10 May What is Central Air?
If you are looking to buy a home or have recently bought a new home, you probably saw “Central Air” listed on the sell sheet. So what does this mean exactly?
The Basics to a Central Air Conditioned Home:
Central air conditioning is a process of dehumidifying and cooling the air that flows throughout your home. The cool air that circulates throughout out your home becomes warmer as it travels, making it unbearable and difficult to relax throughout the summer. Central air conditioning traps this hot air through its ducts and registers giving your home a chill and bracing feel.
TYPES OF CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONERS
A central air conditioner is either a split-system unit or a packaged unit.
Split-System– This system contains two parts, an outdoor metal cabinet (containing the condenser and compressor) and an indoor cabinet (containing the evaporator). In many split-system air conditioners, the indoor cabinet also contains a furnace or the indoor part of a heat pump. If your home already has a furnace but no air conditioner, a split-system is the most economical central air conditioner to install.
Packaged Unit– The evaporator, condenser, and compressor are all located in one cabinet which is very efficient for space. Air supply and return ducts come from indoors through the home’s exterior wall or roof to connect with the packaged air conditioner, which is usually located outdoors. It comes already pre-packaged and ready to be placed outside so the installation is not very costly.