Advantages & Disadvantages: Central Air vs Window Units

There are numerous types of air conditioning systems available for sale on the market that are engineered to keep your home comfortable and remove humidity throughout the summer months. If you have a broken system, you may be comparing the differences between central air conditioners vs window units. To help you find the correct system for your house, we’ve outlined the similarities, differences, and advantages of central and window air conditioners.

Cost Comparison

The average cost of purchasing and installing a central air conditioning system for a home will range from $3,000 to $5,000 or more. However, the total price of an installation may be around $9,000 or higher for houses that do not include air ducts. If you’re comparing the total cost of central air vs a window unit, the average price of a window air conditioner with a BTU rating of 5,000 is $100. While this may seem like an excellent price, this type of system is only designed to accommodate a small room.

If you’re searching for a window air conditioner to remove heat and humidity for a large room in your house, you will have to purchase a more powerful unit. The average price of a bigger window air conditioner with a BTU rating of 10,000 is $300 or more. When comparing the cost of central air vs a window unit, many families decide to purchase one or more window air conditioners to save money. However, the total cost of purchasing multiple window air conditioning systems can become expensive for moderate to large families.

If you have a family of 2 kids, you may decide to purchase window unit instead of central air for your master bedroom and each of their bedrooms. Since an average energy-efficient air conditioner may cost as high as $300, a family with 2 kids may end up spending $900 or more on three window air conditioners. This is a lot of money to spend on a couple of systems that will not provide cold air to the entire house. 

It would be a better investment to purchase and install a central air conditioner in your home. This type of system will keep every area of your home comfortable and will increase the total resale value of your house. If you need assistance finding a new cooling system, give our team a call by phone at (732) 201-3305 or book an appointment online.

Advantages of a Central Air Conditioner

While you may save money with a window unit, a central air conditioner provides superior air filtration. This is a huge advantage for family members in your home that have asthma or severe allergies. If you’re comparing the advantages of central air vs window units, it’s also important to consider air circulation. 

The average window air conditioner unit may have issues distributing cold air throughout the entire room. As a result, you may notice warm areas in your room that are not receiving cold air. On the other hand, a central air conditioning system is engineered to distribute cold air throughout the home in an efficient manner. If you have a larger family that consists of 2 – 3 kids, we recommend purchasing a central ac instead of a window ac.

Advantages of a Window Air Conditioner

The biggest benefit of a window ac vs a central ac is the savings you may accumulate due to the low upfront price. This type of system is also cheaper to operate on a monthly basis. An excellent way to decrease your electric bills each month is to invest in a window air conditioner for your bedroom and main living area. 

If you’re comparing electricity usage between central air vs window units, a window air conditioner may help you save money on your utility bills since this type of system will only provide cold air to two areas of your house. On the other hand, a central air conditioning system will continuously provide cold air to areas of your home that are not being utilized. This may be a waste of electricity and harmful to both your wallet and the environment. Another advantage that causes people to choose a window unit vs central air is the intuitive installation process. Since a window air conditioning system is easy to install, you are not required to pay a licensed contractor to set it up.

Electricity Usage

Your air conditioning system utilizes more electricity when compared to other appliances in your home such as the oven, water heater, dishwasher, washer, and dryer. The average window air conditioner will use a maximum of 1440 watts throughout the standard cooling cycle. 

On the other hand, a standard central air conditioning system will utilize 3,500 watts or more to remove heat from your house. If you’re comparing the differences between central air conditioners vs window units,  we recommend investing in a window air conditioner if you are living on your own.  This will help you save money each year on your electric bill. On the other hand, a household with 4 to 5 people may be able to save money by purchasing a central air conditioner instead of 4 or more window air conditioners.

Efficiency

A central air conditioner will help a standard family of 4 to 5 people save money on their electricity bill. However, a moderate to severe air duct leak may negatively affect the efficiency of your system. As the air ducts in your house reach the middle to end of their lifespan, cracks and holes may begin to form. This causes the cold air that is produced by your air conditioner to leak into areas such as the attic or between walls.

This will cause issues including high electricity bills and weak airflow from the furnace or central air conditioning system. To ensure your system is able to remove heat from each area of your home, you may need to replace your air ducts. The average price of installing new air ducts ranges from $1,800 to $3,000 or more. This price includes the air ducts, vents, and insulation. Since an average family is unable to afford a new central air conditioner and air ducts, it may be beneficial to invest in one or more window air conditioners instead of a central system to keep your home comfortable.

Air Conditioner Repair, Tune-Up & Install in New Jersey

If you are struggling with choosing between a window ac vs a central ac for your house, give our team a call by phone at (732) 201-3305 or book an appointment online. Prior to making a decision, it’s important to consider variables such as the amount of people living in your home and upfront costs of each system. Team Electric provides dependable air conditioning repair, tune-up, and installation services to homes in areas of New Jersey such as Brick, Trenton, Tom’s River, and Middletown. Contact a member of our team to receive assistance.