Air Conditioning Options - Central, Ductless, Or Through-the-Wall

Question:

frigidaire slider casement window air conditioner

I would like to setup air conditioning on the 1st floor of my 2 story home. I have casement style windows that swing out so I can't setup a window unit. I could setup central air, but I don't use the 2nd floor of the house. The windows are 10 yr old Anderson. Should I replace 1 window with a double hung window so I can fit in an air conditioner or go for central air?

SLIDER CASEMENT WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER

Answer:

My first option for vigor efficiency, as well extensive comfort, would be to setup a central air conditioning system. These systems can be "zoned" so they will only cool one floor of the home and not both. However, you honestly should plan on both and discuss that with your contractor as it may be less costly to setup some of the ducting to "get ready" for cooling the second floor at some point in the future.

Another option might be to setup a through-the-wall air conditioning unit. Many of the larger units are available with wall mounted sleeves. To install, you'd need to cut a hole in the exterior wall and frame it out the same way you'd frame an opening for a window or door. It is very leading to do this correctly, as you will be impacting the structural integrity of the house. Also, this type of law will very likely cause a heat loss in the winter as it is very difficult to seal it to prevent cold air leaking in.

A good option, which cost-wise will be in in the middle of the cost of a central law and a through-the-wall mounted portable, might be ductless air conditioning. I have Fujitsu ductless air conditioning law like this in my office and the ductless air conditioning law works extremely well as a supplement to my central system, which doesn't fully enlarge into the office space. With ductless air conditioning, you have a wall blower that hangs on the inside wall of your home. This is related via a refrigerant line to a small compressor which sits outside, just like a central system. The compressor supplies chilled refrigerant to the blower inside, which circulates the cooled air.

Given the above, my option would be (1) central; (2) ductless; (3) through-the-wall.

Regardless of what you ultimately decide, you should be inescapable to choose the most vigor efficient air conditioning unit possible. vigor Star has an excellent new program called Cool Your World With vigor Star @ Home that can help you understand cooling efficiency and options.

Air Conditioning Options - Central, Ductless, Or Through-the-Wall

SLIDER CASEMENT WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER