Choosing the Best Cooling Solution for Your Space

The architecture of a home changes the shape of the home, and that changes how air moves throughout, between walls and windows and doors. Too much direct sunlight on an outdoor wall will make a space warmer, while too much shade will make it the coldest room in the house. The square footage inside leaves more - or less - room for heat and cold to collect and settle. When you add in the layout and the bulk of furniture, everything changes again. A simple window fan might do the trick in the kids’ college dorm apartments, but it’s a different story entirely in a new home.

Each new living situation will be different, so what’s the best cooling solution for your house? The best way to approach this is to study the options that are out there and carefully determine what will work best in your home. It may seem like an overwhelming project, but when you know the basics on the kinds of cooling systems available, it makes it easier to look for exactly what you need.

Room Air Circulation

What most people think of as the temperature of a room is based on their perception of the feel of it, which is a combination of the actual amount of heat and humidity in the room. A hot room can be comfortable if the humidity isn’t heavy and adding moisture to the air. When it comes to beating the heat and cooling down a room fast, sometimes moving air around with air circulators, or fans, will be exactly what’s needed.

As hot air rises and cold air settles, ceiling fans are a good year-round solution to keep the air in a room mixing. They provide the feel of cool air, like wind, just by redistributing the hot and cooler air. Similarly, exhaust fans move the hot air out of a room, either through a whole house fan or through open windows, pushing it out to draw cooler air in. Air circulators or fans are a quick cooling solution that work in a variety of home conditions and are generally energy efficient ways to keep cool in the summer.

Home Air Conditioning

Air conditioning units work differently than air circulators while still working with the same basic principles. A complex system of compressors, condensers, and evaporator coils are used to convert gas to liquids and hot to cold, ultimately all to move heat somewhere else… like technological magic! The A/C can remove both heat and humidity from the air in a room, partially by circulating the air to draw heat out, and partially by introducing cooler air into the mix.

To cool a house, it’s most energy efficient to work with both air circulation and air conditioning. The combination of cooling the air and keeping it moving will lower your energy bill as well as lengthen the life of the air conditioner by preventing overuse through drastic temperature fluctuation.

Room Square footage and Space Considerations

An A/C unit can add moisture to a room, which is why it is important to make sure you have the right size air conditioning unit for the square footage of space needing cooled to prevent an excess of moisture. If the A/C is too powerful for the room, the room will cool down quickly, but it will feel damp and clammy from the humidity. Excess moisture in the air can be a problem for unprotected technology or paper products in the room. If it’s not strong enough, an A/C unit will waste energy without making a big impact on the temperature of the room.

So how do you know what size air conditioner you need? Air conditioners are rated by BTUs, or British Thermal Units. A BTU measures the amount of heat energy required to adjust the temperature or moisture in the air in a given space per hour. The higher the BTU rating on an A/C unit, the larger the room it can keep cool.

To determine the size air conditioner you need, first break out those old high school geometry notes and calculate the square footage of the room. For most rooms, the square footage is the length of the room multiplied by the width of the room. Take note of the number of square feet and compare it to the chart below.

Keep in mind that the physical location of the air conditioning unit will influence the energy demand and efficiency. The air distributes best when dispersed from the center of the room. Install the the A/C or cooler in a location where the airflow can be pointed toward the middle of the room. It also can be influenced by temperatures in surrounding areas, like a kitchen, or the heat impacting an exterior wall. There are a few key points to remember about the placement of your A/C unit.

Home and Office Cooling Guide

What Cooling System products are out there?

Ceiling Fans  

Ceiling fans are mounted and wired into the ceiling, but it isn’t an overly complicated process and can be done as a DIY weekend project. They become a part of the design of the room, as well as provide helpful functionality as a fan or as a ceiling light. They increase home value and provide comfort and convenience to your spaces.

Ideal for: Individual Room

Pros

• Light kits are available to convert a fan to a ceiling light.
• In the warmer months, the ceiling fan draws cold air up and redistributes it.
• In the winter, reversing the direction of the blade-spin can help to circulate the warm air.
• Quiet operation.
• Easy to install yourself - Learn How

Cons

• It moves air to feel cool, so there’s no actual cooling effect on the room temperature.
• Shorter life-span if not balanced properly.

Window Fans

Window fans are air circulators that are installed as a panel in an open window. They can be easily installed and removed, just plug them into a standard wall outlet.

Ideal for: Individual Room

Pros

• Inexpensive solution.
• Low energy consumption.
• Easy Installation.
• Window fans can cool a room quickly.

Cons

• Not recommended in households with allergies due to the outside air being drawn inside.
• Only works if the air outside is actually cooler than the air inside.
• The fans tend to be loud.
• Takes up a window.

Air Circulators

Air circulators are the stand up or wall-mounted fans. These fans are generally portable and can sit on countertops or desks to direct airflow to a small area. They move air to create a “wind chill” effect but don’t change the room temperature at all.

Ideal for: Individual Room

Pros

• Small footprint, with wide sweep of added airflow.
• Easy to use.
• Easy maintenance.

Cons

• It moves air to feel cool, so there’s no actual cooling effect on the room temperature.
• The spinning blades and motor can be loud.

Central A/C

Most central air conditioning systems are at least partially located outside the home, either as a two-part, split system unit, or a single-package system. They use refrigerant to cool the air via a condenser and compressor, and then incorporate an evaporator coil and blower to help circulate the air and reduce humidity within the home. The air moves through the ductwork in the home, and the temperature is controlled by a thermostat, all requiring installation in the walls or other crawlspaces.

