Your window AC has kept you cool through many summers. If you’re like most people, you probably bought it while you were in college or just starting your professional life, and it’s served you well. But that doesn’t mean you have to live with it forever.
Unfortunately, a window AC is not the best cooling option, and upgrading may be more attainable than you realize. Wondering if it’s time to ditch your window AC and upgrade? Here are five reasons that you should break up with your window AC and move on to something better.
1. To Cool the Rest of Your Home
As you know, a window AC only cools one room. Some people put it in their living area while others prefer to save the cold air for the bedroom so they can sleep at night. If you’re ready for your whole home to be cool, it’s time to get rid of your window AC and upgrade to a better option.
You might be thinking, why don’t I just buy a window AC for every room? While you certainly can do that, the cost of running multiple window ACs is not going to be cheap, and it’s going to be noisy. Plus, if you’re buying multiple units, you’re also getting into the budget area of a central or ductless air conditioner.
2. To Save Money on Cooling Costs
Unfortunately, window ACs are notoriously inefficient. If you only have a unit in a single room, you are likely using less energy than you would using a central AC to cool your entire home, but in regard to the area being cooled, these units are generally less efficient than other options. This is particularly true if you have an old window AC.
3. To Get More Peace and Quiet
Window ACs are very loud. On average, their decibel rating is 50 to 60, but in some cases, they can get up to 80 decibels or higher. To put this into perspective, 80 is the level of a human shouting, while 60 is about the sound of a normal conversation.
In contrast, if you upgrade to a ductless system, it runs at a level of around 32 decibels which is equivalent to a whispered conversation or rustling leaves. Central ACs make about as much noise as window units, but because they’re tucked away, you don’t necessarily hear the noise the way you do with a window unit.
4. To Improve the Aesthetics of Your Home
Having an AC hanging out of your window is an eyesore. It looks even worse if the AC doesn’t fit correctly and you have filled up the excess space with wood or cardboard. When you get rid of your window AC, you can reclaim your windows and improve the curb appeal of your home.
5. To Protect Your Exterior Walls
Most window ACs have a pan to catch the condensation generated by the air conditioner, but unfortunately, in most cases, the pan never gets emptied or the drips miss the pan. When this happens, the condensation from the air conditioning unit gets into the wall below your window.
This can lead to a build-up of mold or mildew that hurts your indoor air quality while also damaging your wall. Over the years, when we have sent our crews out to remove clients’ window ACs, we have discovered a lot of damage to exterior walls. The sooner you upgrade, the more you can avoid this condition.
An Upgrade May Be More Affordable Than You Think
There’s one more reason that you should ditch your window AC, and we think it’s the most compelling reason — because an upgrade may be more affordable than you think.
When you upgrade to a ductless AC, you have a wide range of options. You can choose a single zone with just cooling, or you can opt for a whole-home system that features multiple zones. You can also add heating without driving up the cost that much.
A ductless HVAC system is a lot more expensive than a window AC, but you can reduce the cost by applying for rebates, using financing, and taking advantage of tax credits. Additionally, once you have the system installed, you may notice lower cooling bills.
Ready to learn more? Then, contact us at N.E.T.R., Inc today. We can answer your questions about ductless heating and cooling. Then, if you’re interested, we’ll send a comfort consultant to your home. They’ll talk with you about your current heating and cooling methods, and then, they’ll design a ductless system that makes your home more comfortable all year long.
