In general, the higher the SEER, the higher the initial cost for the unit.Next, you must decide what type of system to buy.
If you have a forced-air furnace, the refrigerant pipes are connected to a cooling coil system fitted into the furnace air handler. Why is getting the proper size unit so important? Here are the most common types of HVAC systems, with a handy ‘pro vs. con’ comparison of each.Most homes have some version of a split system: part of the HVAC system is located outdoors and the rest is indoors. The amount of space you have determines your tonnage on AC units.You may also want to consider that even if your unit has enough tonnage, you will deduct from its efficiency when you add that room. But these holes are relatively small, and the mess is easily contained.Even if there's no ductwork in your home, if air-conditioning will make your house more pleasant in the summer months, contact HVAC contractors to review the cost of adding A/C and the methods they would use.
An improperly-sized system could have serious health implications for your family:Proper sizing is a matter of performing a ‘load calculation’.
By adding the returns near the ceiling you collect the hot air that is in the room, and send it to the blower in the forced air furnace where it is cooled by the air conditioning coils. Simply put, if the house already has a forced-air heating system, adding A/C should be relatively easy and the most inexpensive scenario.
Want to install central AC to your home? Adding central air conditioning to an existing forced-air heating system means you can be rid of noisy, dripping window AC units forever. We took the steps to draw a map and then bought all the pieces needed.I would highly recommend building a subfloor, which basically means raising it a few inches off the original cement.This is where you will feel a lot of cold during the winter months.
The pipes can be disguised as part of the gutter-and-downspout system. Choosing the right pro and equipment will ensure you years of comfort, and it's often less expensive and less intrusive than you might imagine.Get the latest This Old House news, updates and special offers every week, direct to your inbox. What is the square footage of your house without that room? But saying you have a split system isn’t saying much since there are several ways to configure them.
Spending a few pennies for the ceiling fans to run in the proper direction (move cooler air up in the summer months and warmer air downward in winter months) has shown big improvements on our heating and cooling bills. But a contractor experienced in retrofitting can cleverly hide ductwork behind walls, in the back of closets and up in the attic with minimal cuts into walls and the ceiling and very little mess.The first order of business — and maybe the most important decision in having central air conditioner installed in your home — is selecting the right equipment.All cooling contractors should start their evaluation of your house by performing an Air Conditioning Contractors of America Manual J load calculation. If you don’t know anyone, ask people you know who may know someone. Holes do have to be cut in first- and second-floor ceilings for registers, and some second-floor closet floors will undergo surgery to accommodate the new ducts. The Dollar Stretcher is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases.Little Luxuries: 130 Ways to Live Better...For Less, our free weekly newsletter aimed at helping you live better for less on the money you already have!Little Luxuries: 130 Ways to Live Better...For Less, our free weekly newsletter aimed at helping you live better for less on the money you already have!Little Luxuries: 130 Ways to Live Better...For Less, our free weekly newsletter aimed at helping you live better for less on the money you already have!Little Luxuries: 130 Ways to Live Better...For Less
To control the indoor temperature year-round, they must be used in conjunction with separate heating systems, such as furnaces. To derive some control over air flow, it’s possible to hook up a fan that operates at variable speeds. Whatever you end up deciding to do about your HVAC system, beefing up your insulation will make your home way more energy efficient.
(As the heating industry has learned more about the dynamics of airflow and sizing furnaces and delivery systems, ducting has gotten smaller. Utility companies have often offered to subsidize replacements of inefficient heating and cooling units. A "package system" gangs the condenser, which cools the refrigerant and exhausts warm air, with the fan-and-coil system, which cools and blows the air. Let’s take a look.
But that won’t alter the efficiency of your system at all because the unit will continue to run at full power.
One mistake people make is thinking they can just add a vent and the heating problem will be solved. Here is some of the advice they sent it:After being married to a HVAC man for 20 years, here is what I know for sure. Some cooling contractors might suggest using "flex duct" (a small, inexpensive flexible hose) instead of rigid square ducts. We have installed these in converted porches, dens, additions, etc. By making your home more energy efficient, you may be able to reduce the size of the air conditioner you need.Take these steps when determining how big of a central air unit is needed for your home’s size.Using the heat-gain calculation, your contractor will recommend an air conditioner size, expressed either in tonnage or Btu per hour (Btu/h).