Choosing the Best Air Conditioning System for Your Home

While air conditioning systems come in various designs, all of them share similar working components to cool your home while eliminating heat and moisture. Choosing the perfect one for your needs, however, will depend on several factors, including cost, application, and installation.

Choosing Air Conditioning Systems: Know the Types

As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life! You may not be aware there are many kinds of air conditioning systems to choose from.  To narrow down your choices, it pays to weigh the features and benefits of different air conditioning systems. Here are your common options:

Central Air Conditioning Systems

A central A/C is the most common type of air conditioner in Los Angeles, so you are probably familiar with what it looks like and how it works. Physically, it’s the largest type of air conditioner. 

A central AC consists of a large outdoor unit and a small indoor coil connected to each other by refrigerant tubing. Central air conditioners use the same ductwork and blower fan as your heating system. That can make a central system very effective in cooling your entire home. 

The most important part of selecting a central AC system is choosing the correct size. Undersized units won’t provide enough cooling while oversized ones won’t dehumidify well. Both can take a toll on your energy bills.

Decentralized with Ductless Mini-Splits 

A ductless mini split is a great choice for a lot of homeowners. If your home does not currently have a forced-air HVAC system installed, ductless can be a perfect solution. Mini-splits are also great for add-ons or hot spots.

Mini-splits work because they are decentralized. Mini-splits have a ton of benefits and don’t take up much space. Plus, ductless systems often qualify for rebates since they are so energy-efficient.

Space Cooling with a Window Unit

As the name suggests, this type of unit is installed within a window or through a hole in an exterior wall. It is a unitary system, which means that all the components for air conditioning are within a single compact box. It’s available in various sizes to serve any space, from a single room up to an entire floor. 

Window units can be very affordable but there are a few downsides. One is that they are very noisy, so while the temperature feels nice the sound can be very distracting. The other negative is that these units can be quite the eyesore from the outside. For that reason, many Homeowners Associations (HOAs) and local municipalities have rules against these types of units. 

Portable Air Conditioners

If you have a small room that needs temporary cooling, you might consider a portable A/C. This is a mobile, self-contained unit placed on the floor that you can easily move from room to room. You can use this as a supplement for your central AC to prevent premature wear and lower energy costs.

But despite the word “portable” in the name, this type of air conditioner has a couple of space requirements. It must connect to an exterior window for warm air to exhaust. And, you need an outlet nearby to plug it in. So, most homeowners with a portable AC keep it in a fairly permanent location. Here, you may be better off installing a single ductless mini-split to take care of the comfort problem. 

Turn to Brody Pennell for Flawless Air Conditioning Installation

With over 75 years in the industry, Brody Pennell has what it takes to carry out your air conditioning installation to perfection. We’ll help you find the right A/C for your home so you can keep your comfort at optimum levels.  Get in touch with us or call us at (310) 810-2721.