Even if you didn’t know exactly what it was called or how it works, central air conditioning is the system that all other types of AC systems are based on. Central AC consists of one outdoor unit, one indoor unit, and a series of ducts and vents that transport cold air throughout your home or business. It’s still used all the time because it’s a solid and reliable system.
As it turns out, though, not every home or property is best suited to the central air system. In this post, we’ll go over three alternative choices for air conditioning in Scappoose, OR.
HEAT PUMPS
Heat pumps are becoming more popular by the day, and for good reason. Where a central air conditioning system can only transfer warm air to the outdoors, heat pumps can do both. In other words, a heat pump allows you to cool or heat your home with just the flip of a switch.
So why doesn’t everyone just switch to a heat pump?
For one, many homes are already installed with a heating system—a heat pump would only be redundant. Plus, if you’re heating your home with a furnace, your new AC can use the same ducts to transport cooled air. Not going with a heat pump, in this case, is the most practical and cost-effective thing you can do.
Second, heat pumps do have a weakness. They can still grab warm air from even 30-degree weather, but once the temperatures get closer to zero, it will struggle and become inefficient.
DUCTLESS MINI-SPLITS
For those interested in heat pumps, here’s a tip:
You don’t need ducts if you want comfort all year-round.
Heat pumps also come in a ductless variety, making them an excellent choice for new homeowners who don’t have heating or cooling installed. Alternatively, you can also use them for the garage, a recently added room, or in other special cases where the room you want to treat is not connected to the duct system.
As we stated earlier, your standard central air system consists of two units, one outdoor and one indoor. For a ductless mini-split, you have one outdoor unit and then one additional unit for each room. This gives you a lot of flexibility. Some homeowners choose to install only in the rooms that need it most. On top of that, you can adjust each unit separately with a remote control. You won’t have to waste precious air on unused rooms.
PACKAGED UNITS
These units are primarily used in commercial settings, but homeowners limited on space can also benefit from them. Again, these units are heat pumps, so you can expect similar year-round functionality.
What makes these units special, though, is that all of their components are housed in the same cabinet. That means there’s no indoor unit, so you don’t have to worry about using up space inside your home or business. Thanks to their portability and convenience, you’ll typically see these units on commercial rooftops.
Need to upgrade to your system? Simply attach another packaged unit and you’re good to go. This feature makes them perfect for expanding businesses.
If you want to explore your air conditioning options, get in touch with a reliable HVAC company in Scappoose, OR. Contact Western Heating & Cooling today!