DIY Life

There eventually comes a time when your home's cooling system will have to be replaced. While you might shell out some big bucks initially, modern systems are very energy efficient and will pay for themselves over time. The type of indoor environment altering equipment you purchase depends on many factors.

These factors include where you live, cost of the available systems, the size of your house or condo, and the availability of those good old tax credits!

Central air conditioner systems

Central air conditioners are probably the most popular home cooling systems. They actually perform two functions; they remove heat from the air, and additionally, remove humidity. The main elements of central systems are an air distribution system (duct work), a condenser unit (located outside), and an evaporator coil (inside the furnace).

The home's heating system shares some of these resources.Window-mounted air conditioners

Window-mounted air conditioners are basically a miniaturized version of central air systems. Where would you want to use one? In some northern areas the summer heat doesn't get so brutal so that a full-blown system is called for. The cooling might only be limited to the living room or bedroom, especially for apartment dwellers.

When a window mounted A/C removes the humidity from the air, it has to go somewhere. You can either let it drip straight down or use tubing to direct it elsewhere. Although different models can be had with more capacity than others, and this is a consideration, the square footage calculations are not as complex as they are for larger systems.

Portable air conditioners

When I worked in the engineering department at a large hotel, my office was in the basement. Since I was at the end of a very long, poorly designed duct run, it got pretty miserable in the summer. Portable air conditioner to the rescue!

Portable units come in various sizes. They are ideal for areas where there is nowhere for the reclaimed humidity to go. The simple solution is a slide-out tray where the water accumulates. When the tray gets full a sensor automatically shuts the unit down. Empty the tray, slide it back in, and you're back in business!

Some portable air conditioners are actually swamp coolers.

Swamp coolers: cool air in dry climates

A swamp cooler is the unit of choice for drier environments such as the desert. Rather than removing humidity from the air like a conventional air conditioner does, swamp coolers can humidify the air. This added moisture not only makes the home more comfortable, but it also keeps household items from drying out excessively.

This is the reason swamp coolers are also known as "evaporative coolers." I don't know about you, but I just think the swamp thing sounds cooler. Strong selling point.

How does a swamp cooler actually work? It's nothing at all like a conventional air conditioner. The swamp unit is a box that contains a fan and some water-soaked hanging pads. It also contains a water pump that keeps the pads saturated to a regulated consistency (just enough so that the pads drip slowly).

Since the desert air is so dry, the water evaporates. As it evaporates, it has the effect of cooling the air that the fan pushes through the pads and into the home. This reduces the temperature of the air by as much as 20 degrees.
The air absorbs heat as it moves through the house, then it's vented outdoors.

What size is right?

Just as air conditioners come in different sizes, so do swamp coolers. Basically, the two flavors are stationary and portable. The portable units are best suited for smaller areas, while the stationary ones are situated in a window or on the roof.

How much maintenance do swamp coolers need?

Since swamp coolers are so simple, routine maintenance is quite simple. Usually, except for the largest units, a tune-up is only needed at the beginning of the sweaty season. The water pump and the fan should be given a visual inspection and lubricated as per the manufacturer's instructions.

Are there any belts on the moving equipment? If so, check them for fraying or cracking and replace as needed. The interior of the box should be thoroughly cleaned out and checked for blockage where water flows. The hanging pads should be inspected and replaced when needed.

Don't forget about ceiling fans!

If you live in a climate where the summer heat is less than sweltering, ceiling fans might be all you need. Even if that's not the case, ceiling fans are an excellent idea. The circulating air adds its own cooling effect. This means that you can set your thermostat higher.

The net result of this is that you save money over time. Your cooling equipment should last longer as well, since it doesn't have to work as hard.

With all the models on the market today, your choices are very extensive. They start with the basic type , but from there you can add remote controls (handy with high vaulted ceilings) and variable speeds, similar to dimming lighting systems. And of course, some are just aesthetically more sophisticated.

Energy efficiency: it's green and saves money

Energy efficiency with air conditioners is calculated using the factors of BTUs (British Thermal Units) and the watts consumed. Specifically, how many BTUs per hour does it produce for the number of watts consumed? For example, a rating of 11 is for 10,000 BTUs/900 watts.

But, what is this rating called? For central air conditioning units, the term is SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating) while window-mounted and portable models, it's just EER (Energy Efficiency Rating). Why the difference? Someone in the government made it up. Us regular folks would assume that they're all used in the same season.

Look for the Energy Star label

Just like all your other appliances, look for the Energy Star label while shopping. This is your guarantee that the unit has been engineered to be energy efficient and will save you money. For marketing purposes, manufacturers often estimate how many dollars you'll save per year.

Of course, the real numbers are not that simple and rely on many factors, but it's a great tool for an analytic comparison.