hey folks...with the temperatures out here this summer and hte reality that it's probably just going to get wamer and warmer as the summers go on....we're thinkin a central cooling system may be a good investment for the townhouse.

Only thing is i don't kno wmuch and am strugglign to actually find pricing on them on the internet, probably cause i dunno what manufacturers make them.

Anywho....we'd be cooling abut 1500sq ft of house.....

what should i generally know? what are the general prices?

 

Well since your in Edmonton, goto/call local shops and see what they recommend. I have one one that is outside of the house. Its the main radiator outside and the cool stuff is in side. Works pretty good, just have to cover it up during the winter. You need a fridgeration person to install it and a electrical guy to wire it up. One of my friends has a portable one also, pretty good over all too, kind of nice cuase he just rolls it around where he needs it.

 

well in our house we have 1000sq' on one level 800sq' on the upper. we purchased 2 of those window air conditioners ( cost less than 200 each) and it keep the whole house cool, with the aid or a few fans.

altho that's an easy cheap solution, if you do get central air unstalled you are gaurenteed to get that money back when you sell the house

 

thats what i was thinkin...we'd make the money back when we sold it....but i don't have a clue what the actual buyin is like.

Hmmm the window ones really work that well huh....maybe i should just be selfish and get a small cheap one fo rmy bedroom? lol

 

The window ones do work great, provided you have a couple of them. One for the living area and one for a couple bedrooms. As long as doors are left open the whole house will feel great. Central air is nice though because the whole place stays cool regardless if doors are open or closed. But, if you're absolutely dying and can spare a couple hundred bucks now, maybe a window one would do good for you and you can spend this winter figuring out what you want to do about the central air.

 

probably wouldn't do central air till next summer anyways....gotta save money and what not...not to mention it'll probably cool off here as soon as we get an air conditioner lol.


Generally what can they be worth for purchase and install...assuming a person does the full meal deal?

 

You're looking in the $2500-4000 range for central air, installed. If you want an estimate that is likely a little high but easy to get, call Sears.

 

portables are the rage now since you can easily move the unit between rooms. The portables rely on hoses which you route out the window instead of actually placing the whole unit in the window. Central air may be overkill as the whole house is getting cooled when all you may need is a cool room or 2(bedroom and den for example). I have central air and don't use it....I bought a portable for my bedroom instead. The rest of the house is warm but livable as there is usually a breeze from the open windows, if not I turn on a few fans. The biggest benefit to not using the central air is to be in touch with the reality of the weather compared to being locked in a sterile fake environment. I like having fresh air, different smells, changing temps, humidities, pressures, etc., open windows also bring the sounds of the neighbourhood which I hadn't noticed I was missing until...

let us know what you decide eh !

take care
craig.

 

Do a google search for heat pumps.

Here's one you can check out:
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/equipment/eng...e45.cfm?attr=4

 

That's about right. They will come look at your furnace and find out what size of cooling coil is suitable for your furnace and for the size of house. I saw a display at Home Depot as well about them.