[Deedle]

I have recently bought my first home and am at a loss on how to cool it!!

It is a 1400 square foot, one-story ranch with a full attic (insulation in the floor only) and full unfinished basement. We plan on living in the house for 5-10 years.

I would like to do whatever is most efficient & cost effective in the long run. Central Air? Mini-split system? Portable A/C Unit? And what kind of costs are we looking at in general? I don't even have a ballpark idea!

I feel ignorant and any advice would be appreciated.

 

[beenthere]

What kind of heat does it have.

 

[Deedle]

The house has oil heat with cast iron baseboard heaters. There are 5 rooms in the house and it is not an open floorplan.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Where are you located?

 

[Deedle]

Southern Connecticut

 

[beenthere]

A conventional central system will work fine.
Air handler installed in atic.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

I very rarely use AC
So we have a window unit & I built 2 units into walls
Total cost under $600

 

[tk03]

I would do an central a/c unit in the basement. The attic gets too hot and the installers are messing with the insulation. The basement is cool and makes it easy to dehumidify it. Installed properly it does not take too much room. I usually put it on one side and utilize the space between the floor joists for ducts. It is also easier to service.