Would you buy a pickup truck when what you need is a commuter car? Conversely, would you buy a commuter car when you need to haul large items?
Neither vehicle matches the job at hand, and if you’re not careful, the same can go for your heating and cooling equipment. An oversized or undersized HVAC system can fail when you need it the most—on the hottest and coldest days of the year—and often results in high energy bills, shortened equipment lifespan, expensive replacement, and discomfort.
The most expensive appliance in your home is likely going to be your HVAC equipment, so whether you’re buying a home for the first time or need air conditioning or furnace replacement, it’s important to make informed decisions when purchasing these critical comfort systems.
How can you be sure the system you’re getting is going to perform? There is no one-size-fits-all approach to heating and air conditioning systems because every home is different, which makes proper sizing a critical component of determining what type of system will meet your needs. If not, your system will never provide the comfort and efficiency you deserve.
Each home has different heating, cooling, humidity, and ducting considerations that go into the selection of the appropriate equipment. The best system is a “Goldilocks” system that isn’t too big or too small, but just right.
Why?
An oversized system means you’ll pay to operate larger fans and compressors than you need, resulting in unnecessarily high heating and cooling costs. An undersized system won’t properly heat or cool your home, will struggle to keep up, and will likely break down sooner than it should, potentially costing you thousands when you least expect it.
Improperly sized equipment leads to high energy bills, weak heating and cooling, and reduced equipment lifespan. Consider humidity. If your AC system is OVERsized, it will cool your home too quickly and then shut off, but without properly dehumidifying your home. If your AC system is undersized, it won’t be able to keep up with cooling or dehumidification demands on hot, humid days.
So, if you’re buying a new system, how can you be sure it will meet your all of needs? Choose an experienced HVAC professional who understands what goes into properly sizing a home comfort system:
- Square Footage
- Size & Number of Windows
- Architecture & Design
- Sun Exposure
- Number of Occupants
- Humidity
- Heating Loads
- Cooling Loads
- Indoor Air Quality
- Balance
- Optimized Air Flow
- And more!
Questions about turning your home into your comfort zone? Contact us today. We’ll be happy to help you out.
