I was reluctant to invest in a central air conditioner for my home. Living in the northeastern part of the country means especially long and brutal winters. We typically rely on the furnace for eight straight months. It’s necessary to keep the house sealed tight, and I pay huge heating bills. When the milder weather finally arrives, I look forward to welcoming in a fresh breeze. I am relieved to get out from under such costly utility bills and furnace maintenance requirements. While our local summers tend to be short, they can bring excessive heat and humidity. For a couple of months, the conditions get uncomfortable and sticky. I was fine with setting up window air conditioners in the bedroom. The portable units are lightweight, easy to install and don’t cost much. My wife hated the window air conditioners. She said that they ruined the curb appeal of the house and destroyed the view from the window. She was also unhappy that the kids tended to hide in their rooms in the evenings because of the cooler temperatures. I finally agreed to central air conditioning when we replaced the furnace. The contractor who handled the installation project recommended purchasing both systems at the same time. Plus, the HVAC company was offering a discount on buying both and the manufacturer provided a rebate. In the end, the cost of adding central cooling wasn’t all that much. The improvement to the enjoyment of the home is incredible. I had no idea that central air conditioning could make such a difference to how well I sleep at night or my level of energy during the day. The house stays cleaner and the air smells fresher. Even when the outside temperature isn’t all that high, we still run the fan of the air conditioner to circulate and filter the air.