Window Units VS. Central Air Conditioning for CFers

A

Aspiemom

Guest
Besides what has already been said, when I used to have the room units I would have such problems because it wasn't a consistant temperature. I would leave one room that was cooled and go into or through one that would be hot and humid. It was a constant change and that was always triggering my asthma. We had 4 a/c units, but still had a few rooms that were hot and sticky. And I hated getting in the path of a room a/c because when it blew right onto me my sinuses would get aggravated. I hated it.

We have the HEPA filters on our central air and my husband keeps it as clean as possible altho not to the extent of cleaning the ductwork.
 
A

Aspiemom

Guest
Besides what has already been said, when I used to have the room units I would have such problems because it wasn't a consistant temperature. I would leave one room that was cooled and go into or through one that would be hot and humid. It was a constant change and that was always triggering my asthma. We had 4 a/c units, but still had a few rooms that were hot and sticky. And I hated getting in the path of a room a/c because when it blew right onto me my sinuses would get aggravated. I hated it.

We have the HEPA filters on our central air and my husband keeps it as clean as possible altho not to the extent of cleaning the ductwork.
 
A

Aspiemom

Guest
Besides what has already been said, when I used to have the room units I would have such problems because it wasn't a consistant temperature. I would leave one room that was cooled and go into or through one that would be hot and humid. It was a constant change and that was always triggering my asthma. We had 4 a/c units, but still had a few rooms that were hot and sticky. And I hated getting in the path of a room a/c because when it blew right onto me my sinuses would get aggravated. I hated it.

We have the HEPA filters on our central air and my husband keeps it as clean as possible altho not to the extent of cleaning the ductwork.
 
A

Aspiemom

Guest
Besides what has already been said, when I used to have the room units I would have such problems because it wasn't a consistant temperature. I would leave one room that was cooled and go into or through one that would be hot and humid. It was a constant change and that was always triggering my asthma. We had 4 a/c units, but still had a few rooms that were hot and sticky. And I hated getting in the path of a room a/c because when it blew right onto me my sinuses would get aggravated. I hated it.

We have the HEPA filters on our central air and my husband keeps it as clean as possible altho not to the extent of cleaning the ductwork.
 
A

Aspiemom

Guest
Besides what has already been said, when I used to have the room units I would have such problems because it wasn't a consistant temperature. I would leave one room that was cooled and go into or through one that would be hot and humid. It was a constant change and that was always triggering my asthma. We had 4 a/c units, but still had a few rooms that were hot and sticky. And I hated getting in the path of a room a/c because when it blew right onto me my sinuses would get aggravated. I hated it.
<br />
<br />We have the HEPA filters on our central air and my husband keeps it as clean as possible altho not to the extent of cleaning the ductwork.
 
C

CFHockeyMom

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>As for whether a central unit would avoid the mildew troubles, that is the question I've not been able to get answered. All ACs pull moisture out of the air and the air handler has the potential to get mildewy or worse - Legionnaire's disease comes from central air conditioners that have standing water in the air handlers; so I'm not convinced central air would put my mind completely at rest on the question</end quote></div>

This statement isn't 100% correct. Central AC systems are equipped with drain lines so as the air is "dried" the moisture/condensate goes into a drip pan and out the drain line. If your central AC wasn't installed with a drain line, your installer didn't know what they were doing.

Legionnare's disease is associated with cooling towers used in large/industrial roof top units and typically only occurs when not properly cared for (i.e. the cooling tower water isn't chemically treated as it should be).

Although the initial cost of central AC is a lot, your energy savings (i.e. $$$) is recouped usually within the first year or two as window airs are not efficient.
 
C

CFHockeyMom

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>As for whether a central unit would avoid the mildew troubles, that is the question I've not been able to get answered. All ACs pull moisture out of the air and the air handler has the potential to get mildewy or worse - Legionnaire's disease comes from central air conditioners that have standing water in the air handlers; so I'm not convinced central air would put my mind completely at rest on the question</end quote></div>

This statement isn't 100% correct. Central AC systems are equipped with drain lines so as the air is "dried" the moisture/condensate goes into a drip pan and out the drain line. If your central AC wasn't installed with a drain line, your installer didn't know what they were doing.

Legionnare's disease is associated with cooling towers used in large/industrial roof top units and typically only occurs when not properly cared for (i.e. the cooling tower water isn't chemically treated as it should be).

Although the initial cost of central AC is a lot, your energy savings (i.e. $$$) is recouped usually within the first year or two as window airs are not efficient.
 
