Air Conditioning

Central air conditioning, commonly referred to as central air (U.S.), is an air conditioning system that uses ducts to distribute cooled and/or dehumidified air to more than one room.  Because the condenser unit (with its fan and the compressor) is located outside the home, it offers a lower level of indoor noise than a free-standing air conditioning unit.  When the air handling unit turns on, room air is drawn in from various parts of the building through return-air ducts. 

The Department of Energy increased SEER ration of HVAC units from 10 to 13 during January of 2006.  SEER, which stands for, Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, indicates the efficiency of different types of equipment.  It is stated by the Department of Energy that units installed before 1992 are 10 and below on the SEER ratio and will continue to fall as systems age.