When buying new HVAC equipment, finding the proper air conditioner or furnace size for your home is one of the most important things to consider.
While this is important for new buyers, it’s also something homeowners with newer systems should be aware of in case they start to notice their system isn’t running efficiently.
The most common misconception for furnace and air conditioner size is that the bigger the system, the better it is. If you choose a furnace or air conditioner that is too powerful for your home, it will often use more energy than necessary by running short, inefficient cycles. This term is called “Short Cycling” and can even lead to damaged parts in your system, costing you even more in repair costs.
For the reverse, if you choose a system that is too small, it may not be able to keep up with your needs, forcing it to run extra-long cycles and again making itself vulnerable to part failures.
Keep in mind that the correct size system for your home isn’t entirely dependent on the size of your home. Your service provider should be experienced with installation in your local area and familiar with the climate. There are many other factors that your HVAC technician should take into account, including:
- The insulation and window quality of your home
- The number of occupants in your home
- If you’ll be renovating in the near future
- The direction that your home faces
- Objects surrounding your home such as trees or other buildings
The best way to determine if you are getting a properly sized system is to get a Team Harding professional to do a site visit at your home first. This will allow your home to be assessed properly.
