Will a Window AC Unit Save You Money?
Now that spring and summer are on the horizon, the temperature in the Belleville, IL area will soon begin to rise. That means a couple of things. For one, it means there will be ample opportunity to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. However, it also means that you’ll need to have a reliable AC unit to keep your household consistently comfortable. So, if you’re currently in the market for a new cooling system, should you invest in an HVAC central air unit or a window unit? Each kind of system has pros and cons, so it ultimately depends on what your priorities are.
Purchasing and Installation Costs
When it comes to the price of purchasing and installing the system, you’ll save quite a bit of money by going with a window AC unit. On average, a central air AC unit will cost somewhere in the range of $4,000 to as high as $7,500, whereas a window unit will typically cost less than $1,000. And, because HVAC systems need to be intertwined with so many other household systems, the installation process is very involved and time-consuming. If you purchase a window unit, on the other hand, you don’t necessarily even need to pay a professional to install it. If you feel comfortable doing so, you should be able to save the money and get it set up on your own.
Operational Costs
Window units and central air systems are quite different when it comes to energy efficiency as well. Typically, window AC units are extremely efficient with their cooling, requiring only minimal amounts of electricity to do their job. Plus, since a window unit will typically only serve one room or area of your house, you can simply shut it off when you aren’t spending time there.
Since central air HVAC units need to cool down entire homes while also managing humidity levels, they typically require significantly more electricity. So, on average, a household that utilizes a window AC system will have lower monthly cooling costs than a home that uses a central air setup.
Entire Home Cooling
One of the primary advantages of having a central air AC unit is that it will generally have no problem circulating cool air around your entire household. Even if you have a very large home, you can just select a larger, more powerful HVAC unit, and you’ll be good to go. On the other hand, if you decide to go with a window unit, you may be faced with a predicament. Unless you have a small house or spend most of your time in one room, you will likely find yourself needing more than one unit. Granted, because window AC units are so affordable, you could purchase three or four of them before the cost would approach that of a central air system. However, the extra expense of buying multiple units will certainly diminish the savings you gained by avoiding a central air HVAC system. Plus, if you regularly run several window units simultaneously, the energy usage is likely to exceed the amount that one HVAC unit would use.
That said, if you live in an apartment or a small, single-level house, you should be able to stay nice and comfortable with one window unit.
Repair and Maintenance Costs
Whether you’re using a window unit or a central air system, there’s always the potential for a malfunction or breakdown. However, because HVAC systems feature so many different components working together to control your home’s climate, they tend to be at significantly greater risk for mechanical failure than window units. And when something does go wrong, central air systems are typically much more expensive to repair than window units are. Plus, HVAC systems require regular maintenance to continue operating smoothly and efficiently, whereas a window unit won’t require nearly as much upkeep.
At BELOMAN, we’re proud to provide high-quality home comfort services to residents of the greater Belleville area. For over 60 years, we’ve been helping clients with their heating, cooling, plumbing, duct cleaning, and indoor air quality needs. Over the last six decades, we’ve built a reputation in the area for being dedicated to our customers and doing exceptional work. Our company is second-generation family-owned, we’ve received both local and national awards, and we always make an effort to stay active in our community. Plus, we also offer senior and military discounts for our services. When you’re ready to schedule an appointment, just reach out to our offices at BELOMAN.
