There are many ways to keep your home cool during the sweaty summer months. Window AC units, central air conditioning systems, and ductless mini splits will all get the job done. We’ll discuss ductless mini splits another time. Today we want to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of cooling a house with window AC units and cooling with a central system (especially one that we freshly installed or replaced at a great price).
Window air conditioners vs central air: what's the best value for the money?
All Hours Staff • August 2, 2022
Benefits of window units
Probably the biggest check in the box of window AC units is the initial price. Window units are cheap to buy, usually running somewhere around a couple to a few hundred dollars. On top of that, they don’t require professional installation. Just pop open a window, throw the unit in, and rest it snugly between the window and the sill.
But window units do have drawbacks. First, they don’t add value to your house or property the way a central system does. (See the next section).
The second significant drawback is that they don’t run nearly as efficiently if you’re trying to cool an entire building or house. If you’re thinking about trying to put a window unit in every room, you might want to give serious thought to installing or replacing a central AC system. These considerations are especially important in hot and stuffy climates like those in our service area around Wendell, Knightdale, and Zebulon, North Carolina.
Benefits of central air conditioning systems
Now let’s talk about times when you’ll probably want to shell out to install a new central AC system or replace an old, inefficient, or broken one. If you own a home or building that you want to cool through and through all day long, especially in a hot location like Wendell, North Carolina, you’ll probably want to start looking to invest in a new central air conditioning system.
We say “invest” because generally speaking (this is not financial advice, and we don’t know your financial or real estate situation) installing a central air system will add value to your house. So if you’re an investor or entrepreneurial-minded the upfront cost of a new central air system will likely be offset (at least partially) by increased equity in your building. It can also make your real estate easier and faster to sell if you ever find yourself in such a situation.
Of course, if you really only need a room or two cooled at a time, a window unit probably still makes more sense.
Ultimately, the decision is yours. If you’d like our advice, give us a call or contact us. We can get you a quote for a AC installation or replacement to help you make a fully informed decision.
All Hours Staff Blog
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