Tell me about CAC's

Tell me about central ac units.

- upkeep/maintenance
- how to work
- pro's and con's

The home we're buying has a cac unit that was installed 7 years ago. The inspector said it just needed a new filter and to be cleaned. I know NOTHING about cac's. Not how they work, how they turn on and off... nothing.

TIA!

Re: Tell me about CAC's

For the most part, it operates just like the furnace. I've had a couple of thermostats over the years, and seen more, and they all have similar principles. When it's on "heat" mode, the temp that is set is where the temp stays, and the furnace kicks on when it gets below that temp. When in "cool" mode, it's the same thing in reverse. You set the temp, and when it gets warmer than that, the AC turns on. Nothing to deal with on a day-to-day basis.

The filter is either a washable filter (that's what I have), or a paper filter that you can most likely get from HD, Lowes, Sears, Target, Walmart, etc. There will be a large opening in the wall somewhere for each zone (usually one per floor). That grate opens up, and the filter just comes out.

Getting CAC in our house was one of the best parts of our reno.

Re: Tell me about CAC's

Yeah, it's pretty low maintenance. We have ours serviced once a year (in the spring, before the warm weather hits) -- they basically check it out, add more cooling fluid as needed, etc.

To regulate it, we just use our thermostat, as the previous poster said, as we do with our heating system. So it's not more complicated than that.

But fyi - you are not supposed to run central ac until it gets to be a certain temp outside. I believe it has to be 65 degrees. But that's why when you buy a home in the winter, it often can't be tested before closing (and money may have to be held in escrow so you can make sure it's conveyed in good working order).

I love central air -- our house had it when we bought it, and I didn't think it would be important to me. But it's great because it removes all of the humidity from the house and keeps temps comfortable throughout the house, but you never feel COLD (the way you sometimes can if you have a window or wall unit in a small space, like a bedroom, and you go from frigid air to 90 degrees/pea soup air when you walk outside the room!).

Re: Tell me about CAC's

My dad owns a HVAC company. If you have any specific questions I could ask him.