If you are thinking about a new AC installation in Riverside, you may be wondering what the best solution is for keeping your home cool. After all, the air conditioner or other cooling system you install will be in place for 10 to 15 years, meaning that you want to make a wise decision now.
You can keep reading to learn more about the different types of cooling solutions and the benefits of each one. This will help you determine the best option for your home and family based on your unique needs and expectations.
Central Air Conditioners
Perhaps the most traditional cooling option, a central air conditioner is an excellent choice. If you’re looking for an HVAC system that is completely dedicated to cooling your home, a central air conditioner is the way to go. However, having a central AC means that you also need to have a separate heating system.
Central air conditioners connect to ductwork that is located either in your attic or your basement. Your separate heater will connect to the same ductwork and thermostat. Air flows through these ducts and out of vents into your home. The only potential downside to this solution is that over time the ductwork can wear out and lead to inefficiencies.
However, as long as you care for your AC, including scheduling duct services, a central air conditioner is an excellent choice for cooling your home. AC service should be scheduled annually and duct services can be completed every 3-5 years.
Heat Pumps
In this area of the country, you rarely need heaters for long at all. Because of this, it may not make sense to have a completely separate heating system. In this case, a heat pump is an excellent solution for whole-house temperature control. Heat pumps are very similar to central air conditioners with one key difference.
There are some components on a heat pump that allow refrigerant to move in the opposite direction and heat your home in addition to providing cooling. With a heat pump, you don’t need a separate heating system, which ultimately saves space.
Since you don’t have particularly high heating needs, a heat pump does just fine. Like a central air conditioner, it attaches to central ductwork. A heat pump does need biannual maintenance instead of just maintenance once per year.
Ductless Solutions
A ductless HVAC system is very similar to a heat pump. It offers both heating and cooling, with the key difference being that instead of having a single central unit you have multiple smaller units dispersed around your home. You may not think of a ductless mini split as being a whole-house cooling solution, but it is.
In fact, it offers a variety of benefits that you cannot get with a central air conditioner or a central heat pump. Ductless models are highly customizable based on your home’s size and layout. Since 100% of the air being heated and cooled blows directly into your home, you stand to save a lot on energy costs.
It’s possible that you could cut your energy costs by as much as 50% by switching to a ductless unit. Yes, you can set the temperatures differently on each individual mini split. However, you can also set all of the temperatures the same for whole-house temperature control.
Your Comfort Is Our Priority. Contact the Hush Air team today to prioritize your AC installation in Riverside, CA.