existed. The first thing we need to address is the extensive upfront costs when it comes to purchasing one. Because of their much higher price tag, this often makes homeowners wary of choosing a central AC system. The second con we want to point out is that if your house does not already have existing ductwork and vents in place, you will have to dish out a good lump of money to get that taken care of before the central air unit can be placed in. As a result, you will have to plan and strategize accordingly as you factor that into your budget. But don’t let that bring you down; there is a good side to all of this! If you were to go the route of having vents and ductwork installed along with the added central air conditioner, it will most definitely raise your house’s resale value.
You see, when there is a need to choose between a window unit or a central air conditioning system, it all is based on whether your need is to cool one or two rooms or if it is to cool your whole home. Remember that if you were to use several window air conditioners for various rooms, you will likely pay more to keep up with energy usage for multiple window units. Nonetheless, the choice is ultimately yours! So, if you have any more questions or perhaps are interested in getting a free estimate for central cooling system equipment, feel free to contact Blue Ash Furnace & Air Conditioning at (513) 216-5664 or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!