Central Air Conditioners

Central air conditioners work by circulating cool air through a complex system of supply and return ducts. Supply ducts and registers (openings in the ceilings, walls or floors covered by grills) carry cooled air directly from the air conditioner to your home or business. This cooled air becomes warmer as it circulates through the building and then flows back to the central air conditioner through return ducts and registers. There are two types of central air conditioners; split system units or packaged units.

Split System Central Air Conditioners

In a split system central air conditioner, an outdoor metal cabinet houses the compressor and condenser while an indoor cabinet houses the evaporator. In many split system air conditioners, this indoor cabinet also houses a furnace or the indoor portion of a heat pump. The air conditioner’s evaporator coil can either be installed in the cabinet or the main supply duct of this furnace or heat pump. If your home already has a furnace but not an air conditioner, a split system is the most economical central air conditioner to have installed.

Packaged Central Air Conditioner Units

In a packaged central air conditioner unit, the evaporator, compressor and condenser are all housed in the one cabinet, which is usually placed on the roof or a concrete slab next to the house’s foundation. This type of air conditioner is also used in small business commercial buildings. Air supply and return ducts come from the home’s exterior wall or roof to connect with the packaged air conditioner, which is usually located outdoors. Packaged air conditioners often include electric heating coils or a natural gas furnace combination. This combo of air conditioner and central heater eliminates the need for a separate and distinct furnace inside the premises.

Replacing or Upgrading Your Central Air Conditioner

Central air conditioners are far more efficient than room air conditioners. Plus, they are out of the way, quiet, convenient and easy to operate. If you have an older central air conditioner, you should consider replacing the outdoor compressor with a modern, high-efficiency air conditioning unit. We invite you to contact NY NJ A/C Connection to ensure the new compressor is properly matched to the indoor unit. However, considering recent changes in refrigerants (the phasing out of R22 Freon) and air conditioning designs, it might just be smarter to replace the entire system. NY NJ A/C Connection is here to advise you to best meet your needs. Today’s most efficient air conditioners use 30% to 50% less energy as air conditioners made in the 1970s to produce the same amount of cooling! Even if your air conditioner is only a decade old, you may still save 20% to 40% of your cooling energy costs by replacing it with a newer, more efficient model.

What Size Central AC Unit Do I Need for My House?

Proper sizing and installation are vital elements in determining air conditioner efficiency. Too large a unit will not adequately remove humidity while too small a unit will not be able to attain a comfortable temperature on the hottest days. Improper unit location, improper duct installation and lack of insulation can greatly diminish efficiency.

SEER – Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio

When purchasing an air conditioner, look for a model with a high efficiency. Central air conditioners are rated according to their SEER or seasonal energy efficiency ratio. SEER indicates the amount of energy requireed to provide a specific cooling output. The higher SEER ratio the better!

Central Air Conditioning & Heating Services in Manhattan, New York City

Contact NY NJ A/C Connection for all your central air conditioning and heating needs!

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