Central A/C vs. Ductless A/C: What’s the Best Choice for Your MA Home?
The coldest days are behind us here in the South Shore, MA area, and many of us are looking forward to the warm and sunny days of spring and summer. As temperatures begin to rise, now might be a good time to assess whether your home is ready to keep you cool and comfortable during the warmer months of the year.
At Albert Culver, we offer two types of air conditioning installations: central A/C systems and ductless mini-split A/C systems. Both have two parts: an outdoor condenser and an indoor evaporator. With central A/C systems, the evaporator is based in a central location in the home and distributes cool air using fans in the ductwork. Alternatively, ductless A/C systems consist of slim condenser boxes affixed to multiple walls in your home. But which installation is best for your home and budget? Read on to learn the differences between the systems, the benefits each offers, and which one might be best for you.
Deciding on the Best Cooling System for Your MA Home
Does Your Home Have Existing Ductwork?
If your home already has ductwork in place for heating, installing or staying with central air is a cost-effective solution for cooling your home. A benefit of central A/C units is that they use the ductwork in your home to distribute air, so they are an inconspicuous way to cool your home and won’t compete with your interior design.
If you don’t have existing ductwork, it will cost much less to install a ductless system, and since renovation isn’t required, you won’t have to deal with the headache of construction mess.
How Large is Your Home?
If your home is larger than 2,500 square feet, a central A/C system might be your best bet. Most ductless systems don’t have enough power to cool a home more spacious than that. However, if you have an addition not connected to the ductwork or a room in your home that doesn’t cool to your liking, a ductless system is a great way to add supplemental cooling.
Do You Need Zoning Control?
With a ductless A/C system, you can control the temperature of your home room by room. If there are some people in your home that prefer cooler temperatures than others or some rooms that need cooling and other rooms that don’t, you might prefer the customization options of a ductless system. If you are more concerned with even cooling distribution, central A/C aligns more with those needs.
Are You More Concerned about What You See or What You Hear?
Typically, ductless systems are a quieter option for cooling your home while central A/C is more invisible.
Need Help Deciding? Contact Albert Culver
A new, high-efficiency ductless or central A/C system can help you stay cool and comfortable all spring and summer long. If you have questions about which system is best for you or would like to learn more, contact us today!