When it comes time to getting heating and air conditioning, you’re not short of considerations to make. What efficiency works best for you? Is that size really the best? What about the models; which one should you pick from the myriad options? You could scratch your head trying to get answers to all these questions, but you will save yourself a lot more time if you just ask a heating and air condition service.

That said, it never hurts to do a little of your own research. It’s a big decision, after all. Since you’ll also have to decide between a central air conditioner and a window unit, here’s a handy guide to help you learn more about them.

Central Air Conditioners

A window air conditioner has its merits but it doesn’t reach the efficiency of a central air conditioner. For one, a central air conditioner will give you more efficient air filtration. This is doubly important if you have allergies or if you suffer from asthma.

The second advantage you will experience with central air conditioners is that you will have even room temperatures. This might matter to you if you don’t like to say, move from a warm dining room where you’ve been having dinner to a noticeably cooler bedroom.

Even in the same room, a window air conditioner will be very cool in the area near the unit while the other end of the room will certainly have warm spots. The reason for that is the window air conditioner won’t circulate the air in the room quite as efficiently as a central AC unit.

The third advantage, and likely the one that will matter most to many homeowners, is that a central air conditioner will be able to cool the entire house. On the other hand, a window air conditioner is only able to cool the room it’s installed in.

Needless to say, a central air conditioner will be more expensive to install and run. You should bear in mind the added efficiency and extra features, though. After you let a heating and air condition service know your needs, they can let you know if you need the added efficiency.

As always, talking to a professional, namely a heating and air condition service, will help you to understand if this type of AC unit is right for your needs and yourIrving, TX, home.

Window AC Units 

When you talk to a heating and air condition service, they’ll likely tell you that one of the benefits of a window unit is that it’ll run you much less in costs. If you’re not really looking to cool the whole house, you might find that to be a worthwhile consideration.

Additionally, window AC units only cool the particular room you’re in. That might be great for you if you’re looking only looking to cool a particular section of your Irving, TX, home. You could get multiple and place them in different rooms. That will enable you to cool one room you’re planning to spend time in, while you save energy by having the units in the other rooms switched off. A heating and air condition service can advise you further on whether that’s the best option for you.

The window AC units don’t have installation costs that are quite as high, which is something to consider if you’re keenly watching your budget. A heating and air condition service can help to position the unit in a way that optimizes its efficiency.

Filtration with window AC units won’t be quite as efficient as with central units, but window AC units are certainly getting better at filtering air. If you don’t have a pressing need to have the air filtered to that high of a degree, a window AC unit will be sufficient.

Another thing window AC units result in are hot spots in your Irving, TX, home. They don’t tend to be overly noticeable but it’s good for you to know that they will be there. Because the window units don’t circulate the air as efficiently, you’ll have spots that may appear to be freezing, as well as spots that are just the right temperature. When buying one, be sure to furnish a heating and air condition service with relevant details so they can place it where the spots where you want them.

Other Considerations

A standard split central air conditioner needs between 10 and 15 feet of space, so you’ll want to consider if your Irving, TX, property has the room to cater to that. That space will very likely be in your attic or crawl space. To add to that, you also have to account for space that will be used for electrical components and drainage lines. More space will be needed for the condensing unit as well.

A window unit will need just a foot and a half of space on your window. As you’d expect, the complexity of the central AC unit is what gives it its efficiency.

If you stay in an apartment, for example, the space requirements of a central AC unit may be hard for you to meet. In that case, your best bet is a window unit.

For a house with a reasonable amount of space, you have your choice of both. However, make sure to consult a heating and air condition service so you get professional advice on what will give you the conditions you want in your Irving, TX, home.

There’s a third option that a heating and air condition service may recommend to you, and it’s the packaged AC unit. This one comes very close to the efficiency and the features of a central AC unit while needing less space. It makes up for that by having the ductwork running directly out of the unit, if you get one of these, it will be going on your roof.

When it comes to getting an AC unit, there are a few considerations to make. Talking to K&S Heating and Air will help you get more specific information about your situation but these points are a good starting point.