Seattle Air Conditioning

Many homes in Seattle have no central air conditioning, which is no surprise since a mild summer may never see the thermometer hit 90 degrees. Unpleasantly warm weather, in general, may last only a week or two and/or may be spread out intermittently over June through August. That said, many Seattleites don't take kindly to warm weather, and since you don't need a top-of-the-line air conditioning unit in the Emerald City, many homeowners are more than willing to shell out the money to know their sunny Seattle summers can be enjoyed to the fullest.

Seattle Air Conditioning Units
If you're on the fence about installing air conditioning in Seattle, you might consider something a little more basic than central air. Window and wall air conditioning units can be just the ticket for providing you with a modicum of relief without the need for major financial investment in your home. Even if you have the money for this type of expenditure, rather than sink a bunch of money into a central air conditioning system, you could think about installing replacement windows or upgrading your insulation. This will help out single room units and allow you to get more mileage out of your home heating system during the cold months.

Using Heat Pumps for Air Conditioning in Seattle, WA
Alternately, heat pumps make for a great source of air conditioning in Seattle. Heat pumps work by exchanging warmer and cooler air particles between your home and the outside air. They are extremely energy efficient, but the best part for Seattle homeowners is that they are reversible and can be used to cool your home in the summer and heat your home in the winter. This means, ironically, that the best time to install air conditioning in your home may very well be when your heating system breaks down. You can also use a heat pump to supplement and take the strain off a primary heating source.

Keep in mind, too, that you may want to talk to a Seattle HVAC contractor, as different heat pump units can have different heating and cooling capacities. If you already have a home heating system, you might look for a heat pump more geared toward cooling capacity and efficiency. For a higher-end model to take care of your heating and cooling needs, you'll naturally want to look for a model that will have sufficient heating for the cold Seattle winters. The good news is that the one major disadvantage of heat pumps is that they can fail in the extremely hot or cold temperatures, which are nonexistent in the Puget Sound area.

Cost of Seattle Air Conditioning Installation
Whether you choose a conventional air conditioning unit or a heat pump, the majority of Seattle A/C installation projects cost $5,000. ServiceMagic did see a few that cost less than $4,000 and one that hit $6,000. Top-of-the-line heat pumps have been known to hit the $10,000 mark, but again in Seattle, this type of performance is not generally needed. By contrast, a single window A/C unit will run you about $500, though besides the fact this will only work on a single room, these units are not as energy efficient. In the end, it generally boils down to what you want and what you can afford.

Seattle Air Conditioning Contractors
That said, when you talk these factors over with Seattle HVAC professionals, different companies may frequently suggest different solutions. This is why it's important to solicit as many estimates as possible and also to have each contractor explain why he or she thinks a particular air conditioning system is best for your home. Like many complex situations, there's probably more than one right answer. You may even end up taking a suggestion from one HVAC contractor, even if he or she is not the person who ends up with the job. You should also take a look at our quality controlled online customer ratings and reviews section to see what other Seattle homeowners have said about each contractor.