More Than a Luxury: Why AC Installation is a Critical Investment for GTA Homeowners
In the Greater Toronto Area, there is one time during the summer when you do not have to debate whether or not you need AC installation. It typically occurs on the third straight day of 30-degree heat when the humidex has the air “feeling like it is hot enough to drink”, and the evening news reports another heat advisory. Then it is no longer a question of whether air conditioning is desirable.
The question you have to ask is: how does anyone survive without it? In the era of increasing humidity and heat in GTA summers, professional AC installation is no longer an option, but a necessity in maintaining a home’s infrastructure.
The Changing Climate of the Greater Toronto Area
For years, the Toronto homeowner could point to a window unit or a couple of smart fans and say, “Yeah, that’s enough”. For years, the Toronto homeowner could argue that they did not need any more than a window unit or a few strategically placed fans. Those days have passed! Climate data shows that the GTA is having more and longer heat waves than ever before and that average summer temperatures are frequently breaking records from the past.
The humidity, which is many people’s worst part of the heat, makes the home environment uncomfortable, and it can even be hazardous for elderly people, young children, and those with breathing problems.
The seemingly good old days of the affluent, once their luxury, have grown into a necessity for public health. Humidex levels can reach dangerous levels in un-cooled indoor areas when the humidex rises. A professionally installed air conditioning system does not simply cool down the temperature. Dries up, reduces humidity, and turns a hot and damp area into a safe and comfortable environment.
The comfort factor is not just for families with senior citizens, young children, or individuals with asthma and allergies. Well-being is an issue.
Understanding Your Home’s Needs
Not every home in the GTA has a cooling system that is appropriate. You have to choose between an air conditioner and a ductless mini-split system, depending on the particular stage of construction of your house.
If the house has a furnace, ductwork, and is larger, central air conditioning is still the best option. The system takes advantage of the existing duct system to spread cool, dehumidified air uniformly in each room. During use, Central AC provides constant heating and cooling and is barely noticeable when sized and installed properly.
The evaporator coil is housed inside the furnace, and the outside unit is placed adjacent to the house. This is the easiest and the cheapest option if the homeowner already has a forced air heating system in their house.
But many homes in the GTA, especially older homes in established neighbourhoods, and many modern condos, do not have ductwork at all. Ductless mini-split systems are a stylish option for these properties. An outdoor compressor serves a wall or ceiling-mounted indoor air handler(s) providing zoned cooling. Rooms are different temperatures, and, since there are no ducts, no energy loss from duct leakage.
The initial expense can exceed that of central AC, but the efficiency and versatility may make up for it, especially if the home has additions, converted attics, or other hard-to-cool areas.
Beyond Cooling: The Ventilation Connection
An air conditioner is not a standalone device. It is a component of a house’s mechanical and ventilation system. In small enclosed spaces (particularly in modern homes), ventilation is a key concern for indoor air quality, and the cooling system is a major part of it. With the addition of an HVL, the same ducts that bring cool air into the house in the summer also bring fresh filtered air into the home all year round.
Humidity control and air conditioning are not only for occupant health, but they are for home health as well. High humidity allows mold to form, wood furniture and flooring can rot, and dust mites and other allergens can grow. The air conditioner will properly control moisture and, if installed and maintained properly, will not cause moisture damage to any structure or inhabitants.
On the other hand, it can cause the system to malfunction if the size is wrong or improper installation, resulting in excess humidity in the air, and causing costly damage over time.
A Note on Condos and Multi-Unit Buildings
The calculation of cooling is different in the GTA condominium. While many newer condos have centralized systems, older buildings can pose difficulty. There are even innovative condos that implement cogeneration systems that not only produce electricity locally but also make use of the heat generated in the process for providing a hot water supply.
These types of combined heat and power units can work to help meet electrical loads and can heat and cool more efficiently than traditional systems, but are a substantial initial capital investment, often managed by the building corporation, not the individual.
Cooling system changes should be discussed with building management, as condo buildings may have building-specific requirements and/or restrictions on the use of window and portable cooling units and windows and building envelope modifications.
The Bottom Line for GTA Homeowners
The importance of AC installation in the GTA goes beyond comfort. It is all about health on hot days. It is related to the prevention of humidity damage to the house. It is all about consumption and the bills you are paying monthly. It is the ability to sleep through the hottest nights of the year. With a growing number of families, it is a simple matter of whether summer at home is something to endure or something to enjoy.
Correctly sized, professionally installed, and energy-efficient cooling equipment can make the summer a breeze. Home stays comfortable in all weather conditions. Utility costs are still fairly affordable. When the next heat wave comes, as it will, the answer is not ‘Oh no, it’s hot’ or ‘I’m in trouble’; it is knowing that your home is comfortable and working as intended. In the GTA, that is not a luxury. It is just common sense.
