Definition
A central air conditioner is a ducted cooling system that cools an entire home from one set of equipment. An outdoor condensing unit and an indoor evaporator coil, linked by copper refrigerant lines, pull heat and moisture from indoor air, and a blower delivers the cooled air through supply ducts. Efficiency is rated in SEER2; capacity in tons.
Also called: Central AC, Central air
Why it matters to you.
Central Kentucky summers are hot and humid, so a central air conditioner in Danville, Harrodsburg or Stanford has to remove moisture as well as heat; a system that cools but leaves the house clammy is not doing its whole job. Kentucky is in the federal Southeast region, where new split central air conditioners under 45,000 Btu/h must meet a 14.3 SEER2 minimum.
Practical guidance.
Before replacing a central air conditioner, ask for a whole-system diagnosis and a load calculation rather than a same-size swap, and confirm the indoor coil is matched to the new outdoor unit. Homeowners can change filters and keep the outdoor unit clear; refrigerant, electrical and coil work is for a licensed technician.
About this definition
Written by the Feistritzer Heating & Air Conditioning team — family owned and operated in Danville since 1976, Kentucky HVAC license M02584. Definitions inform; a whole-system diagnosis in your home decides.