554 posts, read 699,186 times 573 posts, read 718,783 times Originally Posted by samnyc Do you have a cut-out in the wall already? I wouldn't get the wall unit if I were you. Our house came with 4 wall units, one broke, and to replace it we need to get the same brand (bc it's the only brand that makes the size of the cutout) and it's pretty damn expensive. If we get a smaller unit we will need to change the cutout to block moisture from coming in. One difference I noted in researching the wall units was the depth of the units. You need to look at the vents on the unit, and then measure the depth of the wall - you don't want the unit spewing air into the wall itself. Have you looked at portables at all? They looked pretty cool, the convenience of a window unit without having to fully block out the window. 3,938 posts, read 7,888,178 times Originally Posted by ocngypz Interesting stuff, didn't see that online and of course the salesman at PC Richard left that out

Originally Posted by unctorious no, I have to call some one for that. I have no idea how to cut the wall and make it look nice. 2,630 posts, read 3,225,000 times 2,030 posts, read 3,063,145 times Originally Posted by rocafeller05 4) Dont need to remove and store the unit in the winter. 1,522 posts, read 2,244,554 times 658 posts, read 1,762,712 timesCentral air conditioners include equipment that is installed outside of your home. There are two broad types of permanent installations for air conditioning units. Central air conditioners cool the entire house using one central system, whereas wall mounted units are more like window air conditioners that are permanently installed. There are benefits and disadvantages to both systems, and choosing between the two necessitates having an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each. Duct Work Central air conditioners require ducting to deliver conditioned air to the different rooms in your house.

This can be a problem in older homes that do not have adequate space between floors or in the attic to accommodate ducts. Wall air conditioners don't require any ducting, as they are self-contained units, pulling air in from outside the home, cooling it, and blowing it directly into the room where the unit is installed. old air ac unitsEnergy Efficiency Central air conditioners can be more energy efficient than their wall mounted counterparts when a homeowner wishes to cool many rooms in their home. air handling unit smallInstalling separate wall units is generally less energy efficient than cooling many rooms with one larger, central unit. window ac unit not cold enoughWall units can also be difficult to air seal in the winter, and may allow heated air inside the home to escape to the outside.

Uniform Temperature Central air conditioning is more able to keep an entire home to a designated temperature, as they can have multiple thermostats in separate rooms, controlling when the air conditioner is cycled on or off. Wall air conditioners treat each room as a separate zone, and each room must have its thermostat independently set. As such, the room with the wall air conditioner can become very cold, triggering the unit to shut off, while the adjoining room remains warm. Cost Wall air conditioners are typically significantly less expensive than central air conditioners. Wall air conditioners are designed to cool at most a couple of rooms, and generally have less cooling capacity. This means that while a wall air conditioner is cheaper than a central air conditioning unit, you will need to buy several units in order to cool the same square footage that one central air conditioner can accommodate. References On the House: Air Conditioning Central vs. Window UnitsConsumer Energy Center: Window Air ConditionersEnergy Star: Air Conditioning, Central Photo Credits Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images Suggest a Correction

Every year it happens, the summer months come into effect and the heat chases after us. Some of us have a cool retreat to escape to within own home, and others suffer. Those that have been suffering in the past are now beginning to consider what the most cost-efficient way to air condition their home would be; is it using a central unit or a window model? Keep in mind that as a homeowner, your efficient use of energy brings benefits such as lower bills and improved comfort. If you are considering an air conditioning purchase, it helps to know that the number of rooms you plan to cool will determine which type of unit you should purchase to prove to be most cost-effective. If you are looking to have more than 2 rooms cooled than your best bet is to go with a central unit. Also, central units provide long term resale value and humidity control. On the other hand, if you plan to cool only one or two rooms, you should consider a window air conditioner. Certain situations may be better suited for both units.

For example, if your home consists of several rooms and you wish to have all of them cooled, but you spend the majority of your time in one of those rooms, then a central unit combined with an independent unit in the room you use most can save you money down the road. However, not everyone can afford two air conditioning systems. If you can manage the initial investment you will be saving enough to pay for the second unit in no time. A correctly sized window unit can cool and dehumidify one or two rooms. Newer units have the energy efficiency to reduce costs by up to 25 percent. However, it is important that you change filters after every 90 days of use to ensure that the unit remains effective. Before going to the store to purchase a new unit, you will want to determine the area to be cooled. Do this by measuring the size of the room(s) you want to cool. Air conditioners need to be properly sized because units that are too small will have trouble cooling down rooms on hot days.

Units that are too big will cool down rooms fast, but do a poor job of dehumidifying. The appropriate size of the air-conditioner can be determined by measuring the length, width and height of a room. You should also look for the ENERGY STAR* and EnergyGuide labels when purchasing a window unit. The higher the energy efficiency rating (EER) the more efficient the unit will be. An energy efficient unit will cycle the compressor on and off so that it doesn't operate continuously. Almost any home can have a central air conditioning unit installed. Most central units make use of existing duct work in your house. The equipment with a central unit occupies much more space than a window unit. It does however offer you the same in energy saving options. A good tip if you want maximum comfort at minimal operating expense is to be sure to include several cold-air return locations. Also, the higher the seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) the more efficient the unit will be. A air conditioning contractor must size a central unit correctly in order to ensure its effectiveness.