Do You Need an Air Conditioner?

Homeownership is a dream for many people and moving into your own home can be a very joyous occasion.  However, you may not fully appreciate the many costs of homeownership until you have experienced it for some time.  An air conditioner is a necessary appliance investment for many families in many climates.  However, for others it is a luxury.  So how can you determine if this expense is truly necessary for your home and your needs?

Climate

The most obvious thing to consider when determining if you actually need an air conditioner is the climate in which you live.  Perhaps you live in a fairly temperate climate that is only truly hot for one or two months out of the year.  If you are unsure if you can afford the expense of an air conditioner and you live in this type of climate, you may want to try and make do with electric fans, ceiling fans or even a swamp cooler that operates using water evaporation and therefore is considerably less expensive.  If, however, you live in a climate with punishing summers and warm temperatures year round, you may need to find the room in your budget for an air conditioner for your home.

Family

You will also need to consider the people who will be living in and visiting your home frequently.  You may be cold natured and able to tolerate heat very well.  However, if you have young children or elderly family or friends who will be living in your home or visiting, they often do not respond to the heat well and may require an air conditioner to live comfortably and safely in your home.

Other Options

As we have already mentioned, there are also other options for cooling your home if you choose not to have central air conditioning.  For instance, you may want to consider purchasing and installing a split system air conditioner for the rooms where people most often congregate.  This can be significantly cheaper than a central system that is connected to your home’s duct system.  There are also portable air conditioner options that can actually be physically moved from room to room wherever they are most needed.  Fans, both the portable electric variety and the static ceiling fan can cool many homes effectively, especially in dry climates. 

You may feel that you need an air conditioner simply because you have always had one, but it may save you a good deal of money if you take the time to consider whether an air conditioner is a necessity for your home.