Choosing the Right Cooling System for your Colorado Home

Now that the heat is in full swing- it’s time to think about keeping your cool and your home comfortable for the coming summers. The Front Range is a semi-arid, high desert climate, so expect plenty of hot days ahead. Luckily, our temperatures usually cool down about 20-30° overnight; this allows for cooling options for your home that you may not be familiar with if you are new to the area. 

• If you’re looking to install a cooling system in your home, you should consider this as an opportunity to choose the most efficient technology available that works for the size and type of the space you want to cool and won’t be too expensive to use.

7 types of cooling systems:

• Central air conditioning

• Heat pump

• Ductless mini-split

• Evaporative cooler (swamp cooler)

• Room and window air conditioner

• Whole house fan

• Oscillating fans

1. Central air conditioning

Central air conditioning is popular in hot, humid climates and in most public spaces. Central air conditioning uses an evaporator coil, condenser coil, and fan motor to push cold air throughout the house. When in working order, central air conditioning can cool a home by 20° or more to a temperature determined by a thermostat. 

Refrigerant is carried from the condenser coil in the form of liquid to the evaporator coil where it is turned into gas, cooling the surface of the evaporator coil where air passes over to become cold. Once the air is cooled, the fan motor pushes it through the ventilation system. Central air requires a duct system such as that used with forced air heat. Central air conditioners are the most costly method of cooling your home.

For air conditioners, you can use the Energy Rating Label to compare the efficiency of different models. Their efficiency is rated from 1 to 10 stars; the higher the star rating the more efficient they are and the lower the running costs. Most air conditioners sold are now reverse-cycle, and the labels provide a rating for both their cooling and heating performance. The cooling star rating is shown in the blue band and the heating star rating in the red band.

2. Heat pump 

For those interested in a more energy-efficient alternative to central air conditioning, heat pumps are a unique option that both heat and cool. Heat pumps work by extracting heat from the interior and pumping it outside. Reversing the process takes in heat from outside is how heat pumps provide heating. 

Another great aspect of heat pumps is that they can be either a ducted or ductless system for greater flexibility. The added flexibility ensures that homeowners can use a heat pump with an existing ventilation system or individual air handlers throughout the house. 

3. Ductless mini-split

If you’re looking to avoid the hassle of a whole-house ventilation installation, a ductless mini-split might be the alternative for you. Ductless mini-splits are a ductless form of air conditioning using heat pumps to generate cold air. They work by pulling hot air out of the house and using one or more indoor air handlers with refrigerant coils to cool homes. 

Heat pumps are used in ductless mini-split systems and can also come in cooling-only configurations. This means that the ductless unit sits outside the house, and connected air handler units cool the interior. 

If you require cooling in one, or a number of, living area(s) then a room split or multi-split system could be a good option. In this case, it’s worthwhile getting a reverse-cycle system that can provide both cooling in summer and efficient, low cost, heating in winter. Use the Energy Rating Labels to identify models that are efficient at both cooling and heating.

4. Evaporative cooler (Swamp cooler)

Since we live in a dry climate, evaporative coolers (more commonly known as swamp coolers), are a viable cooling solution. Swamp coolers take in hot, dry air and pull it across wet cooling pads. As the water evaporates, the air is cooled, resulting in a 5-15° drop in temperature. 

Evaporative coolers are effective in our dry climate and also add needed moisture to your home. They do require preparing the system for use in the spring and closing it down in the fall. 

Evaporative systems aren’t subject to energy labeling requirements, so speak to your installer about the features of different models, including their power consumption and water consumption. Inverter models have a lower power consumption than standard models when operating at lower fan speeds, so generally have a lower overall energy consumption. Evaporative coolers are much less expensive to run that central air conditioners.

5. Room and window air conditioning

Room and window air conditioners operate the same way as central cooling in that they use refrigeration to remove heat from a room but on a smaller scale. These options will not cool an entire house, but work great for small spaces.

These cooling systems come in different shapes and sizes to accommodate various window and room cooling capabilities. You can find square ones for a rectangular window or a narrower opening. Likewise, portable (floor) air conditioners feature a small duct to run to the window, and can be packed away after summer is over.

6. Whole-house fan

A house fan, or whole house fan, is a large fan located in the ceiling of the center of a home. While it isn’t as widely used as many of the above options, it is a great, economical way to cool your home. House fans work by taking in air from open doors and windows before exhausting it through the attic. This process takes in cool air from outside while expelling the warm air trapped in the home. Installation of a house fan can be difficult due to the amount of ventilation needed. There is also the risk of noisy operation if installed incorrectly or without gaskets. 

7. Oscillating and ceiling fans

Lastly, and the least expensive, are oscillating fans. Oscillating fans work by creating wind chill. The difference here is that there is no refrigeration, just the fan blades and motor. In warmer climates, the effects of an oscillating fan will be greatly affected. Since there is no refrigeration or active heat transfer, fans don’t actually cool the room’s temperature. While not as effective as the other options, oscillating fans are good in a pinch and provide a cost-effective way to get cooling on demand or in specific spots in your home. 

If you only require cooling in a bedroom at night, or in a living room that doesn’t get too hot during the day, a ceiling fan might be all that is required to keep you comfortable. These are relatively cheap to install and have low running costs. They are also an option to consider in larger living areas, as they may be all that is required to keep you comfortable on all but the hottest days.

When purchasing any type of fan, compare the rated power consumption of the different models and the number of fan speeds available. 

It's important to choose the most appropriate cooling system for your needs. By choosing a system that is the right size and type for your Colorado home, while responding to the way you live in your space and your home’s specific local climatic conditions, you can be comfortable while not paying for energy you don't need. For instance, if you have plenty of shade trees or live in the foothills, you may not need to install the most expensive option.