Window Unit Versus Central Air Conditioning Costs
If you are judging purely on the initial cost, a window unit will always be cheaper. You can get a low-end window unit for around $200. Higher-end units max out at around $1,000.
However, other factors include your monthly electrical bill, maintenance, and repair costs. If you need to cool one room in your home, a window unit will likely be your best bet. However, if you need to cool your whole home, it will be more expensive to purchase five or more units, maintain them, operate them, and repair them.
Window Unit Versus Central Air Unit Efficiency
The efficiency will vary based on the size of the room you need to cool. Additionally, you want your air conditioner to perform its best without consuming much energy. The bigger the room, the more energy it will take to cool it. It could reach a point where a window unit is not big enough to keep the room cool and you need to install multiple window units to have the same effect that central air would have.
If you live in a hot climate like Flower Mound, Texas, where the summers are hot, running multiple window units can be expensive and inefficient. While the initial investment is more, the long-term efficiency offered by central air makes it worth it in many cases.
What to Expect from a Central Air Conditioner
You can compare a central air conditioner to a massive refrigerator. It cools down and maintains a cool temperature inside your entire house or commercial space. Central air conditioners use refrigerants, such as Freon or R-410A.
Your central air conditioner sucks in the hot air in your home and blows it over coils that have the refrigerant. The refrigerant’s job is to transfer the heat from the warm air to the refrigerant, making the air that the unit pushes out cool.
Thanks to your thermostat, a central air conditioner can cool and maintain temperatures in your entire home. Your thermostat constantly measures the air temperature in your home and communicates back to the AC unit. Your AC unit will adjust the amount of cooled air blown into each room based on the interior temperature.
There are many reasons why you may opt for central air conditioning. For example, it is easy to automate temperature control in your home with central air conditioning. Your conditioner is connected to your HVAC ductwork, so each room has a consistent conditioned air supply year-round.
This is beneficial in Texas because of the hot climate conditions. Modern central air conditioning systems are automated. If it is connected to a smart thermostat, you don’t have to worry about turning it off.
According to researchers, the air inside most homes contains five times the level of certain toxins found in outdoor air. Your central air conditioning unit has filters that remove many toxins and pollutants before the air is released back into your home. If you want more control over your home’s air quality, you can purchase micro-particle filters and dehumidifiers to purify the indoor air.
Modern air conditioners can work as a heater as well. You don’t need to purchase a separate heating unit for your home, saving you money.
Central AC has a high upfront cost. Most people don’t have thousands of dollars to spend on replacing an AC unit. However, if you are looking at purchasing window units for five or more rooms, installing central air will be your best bet long term.
The Pros and Cons of Window Unit Air Conditioners
Window AC units are small-scale devices. They work in one room. How efficiently the air conditioner works depends on the ratio between the size of the unit and the size of the room.
You should expect to spend between $200 and $1,000 for a window AC unit. Prices vary based on the size of the unit and the brand you purchase.
The biggest plus with purchasing window units is that they are inexpensive. Installation is also inexpensive. In fact, most units come with instructions that allow you to install the unit for free. While you can get a cheap unit for around $200, remember that there is a correlation between the unit’s size, quality, and price.
Many window units are energy efficient. It is up to you to purchase units that are Energy Star Certified. This will allow you to get the maximum cooling power while spending the least on energy.
Like their central air counterparts, window units can serve as heaters during the winter and air conditioners during the summer. However, window units can only work in one room at a time. They are not mobile. You can’t easily move them from one room to the next.
Although installation is inexpensive, it can be tricky if you don’t know what you are doing. Many people have hurt themselves or others by improperly installing an air conditioning unit.
Window Units Versus Central Air
Both options have their pros and cons. Choosing the right unit has to do with the amount of money you have to invest and the size of the space you want to cool. If you are looking at cooling multiple spaces, central air is the way to go. A window unit is sufficient for just a bedroom or a home office.
Providing Exceptional Heating and Air Conditioning in Flower Mound
At Triple A Air Conditioning & Heating, we have led the way as heating and air conditioning professionals for more than three generations. We live in the community and are committed to doing the best work for our friends and neighbors.
We are proud to offer emergency services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you need help with heating replacements, AC installations, or furnace maintenance, turn to us. We can help install smart home devices, like thermostats, and whole-home indoor air purification systems.
We want you to feel comfortable in your home.
