In our latest series of blog posts we wanted to really delve into air conditioning. It is a major part of or lives and many people take it for granted or give very little thought to it. Sterling Oil actually installs and repairs AC so that is why we wanted to include this content on our blog.

Raw Figures and Stats

Three quarters of all home in the United States have air conditioning. Air conditioners use roughly 6% of all electricity consumed in the U.S. Your refrigerator uses the same exact principles and mechanisms to keep your food cold. Until the very late 20th century, the liquid coolant (refrigerant) was called a CFC. This stands for chlorofluorocarbons. Since then, the industry has been switching to halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). The reason for the change is because the CFC’s cause damage to the Ozone layer of the Earth.

Studies indicate switching to newer and more efficient systems can save as much as 20%-50% household energy consumption. It is important to make sure you have the most efficient AC unit you can and that your system is using the newer refrigerants.

Types of AC’s

There are two main types of air conditioners:

1. Room air conditioners
2. Central air conditioners

The room AC’s are usually window units or units that use a window in some way. The other type is built into the house and has vents in each room and has an evaporator outside. There are various hybrids of these two types but they are all related to these two main types.

Central units are much more efficient at cooling an entire house. Some people may choose to only air condition a room or two in their house and this is when a window type unit comes in handy.  Another positive feature of a central air conditioner is the ability to truly filter the air. The air is all run through a filter and this process can help with conditions such as asthma and allergies. There are some very high end filters available these days.

Each living space is unique and can be evaluated for the best type of AC to be used. A professional can help you decide what is best for your particular living space.