Advantages and Disadvantages of Window Units Versus Central Air Conditioning

If your home is cool and relaxing, you will think of it as a haven from the heat, somewhere that you would like to be. Keeping your house cool is a very important thing, especially in the hot summer months when the rising temperatures can feel rather oppressive. This can improve your mood, help you to sleep better, and reduce your levels of stress and anxiety. There are two main ways to cool your house, and they are using window units and central air conditioning. The following will look at the advantages and disadvantages of window units versus central air conditioning so that you can make the right decision for your home.

Installation Cost

The installation cost for a central air conditioning unit is much higher than the cost to put in a window unit. The central air system requires the main body of the system, the duct work, and multiple vents throughout the entire home. The window unit, on the other hand, only needs to be purchased and set in place. It can then run just by being plugged into the wall. There is no additional cost and no other parts that need to be used. This is a very cost-effective way to cool your home.

Overall Effectiveness

There are two main problems with window units, the first which is overall effectiveness. A central air system can cool the entire home to the same temperature. It is very easy to turn on and off and it reaches to every room in the home so that everyone feels the same level of comfort. A window unit is really only useful for the room in which it sits. There is not much else that it can reach. That room may be cool, but the rest of the house will be sweltering; unless, of course, you put a different unit into every single room. This will raise the costs significantly, though it could make the system a bit more useful. Having every room at the same temperature will keep you from feeling confined to a certain part of your house.

Looks and Appeal

The next problem is that a window unit, naturally, takes up an entire window. You can lose your view and some of the natural light that comes into your house. The unit also looks rather obtrusive, sticking out from the window and into the room. The vents from a central air unit are hardly noticeable, while the window unit is very obvious. It can detract from the overall look of the room. Some people do not mind this, but others find that a window unit makes them feel that their home is not as beautiful, so they refuse to use it.