Exploring the Best AC Options for Saskatoon Homes

We all love spending time outside, enjoying our beautiful Saskatchewan summers. Still, when the mercury hits 30°C or higher, there is nothing that brings more physical and mental relief than stepping out of the heat into a perfectly cool house after a stint outdoors. With several cooling systems available, finding the best AC options for your home means understanding which solution fits your space, budget and comfort needs.

When it comes to air conditioning, most Saskatoon people fall into three categories:

• Their old cooling system is blowing nothing but gross, sticky lukewarm air.
• They are tired of wrestling heavy, noisy window units into their frames every spring.
• They currently don’t have air conditioning, but after a  2:00 AM existential crisis during last year’s summer heatwave, they swore they’d never endure another sticky night. 

If you self-identify as one of these and are wondering which AC option is best for you, the Razor team can help. 

In this blog, we’re going to outline three AC options for Saskatoon that not only work with our prairie climate but also help you determine which option fits your family’s unique needs without breaking the bank.

AC Isn’t ‘One Size Fits All’

Your home cooling system needs to be three things:

1. Efficient

The air conditioning should use modern energy-saving technology to keep your monthly utility bills from going sky-high. Your family shouldn’t have to skip vacation because the AC ran for two months!

2. Durable 

It needs to be tough and well-made to last for years without breaking down or burning out. 

No one wants to get a call at work from the neighbour that their AC is howling like a wounded animal in the middle of a +30 workday. 

3. Properly Sized

Air conditioning shouldn’t be  ‘The Little Engine that Could’ gasping ‘I think I can, I think I can’ all summer long. 

What you’re looking for is more along the lines of Goldilocks:  not too hot, not too cold… just right.
The unit size should match your home’s layout, age, and daily lifestyle needs to ensure even cooling and avoid hot spots. 

Exploring the Best AC Options

Every house in every neighbourhood in this city has its own personality.

A Buena Vista or City Park home built in the early 1900s has a very different cooling approach than houses in a newly built subdivision like Brighton.

Let’s explore the AC options for Saskatoon homes, outline what makes them great, and clarify which homes each option is best suited for:

1. Central Air Conditioning Systems

If your home already has a forced-air furnace and a system of built-in ductwork, central AC is the easiest and most effective option.

• How it works: The AC uses your existing furnace fan and ducts to circulate cool air evenly throughout the house.

• What makes it great: Central AC is quiet and efficient, keeping every room at the same temperature. Modern high-efficiency units also use significantly less electricity than older models, thereby costing less to run.

• Best for: Homes with pre-existing ductwork looking for a seamless, whole-home cooling solution. It’s often considered the best central air conditioner for Saskatchewan summers.

2. Ductless Mini-Split Systems

People who live in older homes with boiler heat (and wall radiators) tend to have limited or nonexistent ductwork. 

In this case, ductless mini-splits are a fantastic AC option that doesn’t require tearing your walls apart.

• How it works: An outdoor compressor is connected to small indoor units mounted high on the walls, cooling specific zones of the home directly.

• What makes it great: This AC option is quiet, energy-efficient, and allows independent temperature control in each room.

• Best for: Older character homes, units with boiler systems, home additions, or stubborn rooms that always stay too hot, like attics or gables (we see you, Tudor Revival home-owners of Nutana!). 

3. Air Source Heat Pumps

Despite the name, ‘heat pumps’ aren’t limited to heating alone, and are rapidly growing in popularity across Western Canada for their seasonal adaptability for temperature control.

• How it works: In summer, a heat pump works like an air conditioner by removing heat from your home. In spring and autumn, it simply reverses the process to provide warmth.

• What makes it great: A heat pump is an all-in-one heating and cooling solution that can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and save on energy bills year-round.

• Best for: Eco-aware homeowners open to making a highly effective upgrade to their HVAC system (who aren’t opposed to saving money in the long term).

Fair Prices. Five-Star Service.

For more than a decade, Razor Heating and A/C has proudly served Saskatoon with expert plumbing, heating and cooling services. 

Our neighbours know they can count on our skilled team for reliable repairs, replacements and maintenance, completed at your convenience without breaking the bank.

We Do Things Right.

Razor holds all required certifications and obtains all required permits for our jobs. 

This process ensures the work is done safely, in compliance with local building codes, and keeps your home insurance intact. 

If an uncertified installer installs your AC without a permit and issues arise, your insurance might deny any future claims. 

With Razor, you get peace of mind knowing we “dot the i’s and cross the t’s” for every job we do. 

We Give Honest Advice With No Pressure.

We won’t recommend a large, costly system if a smaller, more budget-friendly one suits your space perfectly. Our expert technicians thoroughly assess your home to give you confidence as you sort through your AC options.

We Provide Long-Term Support.

Once your new system is operational, we’re here to help maintain it. Regular tune-ups prolong equipment life, which is why we offer affordable air conditioning maintenance that Saskatoon families rely on to keep energy costs down with our wild energy swings.

We regularly post tips and tricks for homeowners on our blogs (like this one on [insert topic link]), so you can get quick answers to some of your biggest HVAC questions. 

And, of course, we’re always just a phone call (or click) away. 

Still have questions or need more information?

Contact Razor today to discover the perfect AC solution for your home!