Central Air Conditioners

Central air conditioners are about 30 percent more efficient today than they were twenty years ago. Even a system ten years old will not perform at the efficiencies obtainable from today’s models.

Central air conditioners are sometimes divided into two categories, Split air conditioners and Packaged air conditioners.

1) Split air conditioners have two sections; an air handler, which is connected to a duct system inside the home and a condensing unit, located outside of the home. These two components are connected electrically and by refrigeration piping that circulates refrigerant between them.

2) Packaged air conditioners have the same components as Split systems but everything except the duct system is combined in one cabinet. This type of unit is installed outside, beside the home or mounted on a roof. The duct system for this type of air conditioning system is installed through an outside wall or through a roof to circulate the conditioned air.

Both types of central air conditioners work well but Split systems are more commonly used in residential applications because they are more versatile when it comes to installation and are available in smaller capacities to meet residential needs. Packaged units are generally used in commercial applications where cooling loads are much greater.

Central air conditioners are rated in tons of cooling capacity (12000 btu/hr equals one ton). An air conditioner with a 24,000-btu/hour rating is a to 2-ton unit. An air conditioner with a 36,000-btu/hr rating is a 3-ton unit.

Central air conditioners are available for cooling only and heat pumps. The units designed only for air conditioning can have electric heat installed. This eliminates the need for a separate heating system.

Heat Pumps are designed with several additional components. The main component is a reversing valve. This component reverses the flow of refrigerant through the system and causes the indoor section and the outdoor section to change rolls. The end result is, you get heat from the indoor section.

These units are very efficient and a great way to heat and cool your home. Of course the price tag on heat pumps is much higher than units designed for only air conditioning. In areas where heating equipment is rarely used, central air conditioners with electric heat installed are a perfect choice.

Central air conditioners work very well and last for years but they require some very important maintenance to keep them working at peak efficiency. The air filter must be changed or cleaned at regular intervals. A dirty airconditioner filter will cause ac units to operate poorly and can even cause compressors to fail, which can cost over a thousand dollars to replace.

Another important part of keeping central air conditioners working efficiently is keeping evaporator and condenser coils clean. They should be inspected a couple of times per year to be sure debris is not collecting on or between the fins and restricting airflow. These conditions can lead to compressor failure and poor operation.

Carrier, Coleman, Goodwin, Trane, York, Rudd and Rheem are some of the more common manufacturers. But proper installation practices are more important than brand name. A poorly installed ac system will not work efficiently and will constantly give you trouble.

Properly maintained and installed central air conditioners can give you years of reliable service and operate at a higher level of efficiency.