The efficiency of window units vs. central air is an ongoing debate There are many variables that come into play when determining which system is right for you. These include the size of your home, its insulation, and the average humidity of your climate. Central Air Energy Usage On average, a 2.5 ton central air conditioning unit uses about 3,500 watts to cool a typical 1,500-2,000 square foot home. A medium size window unit will use about 1,000 watts to cool an average 400 square foot room. If you’re looking to cool just one or two small spaces, a window unit can save some energy, however if you’re looking to cool more, a central air system will be more efficient, effective and save energy. To make your central air condition even more efficient, consider installing a programmable thermostat, which can be set to increase the temperature in your home while you’re at work or on vacation as well as adjust it back before you arrive home. Both central AC  and window units need to be properly insulated to work at their best.

Poorly insulated ducts can drastically reduce the efficiency of central air systems. how much is an ac unit installedIts a good idea to inspect duct work for holes, unsealed seams, and inproper insulation. hvac unit does not turn onA well insulated duct system will greatly improve the performance of your unit. ac unit size guideIf you’re looking to build a new home or are considering installing a new central air system, it's a goode idea to position the ducts inside the home’s conditioned envelope, as systems with ducts in unconditioned attics can lose about 20% of the cooling output. On the contrary, window units need to have insulation installed around the unit to block hot air from seeping in from the outside. Air leaks can lead to longer run times and reduced efficiency.

As residents of Hanover County and metro Richmond, we can attest to the fact that humidity is an issue during the summer months. The general consensus when describing an RVA summer is “it’s not the heat, but the humidity” that is so stifling. Unlike central ac, window units are not ideal for areas subject to high humidity because they tend to sweat, which can infuse the air with even more moisture. AC "sweat" can also makes it difficult to get a tight seal around the window unit, resulting in more hot and humid air coming in from the outside. If your unit is overworked, the sweat issue is an even larger problem, as it runs longer and less efficientl, and can create a cold clammy room. Choosing Between Central & Window Air Conditioning When it comes to your comfort, health and savings, the HVAC experts at Howell's Heating & Air believe central air conditioning systems win out. A well designed central air conditioning system is far more efficient at controlling humidity.

It also provides the added benefit of filtering pollutants and allergens. From a budgetary standpoint, if you’re looking to cool your whole home, rather than just one or two small rooms, central AC can help reduce your energy usage and lower your utility bills. Want more insight on adding a central AC system to your home? Contact us online today for more information, or call 804.715.1995 source: infographic - Leffler EnergyAll residential air conditioners will carry a label showing the unit's cooling output in kilowatts (kW). Every room and every home is different, so we recommend that you get a licensed contractor to visit your home and provide a detailed heat load calculation. Using the calculator below, however, will give you a rough idea of the cooling output you will need: 1. Please select your nearest regional 2. What is the ceiling area of the room you wish to Uninsuladed metal roof overInsulated metal roof overUninsulated tiled roof overInsulated tiled roof overUnairconditioned room over with carpeted floorsUnairconditioned room over with no carpets

3. What is the floor area of the room you wish to Uninsulated suspended timber floor enclosed underInsulated suspended timber floor enclosed underUninsulated suspended timber floor unenclosed underInsulated suspended timber floor unenclosed underUninsulated suspended concrete slab enclosed underInsulated suspended concrete slab enclosed underUnairconitioned room below is the height of the ceiling in the room you are cooling? is the total area of the internal walls with unconditioned space adjacent? is the total area of external walls including all the windows? Weatherboard with no insulationWeatherboard with insulationCement and metal sheet with no insulationCement and metal sheet with insulationBrick veneer with no insulationBrick veneer with insulationConcrete block masonry with no insulationConcrete block masonry with insulation large are the windows? 8. How many people will be using the This calculator will estimate the capacity required to cool a single room.

If you want an air conditioner to cool multiple rooms, the estimation process is more complex and you will need to seek advice from a licensed contractor.Many factors are involved when determining what size of an air conditioner or furnace would have the required power output to cool or heat your home. These factors include the extent of exposure to the sun and the outside air, the thickness and type of outside wall insulation, the size, type and number of windows and outside doors, the ceiling height, etc. Generally speaking, however, if you live in the Greater Toronto Area or Southern Ontario, you may use the following charts to estimate the correct size of the heating or cooling product that you may need for your home. It is very critical in the installation of furnaces and air conditioning systems that you are recommended the right size unit most suitable for your home. Under- or oversizing can cost you performance, comfort and efficiency related issues when it comes to both the furnace and the air conditioner.

Undersizing will, of course, result in the unit being unable to meet the desired temperature setting. Aside from the issue of your comfort, undersizing the equipment and/or material will most likely lead to the premature failing of the units. This being said, it is as important to make certain that the units are not oversized, either. It is rather a quite often observed misconception of consumers that the more powerful the furnace or the air conditioner, the better heating and cooling performance that will be achieved. Oversizing a furnace will result in many different shortcomings. First of all, what is most important in having a uniform distribution of the warm air is the optimum runtime of the furnace. The same statement is also true for an air conditioning unit with respect the uniform distribution of the cool air. When going with a more powerful hvac unit, it will satisfy the temperature setting quicker than when it should and it will not run that optimum length of cycle for you to have a uniform temperature everywhere in your home and the existence of those hot and cold spots in the house is inevitable in that case.

With an oversizing of the gas furnace, there also exists a great chance for the overheating of the furnace. This is mostly caused because in the case of oversizing of a furnace, the existing ducts in the home will not support such high volumes of air flow causing pressure build-up in the return air duct and therefore overheating. Also, do keep in mind that the maximum level of efficiency with the gas consumption of a gas furnace is achieved when the right size furnace is installed in your home. In fact, the right size furnace should almost continuously run during the coldest day of the year. Of course, it should be able to satisfy your desired temperature setpoint. Aside from the non-uniform air distribution, oversizing an air conditioner will lead to uncomfortable and higher humidity levels in your home. As you know, an air conditioner is also meant to dehumidify the air. This is done through the indoor evaporator coil - installed inside the plenum (duct above the furnace) - that removes moisture and water vapour from the airflow passing through.

When the air conditioner is oversized, it will stop running sooner than the optimum length of time it needs to run in order to also dehumidify the air. Another misconception is also the belief that by going with a bigger size furnace or air conditioner, there br will saving on fuel/electricity costs as a result of the units working less, which is certainly not the case. You always require the same amount of energy in order to heat or cool your house. The factor that determines this consumption is not the power rating; it is the efficiency of the unit. When the furnace or A/C is more powerful, it will use more power in a shorter period whereas a smaller size furnace or A/C would end up using the same energy but in the manner of less power in a longer period - which works out to have the same consumption levels. In fact, in the case of an oversized unit, some energy is wasted and the maximum efficiency of the unit would not be achieved. Keep in mind that the following furnace output power estimates are aside from the furnace's nominal power ratings.