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AIR CONDITIONERS
Air conditioners are used to cool your home on hot summer days. However, over the past years in the Greater Toronto Area, hot sticky humid days seem to be more common. They use to only last for a few weeks but now they seem to start from May and last until October.
In addition to the hotter, humid temperatures, houses are built with more insulation now. That's great for the winter months, but that's tough for a home to cool down in the summer.
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When it comes to cooling systems, there are several options on the market now. For houses with duct work, installing a central air conditioning system (HVAC) is a great option. For homes with radiant heating, many families install ductless air conditioning units to cool individual rooms. The ductless system are also known as mini-split systems.
To install an air conditioning system for your home, you should look for a certified contractor who also has their gas fitters license. In Ontario, Fuel Industry Certificates are issued by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA).
A central air conditioner is a perfect pairing for a home with a gas furnace system. Your duct work is already in place and this allows you to cool your home in the summer.
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HVAC systems are great for cooling the main floor and basement. It generally has a hard time cooling off the second floor. To help make it more efficient, you can cap the vents to the basement (which naturally stays cool) so it forces the air to the upper levels.
However if that isn't doing the trick, it could be time to look at replacing your existing system. If you system is relatively new, it might not be powerful enough or it may be not doing an efficient job of taking out the humidity. You'll want to call an air conditioning technician to inspect it. You can also add a ductless system to the room(s) that just don't get the cooling from your central HVAC system.
A ductless or a mini-split system is a great cooling option for older homes. It can also be used in newer homes that need a zoned, cooling solutions.
Ductless systems can be installed in individual rooms such as bedrooms and living rooms. By focusing your cooling needs to certain rooms, you save on operating costs because and energy. It's an effective system for removing humidity too. As well, most mini-split systems have powerful filters to remove dusts.
The disadvantage with this system is the upfront costs of the equipment. However, you know that they're a proven cooling system. They are used globally in climates with hot heather and high humidity - so they'll work in the homes around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
To install an air conditioning system for your home, you should look for a certified contractor who also has their gas fitters license. In Ontario, Fuel Industry Certificates are issued by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA).