How Efficient Is Refrigeration As Cooling For A Home As Compared To Central Air Conditioning?
I plan to move to the Phoenix, Arizona area and am currently looking at homes. All of the homes that I am seeing have refrigeration cooling. I have always lived in the South and Midwest, and I have always had a window unit air conditioner or central air. How efficient is this refrigeration cooling as compared to central air conditioning? Is it electric or gas? Is it the recommended cooling system for this area? What about repairs and maintenance?
Answer:
Refrigeration IS the same thing as air conditioning. Central units are merely whole-house devices that force the air through ductwork, instead of having a little window unit in each room. I suspect the efficiency is similar, but you'll probably be more comfortable with the whole house cooled. Central air conditioning can be gas or electric. I'm not sure that one is more efficient than the other, you'll have to get cost information from someone that knows local prices.