Central Air Conditioning Basics

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A central air conditioning system can make everyone in the house cool and comfortable. Unlike window and wall units, which only cool one room, a central air conditioning system cools multiple rooms. They deliver cool air through a ductwork system that vents the cool air through vents on the floors, walls or ceiling. The air is cooled to the temperature set on the thermostat, which directs the system to turn on and then turn off once the desired temperature for the home is reached.

Central air conditioning systems transfer heat and cooling. The metal unit outdoors houses the condenser, compressor and electric components. Indoor mechanical equipment includes the ductwork, coils and thermostat. Warm air is drawn from the indoors to the outdoors where refrigerant cools the air and compresses it into gases. The condenser liquefies the gas and exhausts it outdoors. Meanwhile, air is forced through the ductwork system and blown over coils that also contain refrigerant. Once the air cools, it is blown through the ductwork channels to vent into the rooms of your home.

The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio rating describes the energy efficiency of central air conditioning system. Units sold 10 or more years ago are far less efficient than systems today. For example, a 1970 system might have a SEER of 8. New systems manufactured since 2006 have a minimum SEER of 14 as required by the Federal Trade Commission. As a rule, the higher the SEER, the more you'll save on electricity. A new system with a SEER of 18 will use half as much energy as an old system with a SEER of 9.

A British thermal unit is the standard measurement used to determine the cooling capacity required for your central air conditioning system. BTUs actually measure heat, which means in the case of air conditioning, the BTU capacity dictates how much heat the unit is capable of removing. She just cut her electricity bill to 60%, click here to read. For example, a 60,000 BTU system can move 60,000 BTUs of heat from the home in one hour.

HVAC technicians use a complicated formula from an industry publication called Manual J to determine the size of a central air conditioning system for your home. The goal is to determine the heat load, which is the amount of heat your home generates. That calculation then determines the right BTU capacity for your system. Numeric measurements include the square footage and cubic footage (height multiplied by length multiplied by ceiling height) of rooms and the number of stories of your home. Calculations also factored for things such as which sides of the house get sunlight and which get shade. Each window racks up 300 BTUs, kitchens add an extra 4,000 BTUs, and 400 BTUs are tallied for each person in the home.

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