Is a Window Unit Air Conditioner Right for You?
Many homes, particularly older ones, don’t have
central heating and air conditioning units. During the colder
months, they rely on smaller room-sized furnaces, stoves or heaters
to beat the chill. During the summer… Well, sometimes they don’t
offer any way to handle the heat.
That forces a choice on the part of homeowners. They can either
suffer through miserable summers, outfit their home with a central
air unit, or rely on smaller window units to keep things cool.
Let’s assume that you don’t want to spend a full season out of every
year in a sweltering hot box. You want an air conditioner. That cuts
us down to a single choice: central air or a window unit.
Obviously, those little window air conditioners are considerably
cheaper than installing a large unit and all of the associated
ductwork necessary to keep a house comfy in the summer. But are
window units really right for you? Here a few considerations to keep
in mind.
First, window units are generally workable for smaller residences or
in situations in which the homeowner will be satisfied with cooling
some rooms and not others. If you have a big place or an
unquenchable desire for house-wide meat locker conditions, you
should stay away from window units. If you don’t feel that way, you
might be able to work with the cheaper alternative.
Second, those who live in truly HOT environments aren’t the best
prospects for small-unit cooling. If you live in an area known for
its extreme summer heat, you’ll probably find that window air
conditioners can’t really get the job done for you.
Third, you should remember that running multiple single-room air
conditioners can actually cost more in the long run than installing
a good central air unit. It’s simply a matter of energy efficiency.
You will spend a lot more up-front for central air, but it may very
well pay for itself in a matter of years when compared to
window-based alternatives.
So, who should be using a window unit? People who live in apartments
or small homes in areas that don’t have extreme summer conditions
are the most likely group to be a good match. Those who only need to
cool discrete areas of their homes may also find them acceptable.
Finally, there are those who just can’t afford central air but who
need at least some hedge against summer heat in the short-run while
they position themselves financially for a full-house system.
Window air conditioners may not be right for everybody, but they do
have their place. Consider your situation, your goals and your
planned usage carefully when you make the decision between central
air and the installation of window units.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters,
portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop on line at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. We offer
a great selection online at the lowest prices anywhere. We can also be
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