As the temperature and humidity rise, you may be looking for ways to keep your home comfortable. If you think the obvious solution is installing an air-conditioner, you aren’t alone.  What was once considered a luxury quickly became a necessity for many families.

History of Air Conditioning

It has taken some time and a few setbacks to come to the energy-efficient air-conditioners of today. According to the U.S. Department of Energy:

• 1840s - Physician and inventor Dr. John Gorrie of Florida proposed the idea of “cooling cities to relieve residents of ‘the evils of high temperatures.’”
• 1902 - Engineer Willis Carrier designed a system that controlled humidity using cooling coils.
• 1904 - Organizers of the St. Louis World’s Fair used mechanical refrigeration to cool the Missouri State Building
• 1920s - The boom of movie theaters made air conditioning more common in public buildings; however, these systems resulted in “hot, muggy conditions at upper levels and much colder temperatures at lower levels.”
• 1922 - Carrier Engineering Corporation installed the first well-designed cooling system for theaters, which “pumped cool air through higher vents for better humidity control and comfort throughout the building.”
• 1929 - Frigidaire introduced a new split-system room cooler that was “small enough for home use and shaped like a radio cabinet. However, the system was heavy, expensive, and required a separate, remotely controlled condensing unit.” 
• 1932 - H.H. Schultz and J.Q. Sherman filed a patent for an air conditioning unit that could be placed on a window ledge, but they were too expensive for most homeowners.
• 1947 - Engineer Henry Galson developed a more compact and inexpensive version of the window air-conditioner. Forty-three thousand units are sold that year.
• Late 1960s - Window air conditioners became more affordable, and most new homes had central air.
• Today - Air-conditioning is in nearly 100 million U.S. homes (87% of all households).

Window AC vs. Central AC

What type of AC unit is best depends on your specific needs. Here are the pros and cons of both window and central AC:

Efficiency

“Central air conditioners are more efficient than room air conditioners,” according to the U.S. Department of Energy. “In addition, they are out of the way, quiet, and convenient to operate.”

Furthermore, an energy-efficient central air-conditioner can save energy and lower your utility bill. The most efficient air-conditioners today use 30 to 50% less energy than air-conditioners made in the mid-1970s.

Cost

Window air conditioner units start at around $150 and can go as high as $1,000 or more, depending on the unit size. The average cost is a little more than $300. Generally, window air-conditioners are designed to cool one or a few rooms, so you will probably need more than one unit to cool your entire home.

The cost of central air-conditioning depends on many factors, such as the size of the home, whether or not the home already has ductwork, and if the ductwork is suitable.

Aesthetics

Window AC units stick out, block the light, and prohibit you from opening the window unless you remove the entire unit. Central air conditioners are quieter and less intrusive. Very little, if any, of a central air unit is visible inside, and the only thing outside is a condenser unit, which can typically be placed in a discreet location.

Durability

How long an air-conditioner will last varies depending on where you live, how often you run the unit, how well it’s maintained, etc. However, a window AC unit typically lasts eight to ten years, whereas a central air-condition typically lasts fifteen to twenty years. When something breaks on a window AC unit, it typically cannot be fixed. Central AC units can often be repaired, or a part replaced.

Installation

If you can lift a window AC, typically weighing 40 to 130 pounds, you can probably install it. Installation of a central air conditioner is better left to the experts.

We Can Help You Keep Your Home Cool and Comfortable

If you decide central air-conditioning fits your needs or want to upgrade to a more energy-efficient unit, Ultimate Comfort Heating & Cooling can help. We are fully licensed and insured in air conditioner and heat pump repair, sales, installation, and maintenance for all brands of cooling equipment. When you schedule an appointment with us, you’ll receive the highest level of skilled cooling system repair service in the industry.



Contact us at 610-750-8314 or connect with us online for a FREE Comfort Analysis. Estimates and consultations for new systems are provided FREE of charge.