Living in California means getting great, sunny weather year round -- but it also means that having an air conditioner in your home is a necessity rather than a luxury. There are several options for home air conditioner installation options and types of air conditioners on the market and the right one will depend on a host of factors including your budget, the size of the house, and more. Below are some of the systems that we offer at LA Construction Heating and Air, and the pros and cons of each.
Package Units
As the name implies, these systems package all the necessary components into one unit. That means the cooling coils, motors and all the other parts are housed inside one large casing. They have several advantages, most notably in saving space because there's typically no need to install other units. This makes package units an ideal option for a small residence.
Although this is a clear benefit, there are some minor drawbacks to the units. They're housed outside, which means they can be prone to damage from harsh weather events or wild animals. And package units are sometimes not as energy efficient as alternatives. If a unit is less energy efficient, that could mean a spike in your electricity bills -- especially if the unit is running often.
Package units can be slightly more expensive than the alternative of a split system describe below, but the cost for installation is generally lower. In contrast, split systems might be slightly cheaper to purchase but they require a more complicated installation that could cancel out any cost savings.
Split Systems
Split systems are literally split into two parts, one usually placed outdoors and one placed inside. The indoor unit includes the evaporator coil, which is the start of the air conditioning process. This takes the hot air from inside a home and sends it the outside unit which contains the condenser, compressor and expansion valve. Those three are the parts that expel the hot air outside but also produces the cold air that then flows back into a home to lower the temperature indoors.
A major benefit of having a split system is that the external unit can be placed anywhere outside and they tend to take up less space than a package unit. The internal unit also can be housed somewhere subtle, like in a basement or attic far from everyday view. If appearance is one of your main concerns, split systems might be a preferable option to package units.
As mentioned above, the cost of purchasing a split system could be lower than a package unit but the charge for home air conditioner installation might be higher, making both options similar in price range.
Mini-Split/Ductless Systems
A third option is for a home air conditioner installation is the mini-split system, which again has two parts but is much smaller in scale than a regular split system and is designed more for cooling a room or two rather than a whole home. Similar to full split systems they include an outdoor compressor and indoor unit.
Mini-spilt systems are also known as ductless systems, which as the name suggests are stand-alone units that do not have to be connected to air ducts and therefore means less installation hassle. This can be great if dealing with a small room or two to cool down, but might not be best for a larger-scale project (such as trying to routinely cool an entire house at once).
Benefits of these systems are their lower cost and ease of installation, while the drawback is the reduced scope. If you're looking to cool an entire house, other options might work better.
Which Unit Is Best?
The best unit for your home air conditioner installation is a case-by-case decision, and the comparable costs (more expensive installation but cheaper units for split systems versus cheaper installations and more expensive product for package systems) mean cost might not be the deciding factor.
Don't risk a project this important with amateurs, as you could end up needing expensive repairs in the future. That's why it's important to consult with our reputable team of experts who can assess your building and offer advice on the best option. We'll also guarantee a smooth and careful installation, from protecting against any damage to the property to correctly finishing the job.
To help you decide which type of air conditioner is right for your home, contact our friendly team of experts at (818) 341-3406 to arrange a free consultation, or use our contact form. To learn more about services our company offers, please visit our homepage.
