Contrary to popular belief, investing in a bigger air conditioner does not always lead to a cooler, more comfortable home. In fact, an air conditioner that is too big for your space can lead to a host of problems, including short cycling and high humidity levels. On the other hand, you need to be careful not to choose a unit that is too small. An undersized unit will struggle constantly to meet the cooling demands of your home, leading to high energy bills, excessive wear and tear on the system, and uncomfortable hot spots.
Because the size of your air conditioner is so important for your home’s comfort, efficiency, and the longevity of the unit itself, you should always leave the complex calculation and installation process to your local, trusted HVAC company.
Ready for an upgrade? Keep reading to learn more about the importance of a properly sized A/C unit, and then reach out to the experts at Alltemp Air for a professional and reliable A/C installation!
Why the Right-Sized Air Conditioner Is Important
When an air conditioner is matched perfectly to the home it serves, it operates exactly as the manufacturer intended, leading to optimal performance across the board. You also won’t have to worry about common problems associated with an under- or oversized A/C unit.
Fewer Chances of Short Cycling
An oversized air conditioner will cool the space down very quickly. While this might sound good in theory, it means the unit reaches the thermostat’s set temperature in just a few minutes and then shuts off. It will then cycle on and off frequently.
This constant starting and stopping is highly inefficient, with the startup phase of an air conditioning cycle drawing the most power, much like how a car uses more fuel in stop-and-go traffic than it does cruising on the highway. These short, inefficient bursts of activity drive up your electricity bills without providing any added benefit.
When an air conditioner is appropriately sized, it operates within its optimal performance range and keeps your costs down.
Greater Humidity Control
Another concern of an oversized unit is its inability to properly dehumidify your home. An air conditioner should remove moisture from the air as it cools it. However, this process requires the system to run for a sustained period, and because an oversized unit short-cycles, it doesn’t run long enough to effectively pull humidity out of the air. This results in a room that feels unpleasantly damp and sticky. With a correctly sized air conditioner, you can enjoy a cool and pleasant living space.
Less Wear and Tear
The constant starting and stopping of short cycling puts significant strain on the system’s components, particularly the compressor. This repeated stress can lead to premature breakdowns and a shorter overall lifespan for your expensive investment. You’ll find yourself paying for more frequent air conditioning repairs and a full system replacement much sooner than you would with a right-sized air conditioner.
Lower Energy Bills
An undersized A/C unit simply doesn’t have the capacity to effectively cool your home, especially during peak summer months. As a result, the system will run almost continuously, rarely or never reaching the desired temperature set on your thermostat. This non-stop operation leads to exorbitant energy bills, as the unit is always working at maximum capacity. An adequately sized unit prevents this problem.
Greater Cooling Capacity
With a too-small air conditioner, you’ll experience hot spots in certain rooms, and on the hottest days of the year, the system will be completely overwhelmed, unable to provide adequate relief. Instead of paying for a system that will leave you sweating when you need it most, invest in a properly sized unit and stay comfortable all summer long.
How to Determine the Correct Air Conditioner Size for Your Home
Given the critical importance of properly sized A/C units, how do you find the perfect fit? By partnering with a professional technician, of course! Our HVAC estimator performs a detailed analysis of your home, considering many factors before recommending a unit. The key factors we evaluate include:
- Home Square Footage and Layout: We’ll start by looking at how much space you have that needs to be cooled on a consistent basis.
- Ceiling Height: A home with high or vaulted ceilings has a greater volume of air to cool than a home with standard eight-foot ceilings, even if the square footage is identical, so we’ll take this factor into account.
- Insulation Levels: The amount and quality of insulation in your walls and attic play a massive role in determining your new system’s size. Homes with modern or upgraded insulation can retain cool air more effectively, possibly requiring a smaller system than a similar-sized, poorly insulated home.
- Windows and Doors: We assess the number, size, type, and orientation of your windows. A home with many large, single-pane, south-facing windows will gain significantly more heat than a home with fewer, smaller, energy-efficient windows facing north. The quality and sealing of your doors can also impact heat gain.
- Number of Occupants: More people mean more body heat. A household with a large family or frequent guests might need slightly more cooling power than a single-occupant residence of the same size.
By carefully analyzing all these variables, we can pinpoint the exact size and capacity of the air conditioner or heat pump your home requires for efficient, effective, and reliable cooling.
Trust Alltemp Air for Accurate Sizing and Professional Installation
When it’s time to upgrade your home’s A/C system, the decision is too important to leave to chance or guesswork. Contact the experts at Alltemp Air to ensure your new unit is a perfect match for your home’s unique needs. We’ll handle every step of the installation so that you can have peace of mind knowing that the electrical wiring has been properly connected, the refrigerant has been correctly charged, all ductwork connections are secure, and your warranty is intact.
Reach out to Alltemp Air today to schedule your professional A/C installation (or a ductless mini-split installation) and experience the difference a right-sized air conditioner can make.