In the hottest part of the United States, air conditioning is an integral part of survival. In some states, the temperature can reach upwards of 100 degrees, which can lead to heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses. Without air conditioning units or central air, the climate can be unbearable. In fact, 85% of homes in the South have central air conditioning for this reason. This could also make air conditioning a lucrative business in Southern states, since people will always need air conditioning to keep their houses inhabitable during the hottest months of the year. The job also pays well; in May of 2010, the average annual salary for a heating and cooling specialist was $42,000.
If you are looking into air conditioning installation for your home, regardless of where you live, there are few things that you should consider. Many people invest in window units for their homes because they can install them on their own if they are handy, and they do not have to pay anyone to do it for them. But there are other factors that make window units less effective. For example, they only cool one room at a time, and you will need multiple units to cool your entire house. Window units also do not filter air as well as central air units, and they are unable to prevent as many allergens from circulating in your home. Central air is also much more energy efficient and saves you money in the long run.
The latest central air units now come with o-zone friendly refrigerants, and are largely eco-friendly. You can invest in multi-zone controls that let you monitor and change the temperatures in each room of your house. This can be extremely useful at night. Your living room, kitchen, and common areas are not typically being used during the overnight hours, so they do not need to be cooled. There are also different types of air conditioning thermostats that let you program various temperatures for each part of the day. If no one is home during the daytime, you can set the thermostat to a higher temperature so that you do not waste energy.
Another important part of air conditioning installation is knowing when to change the air conditioning air filter. Since the filter picks up dust and other allergens, the coils can become clogged, and the quality of the air decreases. In states where the air conditioning is on all the time, you will need to check the filter every few months. You can also schedule regular check ups with air conditioning maintenance companies. They will do air conditioning duct cleaning, and repair your unit if there is any damage.
Air conditioning repair can also be costly if you do not monitor the air filter periodically and the unit stops working. In that case, you might want to consider brand new air conditioning installation, because it often costs only slightly more than replacing the internal parts of your existing unit.
With these things in mind, you will need to choose the right cooling system for your house. You may need to spend a few thousands dollars to get central air, but its energy efficiency will be worth the cost. The unit will also last you at least a decade, if not longer, as long as you maintain the unit carefully. Reference links.