Central Air Conditioner Reviews The basics of air conditioning With the start of summer and the onset of warmer weather, a central air conditioner could start to look like more of a necessity than a luxury. All air conditioners -- including portable air conditioners, room air conditioners and central air conditioners -- work basically the same way as your refrigerator: They pump heat from one area (in this case, your home's interior) and transfer it to another (the outdoors). An air conditioning system contains several parts: The evaporator is a winding coil, usually made of copper, which draws out warm air from indoors. The condenser is a separate coil that releases the collected heat outside. This coil is surrounded by aluminum fins to disperse the heat. The refrigerant is a liquid that transfers heat from the evaporator to the condenser. It evaporates in the indoor coil, pulling heat out of the air, and turns back to a liquid in the condenser, releasing its heat outdoors.

The compressor is a pump that forces the refrigerant through this network of tubing and fins. This is the part of the system that uses electricity. In a room air conditioner or a portable air conditioner (which we cover in separate reports), all these parts are contained in one compact unit that sits in a window; can be installed permanently in a wall; or, in the case of portable air conditioners, sits on the floor and is vented to the outside via flexible connecting hoses. Individually, these units are much cheaper than a central air conditioning system and are easy to install. However, they only have enough power to cool a single room and if you want to cool multiple areas, costs can mount up. We cover room and portable air conditioners in their own reports. If you need to cool an entire home, a central air conditioner is much more efficient than having a window or portable air conditioner in each room. And even though room-sized air conditioners are quieter than ever, a central air unit is quieter still (at least as far as occupants inside your house are concerned).

Central air conditioners are also easy to use, but they are much larger and more complicated to install. Unlike a room air conditioner, which is an easy do-it-yourself task, a central air conditioner must be installed professionally -- and as we'll discuss in the Buying Guide section of this report, the quality of that installation can go a long way toward determining how satisfied you are with your choice of central air systems. why is my ac unit clickingHowever, a quality installation can add thousands of dollars to the sticker price of the system itself, though how much can vary greatly. york central air conditioning troubleshootingAmong the factors to consider is whether or not your home already has forced-air heat. spare parts for air conditioning units

If it does, the ductwork needed to distribute cold air from a central air conditioner is almost certainly already in place; if not, it will have to be added -- and that, of course, increases the cost and complexity of the project. If you're also thinking of replacing your furnace, we cover those in a separate report, recommending the top choices in that category as well. Finding the best central air conditioners In general, consumer publications do not test central air conditioners. Experts generally agree that proper installation and maintenance are at least as important to the performance of an air conditioning system as the unit itself, so testing in a lab would provide little useful information about real-world performance. that recommend specific air conditioning brands based on factors such as features, efficiency and warranty. doesn't rate central air conditioners, but does rate the reliability of the top brands based on a large survey of its members. has the largest selection of user reviews that we spotted.

Together, these and other sources enabled us to choose top central air conditioners that combine efficiency, durability, strong warranties and quiet operation. Types of Air ConditionersBrands vs. BrandsMaintenance and RepairBuying GuideOur SourcesNextFinding an air conditioner that will not only fit your family’s budget, but also will deliver consistent performance and maintain a high degree of energy efficiency (lowering your bills in the long run) can be a tedious feat. If your search has narrowed your options to considering systems from either Carrier or Amana, then an Amana vs Carrier comparison guide can help you determine which home-cooling system will best suit your needs. One of the first things you’ll need to take into consideration when searching for a new air conditioner is each unit's benefits and performance specifications as compared to air conditioner prices. If you are looking for a home-cooling system that will help save on energy costs and can stand up to the elements, expect to pay at least $2,000 for your new unit.

Cost alone is not the only factor, as you’ll see with this guide: George Foerstner originally founded the Amana Corporation in 1934 in Middle Amana, Iowa (it was first known as the Electrical Equipment Company) and its first product line was walk-in coolers. The company began making air conditioners in 1954. Today, the Amana brand lives on as a subsidiary of another American appliance juggernaut, Whirlpool. Amana sells a variety of durable AC units tailored to your home-cooling needs, and they come in two general series of options: the Distinctions Series and the Premium Series. Ranging from $2,400 to $7,250 in price units in Amana's Premium series feature a two-stage scroll compressor and condenser to control the temperature in your home. The ComfortNet communication feature on these units provides you with precision control and in-depth information for easy use. There are six unique units in the Premium Series: What essentially distinguishes these models is the efficiency at which they operate, as measured by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) ratings of each unit.

The federal government requires that residential air conditioners sold today meet a minimum SEER rating of 13 (the higher the rating, the more efficient a unit.) One other distinction with some of these models is that four of them (ASX13, ASX14, ASXC116 and ASXC18) have also earned the ENERGY STAR designation as determined by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If you cannot afford the upper-tier models in the Premium Series, units in Amana's Distinctions Series are a bit more affordable, falling in the $2,000 to $6,500 range. These units feature a single scroll compressor to keep your home consistently cool. There are four distinct units to be found in this series: As with the units in the Premium Series, these air conditioners distinguish themselves by the SEER ratings they deliver. Units in both the Distinctions and premium series from Amana come with some impressive warranties. The Distinction GSX13 units carry a limited 10-year warranty on all parts. The GSX16 adds limited 10-year unit replacement coverage to that parts warranty.

The DSX16 and DSX18 offer a lifetime replacement warranty on the compressor to the 10-year warranties on parts and replacement. In the Premium Series, the ASX13 and the AMX 13 come with limited 10-year warranties on all parts and components as well as a limited 10-year total replacement warranty. All other units in the Premium Series add a lifetime unit replacement option on the compressor to the 10-year limited warranties. Some consider Carrier to be the standard bearer for all residential air conditioning comparisons. The company founder (Willis Carrier) invented the first residential central air conditioning system in 1902 and from there, he and several fellow engineers from the Buffalo Forge Company of New York launched the business that would carry his name. Homeowners can select from three lines of residential air conditioning systems from Carrier: the Infinity Series, the Performance Series and the Comfort Series. Competitively priced to ensure affordability, Carrier's Infinity series air conditioners cost between $3,750 and $8,000, (including installation).

This is Carrier’s top-end line of residential air conditioners, and there are four separate models in this series: As you might expect, the main difference is geared to the number of the unit, which corresponds to the maximum SEER rating each unit can deliver. In the case of the Infinity 17 Coastal, it comes with a number of components that reduce the impact of more moist or even salt-air climates on the units. All of the units in this series feature a two-stage cooling process to improve your home's humidity. Units in this series also offer a remote-access option to control your home's temperature. The mid-range option of home air conditioners from Carrier, units from this series will cost you between $3,200 and $7,000 (including installation.) There are four models in this line of options: Despite what it suggests, the top model in this line can deliver a SEER rating of up to 18. Depending on the area where you live, units in this series can deliver up to $550 annually in local tax credits and rebates.

If you are on a strict budget, Carrier offers the Comfort series. There are three models to be found in this series: With a top SEER rating of up to 16.5, air conditioners in this series can cost between $2,000 and $6,000 (including installation.) Units in this series quietly operate at 72 decibels. All Carrier home air conditioners are covered by a limited 10-year warranty on all parts (including compressors.) The coastal units also come with a limited 5-year warranty against any coastal corrosion that may befall the unit. Another distinction you will find with all of these Carrier air conditioners is that they have all earned the ENERGY STAR designation from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In fact the Infinity 21 was ranked as the ENERGY STAR most efficient in its class in 2012. While this guide has offered a range of prices for you to aid in your comparison of Amana and Carrier air conditioners, there is a caveat we should offer. The manufacturers of air conditioning units generally do not list prices on websites.

The costs offered are based on some contractor wholesale costs we were able to research and a range of costs we found for installation. What you actually pay will depend in large part on what you pay for installation. Amana and Carrier air conditioners are sold through numerous home improvement retailers, including leaders like Sears, Lowe’s and Home Depot. You may be able to get prices from local stores in your area but remember that these costs may not include the full price for proper installation. Unless you are a licensed HVAC contractor, there’s a good chance you’ll need to rely on one when the time comes to install your new air conditioner. Improper installation (or installation by a party not recognized by your manufacturer) could lead to having any warranties voided. If you wish to hire a contractor to install your new air conditioner, you'll need to request an air conditioner estimate from several contractors to ensure an affordable rate. Most experts will tell you that you should get at least three competitive bids before making a final decision.