C

CFHockeyMom

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>As for whether a central unit would avoid the mildew troubles, that is the question I've not been able to get answered. All ACs pull moisture out of the air and the air handler has the potential to get mildewy or worse - Legionnaire's disease comes from central air conditioners that have standing water in the air handlers; so I'm not convinced central air would put my mind completely at rest on the question</end quote></div>

This statement isn't 100% correct. Central AC systems are equipped with drain lines so as the air is "dried" the moisture/condensate goes into a drip pan and out the drain line. If your central AC wasn't installed with a drain line, your installer didn't know what they were doing.

Legionnare's disease is associated with cooling towers used in large/industrial roof top units and typically only occurs when not properly cared for (i.e. the cooling tower water isn't chemically treated as it should be).

Although the initial cost of central AC is a lot, your energy savings (i.e. $$$) is recouped usually within the first year or two as window airs are not efficient.
 
C

CFHockeyMom

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>As for whether a central unit would avoid the mildew troubles, that is the question I've not been able to get answered. All ACs pull moisture out of the air and the air handler has the potential to get mildewy or worse - Legionnaire's disease comes from central air conditioners that have standing water in the air handlers; so I'm not convinced central air would put my mind completely at rest on the question</end quote>

This statement isn't 100% correct. Central AC systems are equipped with drain lines so as the air is "dried" the moisture/condensate goes into a drip pan and out the drain line. If your central AC wasn't installed with a drain line, your installer didn't know what they were doing.

Legionnare's disease is associated with cooling towers used in large/industrial roof top units and typically only occurs when not properly cared for (i.e. the cooling tower water isn't chemically treated as it should be).

Although the initial cost of central AC is a lot, your energy savings (i.e. $$$) is recouped usually within the first year or two as window airs are not efficient.
 
C

CFHockeyMom

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>As for whether a central unit would avoid the mildew troubles, that is the question I've not been able to get answered. All ACs pull moisture out of the air and the air handler has the potential to get mildewy or worse - Legionnaire's disease comes from central air conditioners that have standing water in the air handlers; so I'm not convinced central air would put my mind completely at rest on the question</end quote>
<br />
<br />This statement isn't 100% correct. Central AC systems are equipped with drain lines so as the air is "dried" the moisture/condensate goes into a drip pan and out the drain line. If your central AC wasn't installed with a drain line, your installer didn't know what they were doing.
<br />
<br />Legionnare's disease is associated with cooling towers used in large/industrial roof top units and typically only occurs when not properly cared for (i.e. the cooling tower water isn't chemically treated as it should be).
<br />
<br />Although the initial cost of central AC is a lot, your energy savings (i.e. $$$) is recouped usually within the first year or two as window airs are not efficient.
<br />
 
F

folione

New member
I'm chiming back in on Claudette's note.

I know about the drains/cooling towers part of the story and figure you must be right about leginnaires not being a problem with residential units - but I still wonder how good the residential blowers are at staying dry inside since I've never seen inside one and most of them sit in damp basements in my part of the country.

I also agree that AC investments can be not as bad as they sound, but our house is close to 100 years old with no ducts. Central air would cost about $15k to install base on the last quote I got. Our electric bill for the hottest month with window units running nonstop was $150 while our neighbor with central AC in a similar size house spent about $100. For the 3 or 4 months of AC we use, it turns out to be a payback period closer to 75 years on that $15k.
 
F

folione

New member
I'm chiming back in on Claudette's note.

I know about the drains/cooling towers part of the story and figure you must be right about leginnaires not being a problem with residential units - but I still wonder how good the residential blowers are at staying dry inside since I've never seen inside one and most of them sit in damp basements in my part of the country.

I also agree that AC investments can be not as bad as they sound, but our house is close to 100 years old with no ducts. Central air would cost about $15k to install base on the last quote I got. Our electric bill for the hottest month with window units running nonstop was $150 while our neighbor with central AC in a similar size house spent about $100. For the 3 or 4 months of AC we use, it turns out to be a payback period closer to 75 years on that $15k.
 
F

folione

New member
I'm chiming back in on Claudette's note.

I know about the drains/cooling towers part of the story and figure you must be right about leginnaires not being a problem with residential units - but I still wonder how good the residential blowers are at staying dry inside since I've never seen inside one and most of them sit in damp basements in my part of the country.

I also agree that AC investments can be not as bad as they sound, but our house is close to 100 years old with no ducts. Central air would cost about $15k to install base on the last quote I got. Our electric bill for the hottest month with window units running nonstop was $150 while our neighbor with central AC in a similar size house spent about $100. For the 3 or 4 months of AC we use, it turns out to be a payback period closer to 75 years on that $15k.
 
