When buying new central air conditioning equipment, it is very important to have the work done by a qualified contractor. Most review sites and available information say that the best way to save money on a central conditioning unit is by hiring a good contractor. This is followed in close second by picking an energy efficient system. A proper installation of a central air conditioner will ensure that the unit is tightly sealed and no energy is wasted thought leaky ducts thus saving as much money as possible.
When speaking of saving money through efficient air conditioning systems the topic of SEER usually comes up. Central air conditioners are rated by something called SEER or seasonal energy efficiency ratio. Without going into details, the higher the SEER the more efficient your central conditioning system is thus saving you money and helping the environment through less power demand.
Most central air cooling systems run on Freon and have for many years but this is apparently going to change. Freon will be replaced by a newer refrigerant called Puron that is friendlier to the environment no later than 2010. The good news about this is that although Puron powered central air conditioners may cost more initially, the Freon machines and parts are going to get scarce. Getting scarce parts for your conditioning unit will cost you as all the older machines start to break down and need repairs, but parts are harder to find.
Speaking of costs, this is the one glaring down point of a central cooling system. While cost may not be an issue for some, the central air conditioner unit is the most expensive way to cool your house on the initial investment. Because the conditioning unit must be installed and venting systems run, you will have to hire a contractor. Therefore part of the cost of getting a central cooling system will depend the flexible pricing of the local contractor. With the unit air conditioning systems this is not an issue, but again with the unit systems you can only cool one room at a time and they could be a bit of an eye sore in a posh setting.
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