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Forced Air vs. Central Air Comparison: What Makes Them Different, and What Suits You Better?
There's a lot of talk about forced air and central air regarding home comfort. What is forced air, and what's the meaning of central air? More importantly, which one would be most suited for your specific needs? Surely, you are not the only one asking: What is the difference between forced air and central air? Even further, does central air imply heating also? Let's break it down for easier understanding.
What is forced air?
Basically, a heating and cooling system consisting of forced air works with the air flowing through the ducts and vents around the house, and one would be right in thinking that. It's that scenario kind of when the air inside a furnace (or air conditioner) would be heated (or cooled), and then it is forced by a fan into the ducts, and so through the rooms of your home.
1.What does forced air mean?
2.What is a forced-air heating system?
Basically furnace is used to heat the air indoors and then dispersing that heated air through ductwork in the home.
3.Combination forced air heating and cooling systems:
Some work even in combinations, heating and cooling together for a super system.
What is central air?
First, let's dive into central air. Central air is basically a central air conditioning unit-the unit which is primarily responsible for cooling a certain residence. Unlike forced air, which can actually heat or cool, central air is solely a system based on cooling.
1.Central heating, or central air conditioning:
Central heating is that which usually lights up with a furnace or boiler in order to heat up a home. However, central air conditioning is certainly a term that describes the actual cooling of a home.
2.Does central air mean warmth?
No central air is pure cooling. Even though a building employing central air might still possess heat, in most cases, the heat is sourced from forces other than the central air conditioning unit, which is generally a forced-air central furnace.
If you are not familiar yet with forced air and central air and you want to know the major difference between the two, here they are:
1.What They Do:
- A forced air system can generate heat or cool air; depending on the way they are constructed, they're setup.
- A central air system is only meant for cooling.
2.What Is Included:
- A forced air unit consists of a furnace, ductwork, and vents. If it also has been installed for cooling, then the system should include an air conditioner.
- A central air system contain an outside condenser unit, an indoor evaporator and ductwork for blowing cool air in your home.
3.Power Supply:
- Forced air systems usually operate on natural gas, electricity, or propane.
- Central air systems only work with electricity.
4.When They're Used:
- Forced air provides a bigger heating system option.
- Central air functions strictly as a cooling system; it is ideal if you have a proper heating system in place.
Forced Air Heating and Cooling: The Good and the Bad
1.The Good Stuff:
- Variable: It can heat and cool your home, so there’s year-round comfort.
- Air Quality: Many systems feature air-filtration systems that clean circulated air.
- Speed: It will heat or cool your home quickly, meaning you won’t have to wait long to feel comfortable.
2.The Not-So-Good Stuff:
- Duct Maintenance: You should be cleaning your air ducts regularly, but probably you can't always do it that often, anyways a serious health hazard is presented by dust and allergens.
- Noise: The blower fan is kind of noisy, especially in older systems.
- One temperature does not fit all: Some rooms may look a little warmer or cooler than others.
Central Air Conditioning: The Good and the Bad
If Central Air is more your style, consider this:
1.The Good Stuff:
- Efficient cooling: Great for climates where the sun burns hot, constant comfort inside your home is guaranteed.
- Quiet operation: Very quiet systems if you get the modern ones.
- Adds value: This feature should add quite a bit to the selling price when you decide to move.
2.The Not-So-Good Stuff:
- Cooling only: It can't provide heat, hence needing some heating system to work along with it.
- Installation costs: The overall installation could be industrial-wise expensive if there is no ductwork beforehand.
- Electricity bills: Sometimes, air-conditioning operation throughout the summer can become a taxing headache on electric bills.
Forced Air vs. Central Air: Which Should You Choose?
The answer really depends on your needs:
- If you want a system for heating and cooling, use forced air heating and cooling.
- If you have a furnace for heating and require a newly added cooling process, then a central air system is right for you.
Difference between Forced Air system and Central Air system chart:
Central heating vs forced air:
Central heating means a system in which heat is generated in one sitting and distributed throughout the house. The most common types include the following:
- Boiler (using water or steam)
- Radiators (spreading heat through pipes)
- Hydronic floor heating (providing heated water beneath the floors)
Pros:
- Quiet in operation (no blowing air)
- More consistent, even heat
- It does not dry out the air
- Alternative energy sources can be used (geothermal, solar)
Cons:
- Slow when heating up
- Installation can be costly
- Radiators or floor piping are required
Forced Air Heating
Pros:
- Heats up fast
- Can work with central air conditioning
- Can filter the air and control humidity
- Installation tends to be cheaper
Cons:
- Can result in hot and cold spots (some rooms hotter than others)
- Blowing air tends to carry dust/allergens
- Can dry out the air inside.
Final Thoughts:
The two systems have their benefits when all is said and done. If the user wants a complete system: one that does heating in winter and cooling in summer, then forced air is preferable, but if it is only concerned with cooling, the central air is good.
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