When you think about cooling systems, your first thought is air conditioning. There are many options that provide cooling with less energy use. A combination of proper insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, daylighting, shading, and ventilation can sometimes keep homes cool with a minimum of energy use in all but the hottest climates. Because of the hot, humid climate of South Arkansas, ventilation isn’t the best approach alone, though by using it you can significantly reduce the need to use air conditioning.
Cooling systems are more complicated than heating. Instead of using energy to create heat, cooling systems use energy to take heat away. The most common air conditioning system uses a compressor cycle to transfer heat from your house to the outdoors.
Glenn Mechanical has a team of cooling professionals who are experts in helping you select the perfect cooling system for your home.
Using fans and other forced air methods, ventilation can be an energy-efficient way to cool your house in the milder times of year.
Evaporative cooling or "swamp cooling" provides an experience like air conditioning, but with much lower energy use. This system is more suitable to dry climates.
These central cooling systems are designed to cool the entire house. In each system, a large compressor unit located outside drives the process; an indoor coil filled with refrigerant cools air that is then distributed throughout the house via ducts. Heat pumps are like central air conditioners, except that the cycle can be reversed and used for heating during the winter months.
Available for mounting in windows or through walls, but in each case they work the same way, with the compressor located outside. Room air conditioners are sized to cool just one room, so a number of them may be required for a whole house. Individual units cost less to buy than central systems.
Mini-split systems, very popular in other countries, can be an attractive retrofit option for room additions and for houses without ductwork, such as those using hydronic heat (see the heating section). Like conventional central air conditioners, mini-splits use an outside compressor/condenser and indoor air handling units. The difference is that each room or zone to be cooled has its own air handler.
Radiant cooling absorbs the heat radiated from the rest of the room by cooling a floor or ceiling. These cooling systems are more appropriate in arid climates.
Call Glenn Mechanical today at 870-862-5901 to get the experts to help you navigate your South Arkansas cooling options.
