Top Home Cooling Options for Missouri Residents
Missouri can reach some pretty high temperatures, often going well over 80°F in the summer.
If you want to keep your home at a reasonable temperature, you need some kind of cooling system. This will help you and your family stay comfortable when things are heating up outside. But with various home cooling options available, how do you pick one?
In this guide, we’ll go over some of these solutions so you can better understand your options. Keep reading for more.
Central Air Conditioning
This is a popular option in warm climates as it can effectively cool an entire home. They can often cool a house by up to 20 degrees.
The system carries refrigerant from the condenser coil to the evaporator coil, turning it from a liquid into a gas. This cools the surface of the evaporator coil which air then passes over. This cooled air flows through the ventilation system and into your home.
A typical central air conditioning system runs on electricity. If it’s part of a full HVAC system, it could also use gas or oil.
Heat Pump
A heat pump extracts heat from the home and pumps it outside to cool the home. It can also do the opposite to heat a home.
This makes it a highly versatile option, and it’s also more energy-efficient than central air conditioning. You can get either a ducted or ductless system, so you can integrate your new heat pump into your current ventilation system, or you can use individual handlers throughout your home.
Ductless Mini-Split
This can be a good choice if you don’t want a whole-house ventilation system. These use heat pumps and refrigerant coils to send cool air to one or more indoor air handlers and into the home.
These are also available in cooling-only configurations if you’re not concerned about heating in the winter. The unit is placed outside of the home, and the systems are powered by electricity.
Evaporative Cooler
Evaporative coolers (also known as swamp coolers) are ideal for dry climates. They take in hot, dry air and push it across wet cooling pads. Water on the pads evaporates, cooling the air by about 5-15 degrees.
The main downside of these is they only work well in dry climates. They can also require a lot of maintenance.
Room and Window Air Conditioner
These are becoming increasingly popular and work in the same way as central air conditioning systems, just on a smaller scale. They’re available in various designs and sizes to accommodate different windows and rooms.
One of the downsides here is that they’re not the best solution for cooling entire homes. A central air conditioning system is better for this, despite the larger initial investment.
The Best Home Cooling Options
When deciding between these home cooling options, you need to think about your home, your budget, and your needs. If you’re uncertain, you can ask for guidance from a professional.
J & M Smith Heating & Air provides reliable cooling solutions for residents of Joplin, Missouri, and the surrounding communities. We also offer HVAC, refrigeration, boilers, appliances, and preventative care. Take a look at our services page for more details and what we can do for you.