DuAll Heating & Cooling Blog : Archive for June, 2012

Air Conditioning Tip: Ductless Systems For Home Additions

Monday, June 25th, 2012

While ductless air conditioning systems can be used to cool your whole home, they are also a great option for home additions. In some cases, adding ducts to the new space can be difficult or expensive, so a ductless system is a great way to make sure that your entire home stays comfortable. They are also very energy efficient and versatile, which are features any homeowner can appreciate.

Ductless systems are composed of an outdoor unit, with the compressor and condenser, and an indoor air handling unit. Since the outdoor units are connected to the indoor components only by a small conduit (with the power cable, condensate drain, and refrigerant tubing in it), they are relatively easy to install. If you are adding a ductless system to a room addition, you only need a small hole in the wall for the conduit to connect to the air handler. The air handler itself can be hung from the ceiling or on a wall, giving you a variety of interior design options. Ductless systems are also very energy efficient, and, of course, they don’t require ducts to be installed in your new space.

Even if adding ducts to the new space seems feasible, you might still want to consider a ductless system. When your Naperville air conditioning contractor performed an initial load calculation for your home, they took into account the current size of your home. If you added a large addition, your central air conditioner might be too small to keep your whole home comfortable. An overloaded air conditioner will not only be unable to keep your home at the desired temperature, but it will also use a lot of energy. Adding in a ductless system for the new rooms can solve both these problems.

Ductless systems are easy to install and an effective solution for keeping your new addition comfortable. To learn more about having a ductless air conditioning system installed in your home, give DuAll Heating & Cooling a call today!

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Air Conditioning Guide: Different Types of AC Systems

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

If you are thinking about buying a new air conditioning system in Chicago, you should a take a little time to consider all your options. You not only have to keep in mind the different types of air conditioners, but also the different energy efficiencies and advanced features available. Simply replacing your old system is not always the best option, making yourself familiar with all the types of AC available will help you find the best system for your home.

Central air conditioning systems are the most common type of cooling systems for residential homes. A split system consists of an outdoor compressor unit, an indoor air handler, and a series of ducts that distribute the air conditioned air throughout your home.  Central air conditioning system comes in a variety of sizes to be able to meeting the cooling needs of almost any home. However, ducts are necessary part of central air conditioning systems, which can make their installation an extensive process.

If your home does not already have ducts or you are looking to cool only a small space, ductless mini split air conditioners are great option. Ductless mini split air conditioners are very energy efficient, and since they don’t use ducts, they avoid all the energy losses associated with forced air systems. The outdoor unit is connected to multiple indoor air handlers through a conduit (containing the power cable, the suction tubing, the refrigerant line, and a condensate drain) , and the indoor air handlers distribute the cooled air throughout the area. Since each one of the indoor units can be controlled individually, ductless systems are easy to zone, which can also reduce how much energy you use to cool your home.

For larger, commercial buildings, rooftop air conditioners are often used. These air conditioners have all the components in one cabinet, and they distribute the conditioned air via ducts (similar to central air conditioning). Rooftop unit are for cooling large spaces, so they are rarely used for residential homes.

The right air conditioner for your home will meet both your cooling needs and your budget. For more information about installing an air conditioning system in Chicago, give DuAll Heating & Cooling a call today!

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