Central Air Conditioning Prices - Is There a Better Way to Keep Cool in the Hot Summer Weather?

In these tough economic times there is always a search for ways to maintain or improve our lifestyle and at the same time cut some costs. Central air conditioning prices are high, that's a fact. Not only is it high to install central air conditioning, it is expensive to operate. So what choices do people have?

One choice is to just suffer through the heat. I have done that in years past and it is no fun at all. Another solution in some climates is a swamp cooler or evaporative cooler. They can be a solution as I said, but it is not air conditioning. Cooling with an evaporative cooler is not air conditioning, it's damp, can smell, well, it's just not ideal, and if you live in a humid climate it isn't even an option. Another option is window air conditioners. Window air conditioners were the good old stand-bye for many years for people without central air conditioning. I remember growing up even admiring those with a window air conditioner. In reality though, who really wants to have to lug that heavy air conditioner out every spring and try to place it precariously in a window, and then listen to it churn away all day and night? That's not living. Another solution that has come on the scene as of late are portable air conditioners. These units usually roll around and have a hose, similar to a dry vent hose, that evacuates the hot air outside. Again, you really have most of the same drawbacks that you do in having a window air conditioner.

The solution that I have found that is most desirable today, and combats the high central air conditioner prices are mini split air conditioners. The reason that they are a good alternative to escalating central air conditioner prices are many fold. One reason is that installation is simple and straightforward. Install the outside unit, install the inside unit on the wall and connect them together. I know I have oversimplified that explanation, but not by much. Compared with installing central air conditioning, it really is much simpler. There is no duct work, many times they operate on 110 volts and they really are very simple and thus less expense.

Another reason that mini split air conditioning is a good solution to battle high central air conditioner prices, is that you have the ability and option of controlling each zone or section of your house independently. What this means is that if you are not going to be in the bedroom of your house all day, you do not have to keep it cool. This really can add up to significant savings in electric usage. This feature is usually accessible using a remote for each zone and even gives you the option of programing when the air conditioner comes on. This is a nice feature. Let's say you are gone all day and know that you will be home at 5 PM, you can just set the Split unit to come on at a time that is sufficient to cool the room. Then when you get home you have the a cool and comfortable room, automatically.