Summer will be here before you know it. Get ready with these tips on choosing the right air conditioning system.
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Q: My wife and I have been in our 1,500-square-foot home with no air conditioning for several years now, and we’re tired of it! What options should we look into so we can stay cool this summer?
A: Good news: It’s the right time of year to think about installing air conditioning—before the thermometer hits triple digits. Given the size of your home, we recommend you consider these three options.
Window units and portable A/C
Window unit air conditioners and portable A/C units are the lowest-cost approach. Portable units can be moved from room to room and come equipped with a length of flexible duct to exhaust hot air out a nearby window. Window units are mounted in a window opening and cool one room. Consider this important difference as you shop around.
For maximum cooling and efficiency, be sure there is a tight seal around the window unit or the duct framing hardware (this prevents air leaks), and make sure the device you buy is rated for the size of the room or space you are trying to cool.
A single unit won’t be able to cool the entire house, so close doors, use ceiling fans to keep air moving, turn off appliances that produce heat, and block direct sunlight with window coverings. These steps will make it easier for your window unit or portable A/C to keep the room comfortable and cool.
Note that we do not recommend evaporative or so-called “swamp coolers” for South Carolina consumers. Summers in the Palmetto State are simply too humid for these devices to work effectively.
Window units and portable A/C units are the cheapest cooling option, costing anywhere from $149 to $1,000, depending on capacity. The efficiency of these devices has improved over the years, but none of them are as efficient as most central A/C units or the popular mini-split heat pumps.
Central cooling
If your home has forced-air heating ductwork, those same ducts can be used to deliver cool air in summer from a central A/C unit or heat pump. This is only a good option if the ductwork is sized properly and doesn’t leak, and if ducts run through insulated attics and crawlspaces. Be sure to have the ducts inspected when getting quotes from qualified HVAC contractors, and make sure they are properly sealed before any installation begins.
Installing a central air system will cost approximately $3,000 to $7,000 (not including repairs to ductwork).
Ductless mini-split heat pumps
No ducts? A ductless mini-split heat pump may be your best whole-house cooling solution, depending on how many rooms you have.
A mini-split heat pump uses a compressor outside the home that’s connected to air handler units in as many as four rooms. Each room’s temperature can be controlled separately.
At approximately $3,000 to $10,000 (including installation), ductless mini-splits are an especially good choice for smaller homes without existing ductwork, and can be installed relatively easily by skilled HVAC contractors. They can also be a supplemental source of heat in the winter.
As always, you can save energy and money by purchasing Energy Star-rated appliances and collecting a few quotes from licensed contractors.
We hope this information on home cooling options will start you on the path to a more comfortable home this summer.
Send questions to Energy Q&A, South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033, or email energyqa@scliving.coop.