All About Central Air Conditioning Systems
A central air conditioning system is designed in two parts. It is a split system with one part being outside consisting of a condenser and compressor unit and a second part being indoor consisting of evaporator coil and blower etc. There are refrigeration lines and relay cables, that join the two split parts. This type of central air conditioning is less noisy since the main noisy components are kept outside.
Major players in the central air conditioning market are Carrier, Bryant, LG and Whirlpool etc. For buildings that are ductless, three part central air conditioning systems are available from companies like Carrier. Before buying a central air conditioning unit, apart from comparing prices and track record, one needs to look at cooling capacities and efficiency. The optimal system is the one that balances price and value provided.
Your first step before buying a central air conditioning system is to calculate capacity requirements. Depending on the size of the house and the surrounding environmental conditions, capacity requirements vary. It is best to consult an expert in the area that can suggest the right ratings for you. There is a difference the written capacity rating and the practical deployed rating, because written ones are based on factory testing conditions. A central air conditioning system capacity is defined in terms of tons. For a 2000 sq feet house, generally a 3 to 3.5 ton of capacity should be plenty.
There are some systems available in market that use scroll compressors. The advantage with this type of compressor is that it does not wear easily because of less friction caused by its operation. Central air conditioning companies keep on improving on compressor standards and condenser coil so that more efficient systems are available in the market. It is always better to check for the latest model to get the best efficiency on a system.
The efficiency of central air conditioning units is defined in terms of SEER i.e. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating and EER i.e. Energy Efficiency Rating. SEER is a measure of cooling versus input electric power supplied. The higher the SEER, the better the system. Apart from ratings, it is good to check the warranty term on the compressor units. Most of the companies provide 5 years to 10 years of warranty.
A system that is less noisy in operation is always preferred. Installation cost should always be kept in mind when budgeting for central air conditioning systems. Regular maintenance and servicing of central AC systems is very important. Evaporator coil, filter, condenser coil, thermostat, fan etc need to be cleaned thoroughly. It is also good to check the power cord and compressor unit from time to time. A Service contract with a reputable agency or company is a great option.
There are many models available, here are some of the best choices:
The Carrier Infinity System 21 has two-stage scroll compressor, an efficiency SEER of up to 21, EER of up to 15, comes with 10 years warranty on compressor and is a less noisy system.
The Bryant Evolution System is also a similar type of central air conditioning system with SEER up to 20 and EER up to 14.7.
Whirlpool on the other hand has the WGAC48 18 SEER model with 3-5 tons of capacity to compete in the segment.
All of these models are ENERGY STAR qualified.
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