Central air conditioners offer greater efficiency and power when compared to window-mounted or room-specific models, and often function as furnaces in the winter months. However, central air conditioners themselves can be broadly categorized into two broad categories: heat-pump and gas-powered air conditioners. Both systems work to cool your home, but do so in different ways, and as such carry different sets of benefits when compared to each other. Understanding the differences between both types of air conditioners can help you choose the air conditioner that best fits your needs.

Gas-Powered Air Conditioners

Gas-powered air conditioners can either be split into an outdoor and an indoor unit, or can be packaged into a single outdoor unit. No matter the model, gas-powered air conditioners work to draw in air from outside, cool it down, and pump it into your house. These air conditioners are fueled by natural gas or propane, and work in the summer to cool down your house, and function as furnaces in the winter.

The main draw of these types of air conditioners is the fact that they work extremely quickly and efficiently, providing heating or cooling to your home, depending on the season, in a matter of minutes. They also continue working in the event of a power outage, which can be a huge benefit for those living in rural areas with poor power reliability. However, they have high long-term costs, as natural gas or propane has to be regularly delivered, and there is the possibility of a gas leak and explosion which should be kept in mind.

Heat-Pump Air Conditioners

Heat-pump air conditioners can either be split into an indoor and outdoor or combined into a single outdoor unit, like gas-powered air conditioners, but the similarities end there. Heat-pump air conditioners are completely powered by electricity, and literally pump hot air out of your home in the summer months, and pump warm air inside during the winter. While this may seem counterintuitive, heat pumps can extract a great deal of heat in the winter, and remove the majority of the heat inside your home in the summer.

The main draw of heat-pump air conditioners is the fact that they cost less in the long run when compared to gas-powered air conditioners, and also do not carry with them the risk of gas leaks. However, heat-pump systems will not work during power outages, and are not as quick or efficient at generating cool or warm air when compared to gas-powered air conditioners. You can learn more by clicking this link.