subject: The Worth Of Air Conditioners [print this page] With intense heat settling in for a long and endless summer, people without air conditioners must find other ways to cool down. A dip in the ocean or a visit from the ice cream man can provide some relief, but are not a practical solution to the heat. The only real solution is to purchase air conditioners to cool the work or home space and make the temperature tolerable. No longer a luxury, air conditioners are designed to either cool a small section of a home, or are centrally installed to cool the entire home at once.
What are central air conditioners?
Centrally air conditioned homes are the easiest, although most expensive, solution to the need for air conditioners on hot summer days. Central air conditioners provide constant cool air temperatures to entire house, not just a specific room, and can keep spaces more easily and consistently cooled. Central air conditioners should be installed in homes with high temperatures for extended periods of time; however, the installation costs can be prohibitive.
Single Unit Air Conditioners: Are they worth it?
Air conditioners are also available for single rooms. These are best for areas where central air conditioning is not needed as temperatures do not get hot enough for long periods of time to warrant the cost of central air. Single air conditioners typically can effectively cool a 8x10 room in less than one hour. However, the cost of keeping single air conditioners operational for long periods can be very high.
How do air conditioners work?
While these appliances provide enormous relief to millions during the endless heat waves of summer, how they work can remain a mystery. Air conditioners use chemicals that can turn from a gas to a liquid, and back to a gas. The main components of an air conditioner are a compressor, condenser, evaporator and expansion valve. It also has a thermostat to control the temperature. Stored outside are the compressor and condenser.
The chemical inside ofair conditioners move into the compressor in gas form and then is compressed until it is heats up and moves through the condenser, becomes cool and turns into a liquid. As this hot liquid slowly is forced into the expansion valve it begins to evaporate. As it evaporates it blows over the metal fan and the this cold air is transferred to the room.
How much does an air conditioner cost?
Cost of air conditioners depends on the size and efficiency of the unit. The cost of installing central air is between $3000 and $9000, depending on the size of the home and the amount of cooling needed. The cost ranges quite a bit for single unit air conditioners, depending on how much space needs to be cooled and the budget of the buyer. Most single unit air conditioners retail for between $199 and $399.