F

folione

New member
I'm chiming back in on Claudette's note.

I know about the drains/cooling towers part of the story and figure you must be right about leginnaires not being a problem with residential units - but I still wonder how good the residential blowers are at staying dry inside since I've never seen inside one and most of them sit in damp basements in my part of the country.

I also agree that AC investments can be not as bad as they sound, but our house is close to 100 years old with no ducts. Central air would cost about $15k to install base on the last quote I got. Our electric bill for the hottest month with window units running nonstop was $150 while our neighbor with central AC in a similar size house spent about $100. For the 3 or 4 months of AC we use, it turns out to be a payback period closer to 75 years on that $15k.
 
F

folione

New member
I'm chiming back in on Claudette's note.
<br />
<br />I know about the drains/cooling towers part of the story and figure you must be right about leginnaires not being a problem with residential units - but I still wonder how good the residential blowers are at staying dry inside since I've never seen inside one and most of them sit in damp basements in my part of the country.
<br />
<br />I also agree that AC investments can be not as bad as they sound, but our house is close to 100 years old with no ducts. Central air would cost about $15k to install base on the last quote I got. Our electric bill for the hottest month with window units running nonstop was $150 while our neighbor with central AC in a similar size house spent about $100. For the 3 or 4 months of AC we use, it turns out to be a payback period closer to 75 years on that $15k.
 
M

mamerth

New member
I am married to an HVAC installer. We have full house AC and hubby just bought us a hepa filter for our system-- boy that thing is huge.

Hubby likes the Heat pumps the best... they also heat the house to a certain temperaure. I imagine that is what we will get if our air conditioner dies.

Our utility company occasionally has incentives or rebates if homes upgrade their systems to more efficient air conditioners.

Hubby just finished being trained to install a different kind of cooling unit (can't remember what it is called-- very pricey but very energy efficient).

I would be miserable without our AC. The weather has started to cool off and we only have to run it during the afternoons. Thank goodness since our utility bills have been insane!!
 
M

mamerth

New member
I am married to an HVAC installer. We have full house AC and hubby just bought us a hepa filter for our system-- boy that thing is huge.

Hubby likes the Heat pumps the best... they also heat the house to a certain temperaure. I imagine that is what we will get if our air conditioner dies.

Our utility company occasionally has incentives or rebates if homes upgrade their systems to more efficient air conditioners.

Hubby just finished being trained to install a different kind of cooling unit (can't remember what it is called-- very pricey but very energy efficient).

I would be miserable without our AC. The weather has started to cool off and we only have to run it during the afternoons. Thank goodness since our utility bills have been insane!!
 
M

mamerth

New member
I am married to an HVAC installer. We have full house AC and hubby just bought us a hepa filter for our system-- boy that thing is huge.

Hubby likes the Heat pumps the best... they also heat the house to a certain temperaure. I imagine that is what we will get if our air conditioner dies.

Our utility company occasionally has incentives or rebates if homes upgrade their systems to more efficient air conditioners.

Hubby just finished being trained to install a different kind of cooling unit (can't remember what it is called-- very pricey but very energy efficient).

I would be miserable without our AC. The weather has started to cool off and we only have to run it during the afternoons. Thank goodness since our utility bills have been insane!!
 
M

mamerth

New member
I am married to an HVAC installer. We have full house AC and hubby just bought us a hepa filter for our system-- boy that thing is huge.

Hubby likes the Heat pumps the best... they also heat the house to a certain temperaure. I imagine that is what we will get if our air conditioner dies.

Our utility company occasionally has incentives or rebates if homes upgrade their systems to more efficient air conditioners.

Hubby just finished being trained to install a different kind of cooling unit (can't remember what it is called-- very pricey but very energy efficient).

I would be miserable without our AC. The weather has started to cool off and we only have to run it during the afternoons. Thank goodness since our utility bills have been insane!!
 
M

mamerth

New member
I am married to an HVAC installer. We have full house AC and hubby just bought us a hepa filter for our system-- boy that thing is huge.
<br />
<br />Hubby likes the Heat pumps the best... they also heat the house to a certain temperaure. I imagine that is what we will get if our air conditioner dies.
<br />
<br />Our utility company occasionally has incentives or rebates if homes upgrade their systems to more efficient air conditioners.
<br />
<br />Hubby just finished being trained to install a different kind of cooling unit (can't remember what it is called-- very pricey but very energy efficient).
<br />
<br />I would be miserable without our AC. The weather has started to cool off and we only have to run it during the afternoons. Thank goodness since our utility bills have been insane!!
 
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