Central air vs. in thru wall/window a/c your opinion?

Question

what do think would be better thru wall a/c or central. a good central will run me $7200,with new duct work, attic fan ect. adding thru wall units probably under $2000. finances are tight, but this house is our home for at least 20 more years. central; adds value, but is it worth the cost and renovation work it will take, for the future value

Answer 1

Central air is definitely better but more money. And the construction bit stinks, especially if you have to Sheetrock and paint.  Did you consider mini-split systems where the condenser sits outside and coolant lines run into a blower in the house.  They are pretty efficient and can also be used to produce heat.  These systems are very popular in Asia and Europe.  Adding a attic fan will always help.

Answer 2

Yes the central A/C is so much better than the wall unit.

With the wall unit, you'll need fans around to get the cooled air distributed throughout the house.  Listening to these, and tripping over them will wear on you quickly.

The central a/c chugs along nice and quietly, cooling and drying the air.  It's much more efficient too, as the big wall unit will run 4x as much to accomplish the same reduction in temperature.   With the central, there won't be hot and cold spots either.

The wall units' filter will need to be cleaned a few times a season.  The central air will need its filter cleaned or replaced once a season, and the outside unit should be cleaned in the spring, and covered for the winter.

$7200 is on the low side, talk to their references.

Answer 3

Yeah, central air is expensive to put in - especially in old houses.

But, they are WAY more efficient than window a/c and central air saves money on the energy bill too. Plus, your whole house is cooled simultaneously and is definitely more quiet.

Answer 4

I would rather have central air. It does add value to the house. Plus, the whole house is cool all the time. Not just a couple of rooms. You should also add the amount it will cost to cool the house both ways in the long run to your total cost.

Answer 5

You could look into the new type of air conditioning that has room units, but a central cooling system.  It does not need ducts, allows individual room control, and I believe is more efficient than window units.