Ideal for: Entire Home

Pros

• Cools the entire home quickly.
• Out of sight, out of mind - just set the desired temperature and the AC does the work.
• Many different kinds of programmable thermostats are available.

Cons

• The units are expensive.
• Requires professional installation.
• Requires regular service to ensure effective, long-lasting operation of the unit.
• Concrete pad required, as well as any duct-repairs or improvements.

Portable A/C Units  

Portable air conditioning units are designed for homes, apartments, or office spaces where central air isn’t available and a window unit isn’t possible. They require access to a window for the system’s venting hose, but they can otherwise move from room to room as-needed. Some evaporative coolers don’t require the same exhaust system considerations and can be effective portable A/C solutions for small spaces.

Ideal for: Individual Room

Pros

• No installation - Plug it in and use.
• Great for cooling small spaces quickly.
• Inexpensive.

Cons

• Exhaust/inlet pipe requires a connection to a window or wall vent.
• Not very visually appealing.
• The fan and cooling system tend to be loud.

Window A/C

Window air conditioning units are capable of cooling rooms up to 650 square feet. They install in the space of an open window, and can be used seasonally to be stored in the winter time. They plug into a standard wall outlet and, when the room is sealed properly, can use less energy than some alternatives. Be sure when using a window A/C that the unit is not on a wall in direct sunlight, which makes the unit work harder and wastes energy.

Ideal for: Individual Room

Pros

• Easy installation on a window ledge.
• Great for cooling small spaces quickly.
• Inexpensive alternatives.

Cons

• They tend to be loud.
• Larger units can be heavy, which makes them more difficult to install.
• These units temporarily take away the use of a window in order to use them.

Wall AC Units

With through-the-wall-air conditioners, the A/C unit is fit into a hole cut through the wall rather than take up a window. They are a permanent solution and require more comprehensive installation efforts. They vent through the back of the unit, which reduces the amount of warm air that gets circulated back into the room, and can be more energy efficient.

Ideal for: Individual Room

Pros

• Versatile installation options.
• Many models allow for directed air flow to be sure the room is cooled most effectively.
• Great for cooling small spaces quickly.
• Inexpensive option with low energy use.

Cons

• Installation can be difficult and may require the assistance of a contractor.
• The motor tends to be loud.
• While modern units have a sleek style, the obvious grill in the wall is not very visually appealing.

Single Zone Mini-Split A/C

Small and stylish, the mini-split air conditioner has both an indoor and outdoor component to allow it to cool rooms that do not have adequate ducting for a central A/C system. The two wall-mounted units are connected via refrigerant tubing and electrical wiring, which means the wiring can be concealed through the wall within a hole no more than three inches in diameter. These systems are energy efficient and quiet, great for home additions or other converted spaces.

Ideal for: Apartment

Pros

• Do not require ducting.
• Cools spaces quickly and efficiently.
• Quiet operation.
• Stylish design.
• Less space required than a whole house, central A/C.

Cons

• Difficult Installation can require professional work.
• Expensive up-front purchase and installation.

Multi-zone Mini-Split A/C

Like the single zone systems, the multi-zone mini-split air conditioners require both indoor and outdoor components, but the multi-zone system can operate multiple indoor units - up to 8 wall mounted units - off of only a single outdoor unit. Each indoor unit can be placed and controlled individually, so every room can be set to the preferences of individual occupants, all without any ducting.

Ideal for: house

Pros

• Do not require ducting.
• Cools multiple spaces quickly and efficiently.
• Allows individual controls for every space.
• Quiet operation.
• Stylish design.
• Less space required than a whole house, central A/C

Cons

• Difficult Installation that requires professional placement.
• Expensive up-front purchase and installation.

Evaporative/ “Swamp” Cooler

Evaporative coolers rely on water to lower the temperature in a room, pushing hot air through water-soaked filters to lower the temperature up to 20 degrees. They add humidity, but they are often more portable, as well as can use up to 75% less electricity than an air conditioner.

Ideal for: Individual Room

Pros

• Most models are portable and compact.
• Easy installation.
• Great for cooling small rooms or large warehouse spaces quickly.
• Inexpensive to buy, install, and maintain, using less energy than alternatives.

Cons

• Requires a regular water supply to the unit.
• They tend to be loud.
• Can make the air feel humid, especially if not properly sized to the room.
• Most effective in conjunction with other cooling devices.

Whole House Fan

The whole house fan operates much like an air circulator, but on a larger scale. It pulls air in through open doors and windows throughout the house, routing it through ducts or attic spaces to push the hot air back outside. Used in combination with ceiling fans and other fans, it can keep a home cool in the summer. It is louder than a modern, well-functioning A/C unit, but it is much cheaper to run.

Ideal for: Entire Home

Pros

• Quickly cools the home.
• Low energy consumption.

Cons

• Only works if the air outside is actually cooler than the air inside.
• Not recommended in households with allergies due to the outside air being drawn inside.
• Requires all windows to be open to work properly.
• If there is not adequate air flow, the system could be damaged.
• The stronger air flow and the larger fans tend to be loud.
• Difficult ductwork specifications require professional installation.
• If improperly installed, it can pull air flow from other areas of the house, resulting in gas or carbon monoxide issues.